Subject: Testimonial for Homer Randle III
For several years Homer Randle and I have shared a common vision: help young people in the minority communities to learn the joys of aviation and the wonderful career opportunities that are available to them in that field for the next 10-15 years. Young black males in particular are underrepresented (proportionally) in aviation-related occupations which is due most likely to the scarcity of aviation-employed black parents from the preceding generation; a generation in which most could not introduce their children to the unique comradery that moving airplanes around the skies permits. It is a well paid field that draws people together across racial and economic lines in a way that few professions can. I am Caucasian. Homer is African-American. Our committed association with each other is rooted in the reality that we are privileged to be aviators; to do what many others can only dream of doing. That fact greatly overshadows our respective ethnicities and lets us focus - together - on drawing others into the joys of our world.
As the founder of CrossOverJacksonville (see crossoverjacksonville.org) - a small business with a number of aviation-related goals - I've had Mr. Randle assist me in a number of special events at Craig Airport that gave minority students (often) their first peek at airplanes and jobs associated with them. I chose Homer, specifically, to speak to them because of his broad expertise, professional bearing and self-evident enthusiasm for the career field. Beyond that, however, I selected him because he is the consummate role model for those young folks I'm trying hard to reach and he speaks with an endearing, affable manner that readily draws the young audience into his world. He can speak to a number of issues that offer promise to any young person interested in aviation willing to listen: Marine and Air Force paths to the cockpit, university and college highways to the sky, professional organizations that can give a boost up the ladder, as well as his experience at the high school level with an innovative, national paradigm-capable program that was second to none in the world of public secondary schools. It doesn't hurt that he has a rich supply of talented aviation professionals from the minority community to call in to broaden the impact and realities of moving airplanes around the world. I am grateful that Homer is my professional peer....and my good friend.
I am pleased to recommend Homer Randle III as a motivational speaker with an experiential and academic background that makes him the logical first choice when effective communication and positive outcomes are your goal.
MARSHALL M. WOOD
Founder CrossOverJacksonville



