What if Northeast Wisconsin became the place where aviation’s future is built, fueled, and flown?
We already have the pieces:
Now it’s time to connect them.
By aligning bio-based fuels, light aircraft manufacturing, and workforce development, we can create a fully integrated “Field to Flight” economy—one that drives jobs, innovation, and long-term prosperity across our region.
Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is no longer a distant idea—it’s a rapidly growing global market.
Using crops like soybeans and camelina, along with agricultural byproducts, we can produce drop-in jet fuel that works in today’s aircraft while cutting lifecycle emissions by up to 80%.
Here’s what that means for Northeast Wisconsin:
With local and regional companies already experienced in large-scale fuel logistics and distribution, we have an array of natural partners to help scale delivery across the Midwest.
This is how we turn agriculture into energy—and energy into opportunity.
At the same time, aviation itself is changing.
The rise of light sport aircraft (LSA), experimental aircraft, and next-generation composite designs is opening the door to smaller, more efficient, and more affordable airplanes.
And there is no better place to lead that movement than Northeast Wisconsin.
With Experimental Aircraft Association headquartered in Oshkosh and hosting the world’s largest aviation gathering each year, we already sit at the center of experimental and recreational aviation innovation.
This gives us:
We can leverage this to:
None of this works without people—and Northeast Wisconsin has a major advantage here too.
Our technical college system is one of the best in the country. By aligning programs with aviation and energy, we can create a direct pipeline from classroom to career.
Imagine programs that train students in:
Students wouldn’t just learn—they’d step directly into high-demand, high-skill careers right here at home.
Appleton International Airport is already positioning itself as more than just a regional airport.
With connections to aviation leaders like Gulfstream Aerospace and Allegiant Air, we have the foundation for a full-service aviation ecosystem:
Now imagine pairing that with:
That’s not just an airport—that’s an aviation cluster.
This is where it all comes together.
We can build a coordinated strategy that links:
Agriculture → Energy → Manufacturing → Aviation → Workforce
Here’s what that looks like in action:
Each piece reinforces the others.
This is how you build a self-sustaining regional economy.
This isn’t just about aviation—it’s about the future of Northeast Wisconsin.
It means:
And importantly, it brings together people across political and economic lines:
This is a big-tent economic strategy.
This kind of transformation doesn’t happen by accident—it requires leadership that understands how to connect local strengths with federal opportunity.
As a licensed private pilot and aircraft owner, Mark's focus is simple: bring resources home to Northeast Wisconsin and make sure our region is first in line for emerging industries like sustainable aviation fuel and next-generation aircraft manufacturing.
That means securing federal investment for SAF production, expanding workforce training grants for our technical colleges, supporting airport innovation at Appleton International Airport, and cutting through red tape so local businesses can grow.
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