Nick Popovich and his family established the Popovich Family Trust to give back.
The Family Trust mission statement focuses on education, Veterans and First Responders and children with challenges. The Family Trust funds scholarships and an ongoing commitment to aviation schools such as Purdue University and Ivy Tech Community College to promote aviation education and source in kind donations of aircraft, engines and equipment. The Trust also donated a Boeing 737 to Ivy Tech for the creation of the only ETL “Emergency Response Training Lab” of its kind in the world. Based at Gary Chicago International Airport, the lab offers hands on training for first responders including law enforcement and SWAT teams, elite military teams, firefighters, dog handlers, TSA, Homeland Security and emergency medical personnel. The ETL is a unique opportunity that attracts international teams to the training program. Other donations include various aviation parts and tooling, including a functional GE CF4-3A turbo fan engine for education purposes.
Nick devotes substantial time and resources to speaking engagements at schools, conferences and mentoring programs where he encourages young people to pursue careers in aviation. He frequently partners with nonprofit organizations that support veterans, education, children with challenges and women in business.
Nick Popovich joins the short list of inductees to receive this great honor. He is being recognized for the global aviation business that he founded in 1979, and now operates from several facilities around Northwest Indiana. Nick has been the recipient of numerous accolades and awards, including being inducted into the Living Legends of Aviation, but growing up in Northwest Indiana, Nick treasures this award the most because it comes from his hometown region.
Nick attributes his company’s success to the dedication that he and his staff demonstrate to SPI’s clients, and the ability to create customized solutions that meet their needs. He keeps his business nimble and his business relationships close. This has led Sage-Popovich, Inc. to be the premier aviation consulting company for lenders, aircraft manufacturers, airlines, attorneys, parts manufacturers, government entities and individual aircraft owners worldwide.
If it’s an aviation-related question you have, Nick is the guy to ask, and this recognition further demonstrates that.
Events hosted by sage-popovich, inc. will be posted here as they become available. Please check this page in the future for any upcoming events.
When: June 2023
Sponsored by the premiere aviation law firm Vedder Price P.C.,
Chi-Stat is a Chicago-based group comprising aviation finance,
marketing and consulting professionals. In addition to boasting
the significant Chicago presence in the aviation community,
Chi-Stat's purpose is to provide informal networking
opportunities for individuals in the industry. SPI is a founder
and remains one of the hosts.
When: June 2023
When: August 2023
NIISSA is a public-private partnership established to share security preparedness and resilience information and best practices with a goal to constantly work toward improving the region's posture to resist the impact of all hazards, to recover rapidly when impacted, and to secure the protection of critical infrastructure in the region.
When: TBA
When: Further details to follow
The Circle of Corydon Award honors Hoosiers who have made remarkable contributions to the betterment of Indiana and its people, demonstrating through life and service qualities exemplified by the state's greatest citizens.
General Richard B. Myers and Walt Fricke present Nick and the SPI staff with the Hero Flight Zero award in recognition for significant contributions to the mission of the Veterans Airlift Command in transportation of America’s wounded warriors.
Walt Fricke, Chairman, CEO and Founder of VAC (pictured right) is a decorated former Army aviator. He received the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with the Silver Star (and palm), two Bronze Stars, 21 air medals and a Purple Heart. His vision for the VAC flows from his experience of having spent six months in the hospital after being medevacked out of Vietnam in 1968.
Four-star General Richard B. Myers, Honorary Vice-Chair, National Advisory Board of VAC (pictured left), retired as the 15th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff on 1 October 2005, where he served as principal military advisor for the President, the Secretary of Defense and the National Security Council.
Learn more about Nick Popovich, the many events hosted by sage-popovich and our participation in charitable causes:
Meet the guy who repossess airplanes for a living
The Business of Airplane Repo
https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewstibbe/2011/06/24/airplane-repo/#13d93935aded
Thanksgiving Mission/Veterans Airlift
Awesomest Job Ever: Airplane Repo Man
https://www.businessinsider.com/awesomest-job-ever-airplane-repo-man-2009-6
ir Raider article written by Eric Spitznagel; [This story originally appeared, in a slightly different form, in the December 2017 issue of Maxim]
Sage-Popovich’s Nick Popovich
https://www.bjtonline.com/business-jet-news/sage-popovichs-nick-popovich
Airplane Repo True Stories Exploring fact and fiction in the high-stakes world of aircraft repossession.
https://www.flyingmag.com/aircraft/ownership/airplane-repo-true-stories/
video Extreme Repo Meet the men who take off with planes, ships and ….cattle?
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/extreme-repo-meet-men-off-planes-ships-cattle/story?id=11689461
Repo Man Adventures in aircraft repossession
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2015/february/pilot/f_repoman
Valparaiso pilot, businessman humbled by aviation honor
AOPA video Repo Man
Discovery Channel trailer for Airplane Repo
The Learjet repo man Business has never been better for the fearless pilot who takes back millionaires’ expensive toys
Flying the unfriendly skies with the “Lear Jet Repo Man”
How to Buy a Used Jet at a Bargain Price
https://www.barrons.com/articles/how-to-buy-a-used-jet-at-a-bargain-price-1506130781
Hero Flight 00NP Transports Wounded Warrior on Alive Day Anniversary
The tycoon owner of this 720 has gone bust. Now a bailiff has to take it back. The only problem? He can't let anyone see him do it
Gulfstream Repo Man By Marc Weingarten
Popovich Family donates Boeing 737 to Ivy Tech
https://www.thenewsdispatch.com/news/local/article_414eb325-5d83-5739-a498-3437fb5b25ef.html
Trust Donates Plane to Ivy Tech
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/story/29816442/trust-donates-plane-to-ivy-tech
Donated jetliner new Ivy Tech emergency responder
Chefs Around the Table raise $72,000 for Empower Porter County
Lakeshore News Tonight reporter joins mercy mission to Haiti By Lakeshore Public Television Relations