2025-2026 PAASS - Texas AAA

Matt Hovdenes became interested in aviation early in his life. His father, while not a pilot himself, was very interested in aviation and passed that interest on to Matt. Some of Matt’s early aviation memories come from going to the Air National Guard base in Fargo, North Dakota where his dad worked and watching F-4’s being launched and recovered.
 
After graduating high school from Detroit Lakes, MN Matt attended college at the University of Minnesota Crookston. Loading for an aerial applicator in the summer and playing football made college life busy but not too busy to fly! At college Matt earned his private and commercial pilot certificates along with instrument and Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) ratings. Matt Graduated College in December of 2000 with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Agricultural Aviation, and Plant Industries Management (agronomy). Since college he has earned his multi-engine rating and added an instrument rating to his CFI Certificate.
 
After College Matt worked as a full time flight instructor at a small FBO for slightly less than a year. In 2002, after years of hard work, Matt finally started flying ag.  He has flown many different types of aircraft in this industry and now flies an AT-400 for his own company Right Way Ag.  of Harwood, ND.
 
Matt was married in December of 2002 to his wife Hilary. They have twins Emma and Anders who were born in 2008. In the off season Matt enjoys camping and traveling with his family and friends. He also tries to fit in as much hunting and ice fishing as time allows. Matt is always trying to find a way to fly by giving occasional instructional flights and flying as a contract pilot in the winter.
 
Matt has been active in the NDAAA serving as the president from 2010-2012 and is currently serving as the North Dakota representative to the NAAA Board. He has hosted Cub Scout groups and given many people and children in the area their first airplane ride. In 2005, Matt was awarded the John Robert Horne Memorial Award from the NAAA. After graduating from the Syngenta Leadership Training in 2006, he has seen the value of the NAAA and has been willing to help where he can. Matt looks forward to working with PAASS as he has witnessed and experienced the safety and professionalism that it promotes within our industry.

Dominique Youakim of Charleston, Ill., is the owner and operator of Aerinova Aerial LLC, an aerial application business located in Mattoon, Ill. He also owns a helicopter tour business in St. Louis and Branson, Mo., and is an authorized Robinson helicopter dealer. He has two children, a son and daughter, Aiden and Aubrey.
 
Before finding his niche as an aerial applicator, Dominique worked in corporate America as a vice president of operations for a manufacturing plant. He worked for the manufacturer from 1995 to 2005. During that same period, he earned his commercial pilot certificate. Ready for a less travel-intensive career, Dominique gave up his corporate job for the opportunity to become an agricultural pilot in 2005. His mentor, Rick Reed of Reed’s Fly-on Farming, hired him as a full-time pilot that year. In 2013, Dominique purchased Reed’s Mattoon-based operation, which now operates under the name Aerinova Aerial LLC.
 
In 2006, Dominique completed the NAAA/Syngenta Leadership Training Program, which develops new leaders and advocates for the agricultural aviation industry. He served as secretary/treasurer of the Illinois Agricultural Aviation Association in 2007–2008. He joined NAAA’s board of directors as the Illinois AAA’s state representative in 2009. From 2012 to 2016, Dominique chaired NAAA’s bylaws committee. In 2016, he served as the association’s vice president and was elected president for 2017.