Sereno Aviation was born from a desire to return to the 'Golden Age of Flight'—a time when the sky wasn't a distant luxury, but a neighborhood of opportunity. We believe that the path to the cockpit should be defined by an individual's ambition, not the size of their bank account.
Today, as rising costs create a 'lost generation' of aviators, we are stepping in to lower the barriers. By providing financial scholarships and comprehensive mentorship, we empower young adults to cross the finish line of their flight training. Our goal is to ensure that the next generation of pilots has the resources, leadership skills, and community support needed to take their place in the sky and keep the spirit of aviation alive for decades to come.
Our Mission
To revitalize the future of flight by removing financial barriers and providing comprehensive mentorship for the next generation of aviators.
Our Vision
A thriving aviation community where the dream of flight is accessible to every aspiring pilot, regardless of their background.
Our Board of Directors
Steve Snapp
Kathleen McDonald
Mike Snapp
Kathleen McDonald is the Customer Success Manager for CloudArc, a SaaS company. Kathleen has had a passion for training and mentorship since she began her professional career in the late 1990s when she began working at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Her appreciation for the time of talented mentors who helped her progress and develop throughout her career translates into her desire to help other young men and women seeking to acquire new skills and abilities. The opportunity to help young mechanics in Northern New Mexico obtain a new, specialized set of expertise, in a high demand market like aviation, resonated with her as a place where her time and effort could have meaningful impact.
Steve Snapp is a small business owner and aviation enthusiast with over 20 years of flying experience on a wide range of aircraft. As a pilot in Northern New Mexico, he realized the challenge of finding quality aviation mechanic professionals. He also noticed the opportunity to provide mentorship and training opportunities for young men and women who are already automotive mechanics but want to step into the aviation field. It is then that he began to develop the concept of Sereno Aviation.
Steve’s passion for aviation led him to create Sereno Aviation, a non-profit organization to help young men and women acquire aircraft mechanic experience and training and develop a vocational skill that is in high demand and will generate unique career paths for these men and women. Through this non-profit, Steve hopes to provide skills and training needed to succeed in the aviation industry and build a brighter future for its participants.. Steve is committed to making a difference in the lives of young men and women and helping them to develop the skills they need to be successful in the workforce.
Michael Snapp is a highly experienced corporate pilot with over 9000 hours of flight time. He is currently employed flying a Challenger 350 and has also flown a Gulfstream IV and C-9 and C-5 during his time in the military. In addition to his extensive flying experience, Michael is also a certified instructor (CFI) and holds additional certifications as a CFII, MEI, and MEII. He has been flying general aviation airplanes since the 1980s and owns his own RV6, which he frequently flies with his wife. Michael has been invited to join the board of Soreno Aviation, a non-profit agency that helps individuals become certified airframe and powerplant mechanics, bringing his extensive aviation knowledge and experience to their mission.
