Date: 01/12/2026
Good afternoon.
As you know, Falcon AeroLab is working to replace our previous Paycom payroll system with PayChex.
Here’s the latest update on our progress.
2025 Closeout
The Finance team issued paychecks for all work through 31 Dec to create a clean break with the
legacy payroll system at the end of the calendar year. Your 2025 W-2 will be issued through
Paycom.
PayChex Implementation
It was our original intent to have PayChex fully configured by 1 Jan to support I-9 collection.
Unfortunately, PayChex development was delayed and all new W-2 teammates worked with our
Managing Director, Brandon Baker, to setup a paper file in time to satisfy Government
requirements. I-9’s have been collected from all current teammates, so we are fully-compliant.
We still plan to load the I-9’s in PayChex, but I hope to be able to accomplish this in the
background without your involvement. Now that the initial elements of PayChex are configured,
you may receive notifications from the system to complete I-9’s. Please ignore these requests
for the time being.
Final elements of the timesheet module are currently being configured. I provided PayChex with
time inputs for our Full and Part-time Hourly personnel from 1 through 4 Jan to support the first
pay cycle. Please keep track of your time beginning on 5 Jan and I will let you know when the
timesheet module is in place so you can load your time.
PayChex offers a suite of video training aids, so look for these soon.
PayChex offers a convenient phone-based application to provides ready access to all system
features. Use of this app is optional.
First 2026 Paycheck
Falcon AeroLab will be changing our paycheck / direct deposit issue cadence to biweekly
payments for all teammates. The first 2026 payments will be issued on 16 Jan, and subsequent
payments will be provided every two weeks following.
Full and Part-time Exempt employees will be provided their first biweekly payments on 16 Jan.
We anticipate 10 biweekly payments to close out the spring semester and plan a total
compensation review prior to the last paycheck to ensure each teammate receives their full
compensation.
Full and Part-time hourly personnel checks are not consistent for each pay period and therefore
require more processing than the Exempt teammates. Time is required for timesheet entry,
internal approval, time entry, and check processing by PayChex. Consequently, the initial checks
on the 16 th are limited to 1-4 Jan to provide time for internal time collection processing by 9 Jan
and PayChex processing on the 14 th . The next payment cycle will cover time from 5-18 Jan and
will be paid on 30 Jan. This cycle will continue on a two-week cadence moving forward.
PayChex Offers
PayChex sent out a listing of services they provide to their customers. The details of their
offerings are provided here: Voluntary Benefits Enrollment Guide
The way this was presented is confusing. These are no additional benefits provided by Falcon
AeroLab, but services that you may purchase through PayChex. Please review any selections
carefully.
PayChex Review
Everyone should be able to log into PayChex at this point. I would appreciate it if you check
through your personal information to verify it is correct. Please click on the blue question mark
icon on the lower right part of the initial screen if you have any issues. The company seems very
good about working problems quickly.
Have a great day and thanks for your patience as we set up the new payroll system.
Rick Fiser
Business Director
Business.director@falconaerolab.org
719.464.8396
Date: 12/29/25
Dear Falcon AeroLab Team—
It was wonderful to see so many of you at our December 6 end-of-semester gathering at Perry Park Club—our largest turnout yet. Dr. Joe Sanders’ reflections on servant leadership were especially timely, and if you weren’t able to grab one of his books, I still have a few copies and would be happy to send to you.
We are now more than six weeks into an important management transition for AeroLab, and I want to take a moment to acknowledge both where we’ve been and where we are going. First, I am deeply grateful to our former leadership team for their extraordinary efforts in growing Falcon AeroLab from 14 students to nearly 1,400 over the past eight plus years. That growth was fueled by passion, ingenuity, and a shared belief in the power of aerospace and aviation education to change lives.
As we enter this next chapter, we have assembled a new leadership team that is exceptionally well-equipped for the work ahead. Each brings decades of experience in managing, scaling, and strengthening organizations—experience that will allow us to build the systems, clarity, and support needed to reach even more students while better supporting the incredible work you do every day.
I want to extend sincere thanks to our Operations Director, Amanda Koldenhoven (operations.director@falconaerolab.org), for guiding our transition from 1099 consultants to W-2 employees and moving us to full compliance. While these changes can feel more “corporate” or procedural, they are essential to protecting our organization, our people, and our long-term mission. What has not changed—and never will—is our commitment to a culture grounded in personal relationships, mutual respect, and support.
Our Business Director, Rick Fiser (business.director@falconaerolab.org), and his team are strengthening our financial and compliance foundations—ensuring accurate registration, attendance, payroll, expenses, and reporting. These efforts are critical to AeroLab’s sustainability and allow us to reinvest resources where they matter most: our programs and our students. You’ll also see Rick sharing his love of aviation directly with students during orientation flights in his airplane.
Our Managing Director, Brandon Baker (managing.director@falconaerolab.org), is focused on developing thoughtful procedures, policies, and program enhancements while introducing clearer metrics that support data-informed decision-making. For our first eight years, passion and instinct carried us far. To carry our mission forward for the next eight—and well beyond—we must pair that passion with strong systems and best practices that help us grow responsibly and effectively.
The leadership team is always available to answer questions or listen to concerns, and I have asked them to visit our sites in person to learn directly from you and see your amazing work with students firsthand.
Through all of this change, one thing remains constant: our why. Falcon AeroLab exists to inspire, educate, and train young people—opening doors to STEM/aerospace/aviation pathways and preparing students to be college, career and community--ready. Every flight, lesson, and interaction you lead is planting a seed that can change a child’s future.
Thank you for your professionalism, your resilience, and your unwavering commitment to our students. We are building something meaningful together, and I am confident that by strengthening our foundation, we are positioning Falcon AeroLab to reach more students than ever before—without losing the heart that brought us here.
As always, we welcome your feedback and ideas, and we are grateful to walk this journey with you.
With appreciation and optimism,
Mark Hyatt
Founder/CEO, Falcon AeroLab
mark.hyatt@falconaerolab.org
719-649-3542 (cell)
From: Mark Hyatt, CEO
To: All Falcon AeroLab Staff
Subject: Immediate Corrective Action and Reinforcement of Safety Protocols
Date: 12/7/25
Team,
Over the past two weeks, I was informed of two separate incidents in which instructors ended a class session and left students unattended while waiting for their parents to arrive. I want to be absolutely clear: this is a profound and unacceptable failure to uphold Falcon AeroLab’s most important duty — to do no harm and to protect every child entrusted to us.
Safety is not a guideline. It is not situational. It is not something we “generally” uphold.
It is our highest and non-negotiable obligation.
Leaving students without adult supervision — even for a moment — places them at risk and violates the trust that parents and guardians place in us every single day. These incidents also highlight a trend of relaxed protocols and drifting expectations that cannot continue under any circumstances.
EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:
1. Zero-Tolerance Expectation
Any instructor or staff member who leaves a student unsupervised — before, during, or after class — will face immediate disciplinary action, up to and including termination. This applies to every program, every campus, and every class session.
2. Mandatory Training
All instructional and support staff will complete mandatory training on our supervision and student-release protocols. Attendance is required and non-compliance will not be accepted.
3. Reinforcement of Culture and Accountability
We are an organization built on trust, professionalism, and the highest standards of care. Every one of us must take personal ownership of that mission. There can be no assumptions, shortcuts, or “it won’t happen again” attitudes.
If you see something slipping — say something. If you feel rushed or unsure — stop and ask.
We safeguard children first, last, and always.
4. Leadership Oversight
Campus leads and senior staff will conduct spot-checks and ensure end-of-day supervision is being executed with absolute consistency.
This message is not sent lightly. Our students’ safety is more important than any schedule, task, or convenience. We will rebuild and reinforce a culture that reflects our values — a culture where safety is uncompromised and unquestioned.
I expect every one of us to take this with the gravity it deserves.
Our mission is too important, and our students are too precious, for anything less.
Sincerely,
Mark Hyatt
Chief Executive Officer
Falcon AeroLab