Q: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you came to work at Bell? What’s your current role and how was it evolved since you started?

My name is Colin Hodges and I’m currently the Marketing and Sales Specialist for Bell’s North American Region and I’m also a FAA Rated Fixed Wing Private Pilot. I was given the opportunity to permanently work for Bell after completing the Textron Leadership Development Program where I completed two, one-year rotations with Greenlee and Bell. Surprisingly, I completed my rotations within the Information Technology field but after the program, I knew my passion was back in aviation and having the ability to work with our products and the customers who fly them around the world. Fortunately, here at Textron we have two great brands in aviation with Bell and Textron Aviation, and Bell gave me an incredible opportunity to come back and join our Asia Pacific regional team.

Since starting at Bell, I have held two regional roles and a specialized global role dealing mostly in the Yachting industry. All these experiences have given me the opportunity to travel to multiple tradeshows in multiple countries and given me the chance to meet a lot of our great customers, but most importantly it has given me the ability to live out my purpose and passion inside the aviation industry. Each experience has really solidified the fact that we have the greatest customers in the world and it reminds us every day that they count on us.

Q: Tell us about your social media presence. How has Instagram (and other social networks) impacted your line of work connecting with the online aviation industry?

Honestly, at first, social media was just an avenue for me to share my passions, travel, family and everyday life. I then quickly realized that social media and all these various networks were the greatest connection tools ever created. Each network gives me the ability to put out so much different aviation content. As many of our other “Instagram of the Month” features have alluded to, social networks are the #1 way to connect with other folks in the aviation field or people who are interested in getting into it.

With the power of social networks, I also realized that your personal channel could also have a positive impact on someone else whether they be in your industry or not. I’ve had all sorts of people from all different backgrounds direct message me to ask me questions and I make a point to message everyone back regardless of the question. I know social media has really impacted Bell’s ability to connect with brand ethusiasts, and I know that’s true because its helped me as well.

Q: At Bell, one of our main objectives is to thrill our customers, both pilots and passengers. How have you channeled this value into your mission at Bell?

What I’ve learned through being at Bell is “thrilling our customers” can’t be taught… it must be in your DNA and that’s what I love about being a part of the Bell Family. Everybody at Bell wants to provide great customer experiences across the board. Everyone is on the same mission. When our customers are happy, we are happy and that’s our goal every day. Every day, wherever I am, it’s priority No. 1 to treat all customers with a high-level of customer service when they work with Bell. You just don’t see that anywhere else!

Q: Outside of Bell, what are some of your hobbies and goals?

I have many hobbies and goals outside of Bell and many of these revolve around aviation. My life is pretty much aviation every day! As of July, I am now a FAA Certified Private Pilot and am now working towards my instrument rating. In the community, I sit on the Fort Worth Alliance Air Show Production Committee, I have been a member of a local Civil Air Patrol Squadron, and I became a Volunteer Pilot for the “Pilots N Paws” program. Soon, I also hope to be a EAA Young Eagles Volunteer Pilot as well.

Lastly, I also started a podcast this year called “AvGeek Chronicles” that has chronicled many of my experiences so far in aviation as well as many interviews I’ve done with young and upcoming aviators who are adding new life into our great industry. The podcast has been a great tool for me to learn and connect with people all over but it’s really turned into a tool that has helped other people get psyched about getting into aviation. I’ve been amazed at how quickly word about the podcast has spread! I recently had a listener and young aviator from Australia reach out to me and thank me for putting the content out.

If we want to talk about goals, I have a fairly long-term goal and it’s one that’s been on my mind for a long time. Down the road I would really like to start an aviation mentorship program that could help DFW inner city youth, who may have never been able get into aviation let alone be introduced to it, achieve their aviation dreams and goals. There’s a lot of young people out there who dream of getting into aviation and I would love to create a program that helps make their dreams become a reality at no cost to them.