Q&A: Variety, Travel, and Good Company Has Kept Employees at Erickson

Long-term employees share that they love the work and feel supported. 

By Jennifer Ferrero

Now on Erickson, Inc.’s 50th anniversary, it is an exciting time to find out what makes the long-term employees tick. The featured employees in this article have all surpassed 30 years of employment with the company. Profiles have been edited for length and flow.

Aaron (Jess) Stolp, avionics and electrical design/engineering    

How long with the company?
33 years total (Evergreen Helicopters 25 and Erickson 8)  

What led you to apply to work at Erickson?
I joined the team when Erickson purchased Evergreen Helicopters. Leading up to this I knew a number of industry colleagues who worked for Erickson and felt the company would be a good fit.

What has been the main reason you have stayed at Erickson for so long?
The combination of variety in my day-to-day work and Erickson’s commitment to improving the capabilities of our aircraft keeps me challenged and busy. 

Aaron (Jess) Stolp in green t-shirt, historical photo

“I would like to thank my co-workers for their support and for helping to make every day better than the last. Additionally, I would like to thank our customers for providing us with the opportunity to serve their needs.”

Aaron (Jess) Stolp

What jobs have you held within the company?

  • Avionics bench repair
  • Avionics technician
  • Avionics supervisor
  • Field crew member
  • Field support
  • Technical writing
  • Contract review and modification estimating
  • Modification designer
  • Modification approvals

What is your favorite part of your job today?
Engaging with operational personnel to gain insight on the details of how various missions are performed. Then applying this knowledge to create useful modification designs.  

What do you enjoy the most about being an employee of Erickson?
Being surrounded by highly qualified and experienced coworkers. The drive and shared desire to be part of a winning team.  

Where would you like to see Erickson in the future?
I think the planned S-64 Matrix Technology integration is key to maintaining Erickson’s lead in the heavy-lift category. I would like to see Erickson become more operationally diverse in the aircraft operated and customers served. 

Anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to thank my co-workers for their support and for helping to make every day better than the last. Additionally, I would like to thank our customers for providing us with the opportunity to serve their needs.


Steve Derry, senior manager of airworthiness compliance and CASS   

How long with the company? 
32 years, since August of 1989.  

What led you to apply to work at Erickson?
I used to be a logger and was in the Marine Corps and logged for a few years. Had A&P license, so I applied at Erickson. Worked on helicopters in the Marine Corps and enjoyed it.

What has been the main reason you have stayed at Erickson for so long?
I enjoyed working on the Skycranes/S-64 Air Crane helicopters here, I have liked working at Erickson. Longevity (for me) is attributed to opportunity. 

What jobs have you held within the company?
Aircraft Mechanic, Crew Chief, Aircraft Auditor for the S-64, and present position for Sr. Manager Airworthiness Compliance and CASS for S-64 and 135. 

What is your favorite part of your job today?
Learning – I have been given the opportunity to gain experience increasingly about industry and business. 

“I enjoy the people I work with and having the ability to expand and learn more.”

Steve Derry

Where would you like to see Erickson in the future?
I hope the company continues to grow and prosper. I like the operating side of it, but I’d like to see them continue to run operations.


Mark Wiltrout, senior tech for fuel control/aircraft mechanic 

How long with the company?
Over 31 years.   

What led you to apply to work at Erickson?
Family lived here, grew up here. 

What has been the main reason you have stayed at Erickson for so long?
Working with highly skilled mechanics.

Mark Wiltrout today

Favorite part of job? Helping to keep a legendary helicopter flying.

Mark Wiltrout

What jobs have you held within the company?
Working in different shops in the overhaul department. 

What do you enjoy most about being an employee of Erickson?
Having pride in what I do.

Where would you like to see Erickson in the future?
Continue to grow in the aerospace industry.

Mark Wiltrout historical photo, center with green hat

Steve Reavis, commercial sales manager 

How long with the company?
32.5 years (May 1989).

What led you to apply to work at Erickson?
Jack Erickson purchased the aircraft, and it was called a Mini Guppy, a large transport category fixed-wing aircraft. He needed someone to manage that program. I have experience with larger aircraft, experience with radial engines. I was aware of Erickson and the helicopter world and what they were doing. I jumped on it for those reasons. We got the aircraft up and running, got the certificates; operated the aircraft for three years. The reason Erickson bought the aircraft is that we only had three flying Skycranes.  

That was before the military started releasing surplus equipment. The purpose of the Mini Guppy was to break the Skycranes down to fit into the guppy – fly them in the fixed-wing aircraft to a destination for a project.  

Non-revenue hours were taking component-time off the aircraft, so it was a way to move the Skycranes around the world without putting flight hours on the aircraft. Also did some other commercial work with the aircraft. It was a tough service to sell since there was only one. The commercial side with the Guppy never took off. The aircraft is now in the Tillamook Air Museum (which used to be Jack Erickson’s Museum) – which was donated to Tillamook Air Museum.

Steve Reavis, today

“I have literally traveled around the world with this job; that has been a highlight.

Steve Reavis

What has been the main reason you have stayed at Erickson for so long?
The opportunity to experience the world. I have literally traveled around the world with this job; that has been a highlight. Were they all positive? No. Were they all interesting? Yes. At the end of the day, the challenges that come with that type of operation, along with the exposure, are things most people don’t get to see and do. That’s what has kept me at Erickson.

What jobs have you held within the company?
Aircraft maintenance technician (Airframe PP license); worked in the shop, worked in the field as a maintenance technician as the company grew, worked in maintenance management; worked in operations and construction as construction manager; went to the sales department – they were all jobs that took me around the world. I had to wave the white flag with being gone all the time (on the road 270 days a year). This caused me to move to the sales side of the house. It makes sense to be the guy selling services and how we communicate with customers. I continue to assist the company in sales. Keep working while having fun.  

What is your favorite part of your job today?
Utilizing my experience to assist others in the organization; relationships built in the industry from a personal and professional level – I pride myself on those relationships; maintaining those is a big part of the sales world; I have developed great personal friendships from this professional role. I wouldn’t have met these folks and had these opportunities – Erickson has given me exposure in all kinds of industries. i.e. what does it take to keep a high-rise building running, or a powerplant? I have had the opportunity to touch a multitude of industries. 

Where would you like to see Erickson in the future?
I want the best for the organization; it is a critical time in the industry and for us as a special niche organization. Our organization is unique in what it does; people want us to be a global aircraft OEM. Best case scenario – OEM is the best in re-updating the equipment, rotor blades, new engines, bringing the aircraft to the current state in the industry. Erickson is a can-do company as an operator. Once we bring the equipment and OEM services to the current status, that will be a good thing. 

Anything else you’d like to add?
We all bleed orange. If we haven’t done it before, let’s find out how to do it. The people are capable, and we can do it, but it will change in the next 50 years. 


Ralph Sembach, customer tech support manager 

How long with the company?
33 years.

What led you to apply to work at Erickson?
I was in the Army and I went to CH-54 Skycrane school in 1976, an Army program to become a mechanic for aircraft. I started on the Air Crane 45 years ago. Tried to apply to Erickson a couple of times after I left the Army. They were only hiring people living in the valley or nearby, and I lived somewhere else. So, I went to Alaska and worked as a crew chief of Skycrane for a few years. It took quite a while to become an employee of Erickson. I worked on other aircraft for other years in Texas, New Mexico, and I worked for DynCorp. I was in the Air Force Reserve and Army. In the great San Francisco earthquake in 1989, I was working at United Airlines in San Francisco, I was in the earthquake. After that, I decided ‘I don’t really want to stay in San Francisco.’ I was looking through the Sunday paper, and I saw a tiny three-line ad looking for mechanics for Erickson. I hand-wrote a resume, left United Airlines, and started working with Erickson in December. Started in the overhaul shop, building rotor heads, etc.

What has been the main reason you have stayed at Erickson for so long?
About 20 years ago, things were different when we were privately owned. There’s always change, you end up having a family, I met my wife here. She liked the region. In 1999, I was a crew chief for a long time, I went to the field and worked in construction. I was involved in the U.S. Capitol job; I was always doing different jobs. Went to Italy (on behalf of Erickson) and took the first aircraft there and got that program started. I have worked with the Italians since and also support the Korean contract. 

The aircraft is a Swiss Army utility knife; it has the opportunity to be used in many applications.

Ralph Sembach

What jobs have you held within the company?

  • Crew chief
  • Aircraft manager
  • Mechanic
  • Technical representative
  • Customer support manager (technical support for outside customers)
  • Bell 214 customer support technical manager/program manager
  • Customer support for Italy
  • Power by Erickson contracts, helped to support the sales department – at one time had San Diego aircraft sales
  • I have been involved with proposals and even marketing

What is your favorite part of your job today?
It’s never boring.  

What do you enjoy the most about being an employee of Erickson?
Other long-term employee relationships and it is always our ability to innovate. There is a tremendous opportunity. The aircraft is a Swiss Army utility knife; it has the opportunity to be used in many applications.

Where would you like to see Erickson in the future?
Would like to see the S-64F+, I’d like to see that happen. The biggest thing is getting a fuel-efficient engine to make it competitive in the market. To be able to keep up with the changes in the market is essential to keep Erickson afloat.


Chris Erickson, senior quality manager  

How long with the company?
40 years, since 1981. 

What led you to apply to work at Erickson?
The company that I was working for decided to get out of the helicopter logging business, so I went to work for Erickson. I was a crew chief at that time. 

What has been the main reason you have stayed at Erickson for so long?
The opportunity for me to advance.

Chris Erickson, standing on the left in the orange jumpsuit, historical photo

“At Erickson, I enjoy the feeling of success for the company for the projects that I work on. I feel successful in my position, and I feel it helps the company overall.”

Chris Erickson

What jobs have you held in the company?
I started as a crew chief (10 years), I was Director of Maintenance, and along with that became involved with certificate compliance once we obtained the type certificate from Sikorsky (in 1992). Also became the Accountable Manager for Erickson’s FAA repair station. I currently hold three positions: Certificate compliance, Accountable Manager, and Senior Quality Manager.

What is your favorite part of the job today?
The day-to-day challenges of all three jobs; currently working on a modification to the EASA certification. Between the three different positions, there is never a lack of work.

Where would you like to see Erickson in the future?
A stronger position in heavy-lift by supporting the existing fleet and promoting a new Air Crane aircraft. The aircraft is so unique, it is not replaceable for what it is able to accomplish. Improving it would be very satisfying.