Employee Spotlight: Phil Heiner
Hi, my name is Phil Heiner (aka Jay), and I have been a design engineer for Enstrom for just over a year now.
I have always been fascinated with rockets, planes, and helicopters. The thought of defying gravity – watching the world shrink below me from inside an aircraft – is and always will be a dream of mine.
I have a Mechanical Engineering degree from Brigham Young University-Idaho. Prior to joining Enstrom, I worked for a company in Goshen, Indiana that supplied RV components. Enstrom was a primary sponsor for the massive Rotors ‘n Ribs fly-in held at the Goshen Municipal Airport in 2023, and they brought a 480B helicopter down for display. My natural curiosity for flying machines took over, and my wife and I approached the booth.
My wife mentioned, “Menominee is a cool name. I want to live in Menominee.” We had no idea we were talking to Enstrom President and CEO Todd Tetzlaff! My wife then added, “my husband is an engineer. Are you hiring engineers?”
Long story short, we packed our bags, moved to Menominee, and now I work for an amazing helicopter company.
I love to learn new things and embrace new challenges. My day-to-day consists of updating prints, reviewing designs, resolving manufacturing issues, and helping with material rejection reports (MRR). The engineering team has been amazing to work with, and they have such a wealth of knowledge to pull from. I have also had the opportunity to work with several spectacular individuals on the manufacturing floor.
Outside of work, I enjoy doing everything and anything I can with my family. We have two adopted sons, ten-year-old Elliot and 9-year-old Oliver, who are super fun and are never short on energy. They’re finally getting old enough to do all the hiking, fishing, camping, and mountain biking we can squeeze in.
This past year, I had the opportunity to join Dennis Martin for Rotors ‘n Ribs 2024, this time as a representative of the company. I could confidently tell anyone interested that Enstrom is a remarkable place to work, and I am incredibly grateful for the chance to build my career here!
About Enstrom Helicopter
From Rudy Enstrom’s early designs in 1943 to initial testing in a Michigan Quarry in 1957 to aircraft operating on six continents, Enstrom Helicopter Corporation has maintained a reputation for safety, value and performance. Based in Menominee, Michigan and proudly made in the United States, Enstrom has a rich history for design innovation. The goal is to provide helicopters to the customer’s exact specification and deliver support and maintenance worldwide.