The BlueJireh Foundation is a federally qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose aim is to open doors to higher learning through direct assistance programs for women, veterans and underserved communities.
How We Got Started:
The BlueJireh Foundation was formed in 2019 as a corporate initiative of BlueJireh, a corporation providing flight training, operations support, maintenance services and training, logistics support and military sales. In recognizing the deficit of workers in the aviation industry, The BlueJireh Foundation was created to provide financial support, exposure and access to accredited education.
The Mission:
Our mission is to empower the next generation of aviation professionals around the world, regardless of age or background. We believe that a highly inclusive and immersive exposure to general aviation is one of the most efficient ways to create entrepreneurial, professional and scholarly outcomes in an extremely “in-demand” field. The BlueJireh Foundation provides access to women, veterans and underserved communities who otherwise would not have the financial means to fulfill their educational goals in aviation.
As entrepreneurs and parents of five children, Randall and Crystal Cottrell knew that they wanted to establish a nonprofit in order to serve others. The BlueJireh Foundation was created with one idea in mind—to give underprivileged individuals a chance to learn about aviation and aerospace careers in order to meet a growing demand for workforce in the industry. An initiative of BlueJireh, a business focused on aviation flight and maintenance training, systems and part obsolescence, engineering and serving U.S. and foreign military coordination and logistics.
When they aren’t brainstorming new ideas or homeschooling their kids, the family can be found at multiple sporting events or playing a friendly competitive game of UNO at home.
Sephra Faulknier is an experienced professional with a diverse career spanning education, sales, and nonprofit leadership. A graduate of MarshallUniversity with a M.A. in Organizational/Industrial Psychology and an Ed.S. in Training and Development, Sephra has held various roles, including teaching psychology and developing training programs focused on sexual assault and relationship violence. For 15 years, she excelled in medical device sales, ranking third nationally.
After relocating to Alabama, Sephra transitioned to education, teaching pre-school, and actively volunteering in local schools. Her involvement in community service and education laid the foundation for her current role as Director of The BlueJireh Foundation. In this capacity, Sephra develops programs to inspire and educate young people about careers in aviation, aiming to address future workforce shortages in the industry.
She is passionate about breaking down barriers to aviation careers, particularly for underserved communities, and believes in the importance of early exposure to these opportunities. Sephra is dedicated to raising awareness about the diverse, in-demand career paths in aviation, from pilots to maintenance crews.
The BlueJireh Foundation is a federally qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose aim is to open doors to higher learning through direct assistance programs for women, veterans and underserved communities.
