The Drone Forum - Opening Session

Welcome:  Colin Jones, Vice President, Association & Conference Management, LLC and Founder and CEO, Red Hills Drone Services, Inc.

Panelists:

Eno Umoh, Founder and President, Global Air University

Dominique Papa, Owner, Drone Over the Top, LLC

Kevin Padilla, Founder and CEO, AeroVis Drone Solutions

Chris Lewis, Founder and CEO, Vets to Drones

Mike den Hartog, Air Boss, Air Operations, Inc.

The drone industry continues to expand into new markets, creating opportunities for entrepreneurs, pilots, technology providers, and service companies—but turning an interest in drones into a successful business requires much more than learning how to fly.

This opening panel brings together experienced drone industry entrepreneurs and operators for a candid discussion about what it takes to enter the market, identify viable business opportunities, find customers, navigate regulations, and build a sustainable operation. Panelists will share lessons learned from their own experiences, discuss where they see the strongest opportunities for new businesses, and offer practical advice for entrepreneurs looking to establish or grow their presence in the rapidly evolving drone industry.

Attendees will also hear perspectives on common mistakes to avoid, emerging markets to watch, and the skills, relationships, and business strategies that can help turn a drone operation into a successful enterprise.

Colin Jones, Vice President, Association & Conference Management, LLC and Founder and CEO, Red Hills Drone Services, Inc.

Colin Jones is an entrepreneur and business professional with experience in association and conference management, digital business development, and commercial drone services. He serves as Vice President of Association & Conference Management, LLC, where he is involved in the planning, promotion, and management of professional conferences, trade shows, and special events.

Colin is also the Founder and CEO of Red Hills Drone Services, Inc., a commercial drone services company specializing in aerial photography and videography for real estate, sports, special events, and promotional applications. His work combines emerging drone technology with creative marketing to help clients showcase properties, events, and organizations from a unique perspective.

A 2024 graduate of Florida State University, Colin earned a bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. His interest in entrepreneurship began at an early age and has included the development of several online businesses in addition to launching his own drone services company.

Colin brings an entrepreneurial mindset to his work and has a particular interest in business development, marketing, technology, and the growing opportunities within the commercial drone industry.

Eno Umoh, Founder and President, Global Air University

Eno Umoh is the founder of Global Air University, a consultancy and education platform that helps drone entrepreneurs launch, grow, and scale their businesses. Through strategy, branding, and go-to-market execution, Eno has supported over 7,000 drone business owners globally. He’s a frequent speaker at top drone industry events and currently partners with leading platforms like UAV Coach, Commercial UAV Expo, and Xponential. At the Drone Forum, he’ll be leading sessions designed to help drone professionals turn technical skills into real business outcomes.

Dominique Papa, Owner, Drone Over the Top, LLC

Dominique Papa is the founder and owner of Drone Over the Top LLC, a woman-owned drone services company specializing in remote visual inspections, photogrammetry, 3D modeling, and high-resolution data collection for complex structures. Her work has taken her into industries ranging from construction and commercial real estate to amusement parks and infrastructure, with a particular focus on using drones to make difficult-to-access inspections safer and more efficient.

Dominique's path into the drone industry was anything but traditional. She earned her degree in biology with a focus in marine science from Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire, along with a minor in photography. Her early career included working in Hawaii as a scuba diver and shark tour guide before her background in photography eventually led her to drones. After earning her FAA Part 107 certificate, she began building what would become Drone Over the Top. As her business evolved, Dominique learned that some of the biggest opportunities came from being willing to change direction. What started with photography and traditional drone services developed into a company focused on remote visual inspection technology and solving difficult access problems across multiple industries.

That evolution also shaped the way Dominique markets her business. Instead of focusing on the drone itself, she focuses on the person behind the technology, the problem being solved, and the relationships built along the way. She believes people do business with people they know, trust, and remember. Dominique has built much of her business through networking, conferences, direct outreach, LinkedIn, partnerships, and becoming actively involved in the industries she wants to serve. Her involvement with AIMS introduced her to the safety side of the amusement industry, while her work contributing to ASTM F24 efforts involving drones and ROVs has allowed her to participate in shaping how emerging technology can be safely incorporated into inspection practices.

Today, Dominique continues to grow Drone Over the Top while bringing together her background in science, photography, technology, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Her career may look very different from what she originally planned, but that is also one of the lessons behind her story: you don't always have to know exactly where you're going. You have to recognize opportunities, keep learning, and make sure people remember you when you get there.

Kevin Padilla, Founder and CEO, AeroVis Drone Solutions

Kevin Padilla is the Founder and CEO of AeroVis Drone Solutions, a veteran-owned uncrewed aircraft operations company in Sunrise, Florida. He spent 20 years in U.S. Army aviation, flying since 2014, and served as a Standardization (Instructor) Pilot, the senior trainer and evaluator for his unit's aviators. He has logged more than 2,000 flight hours across desert, arctic, jungle, mountainous, and urban environments. His professional flying has been entirely in helicopters, and he also holds a fixed-wing private certificate with an instrument rating. He continues to fly in air medical operations with Air Methods. At AeroVis he leads a team delivering aerial mapping, photogrammetry, thermal inspection, and Counter-UAS detection consulting, and works with executive protection agencies.

Chris Lewis, Founder and CEO, Vets to Drones

Chris, an Army and Marine Corps veteran, is the founder of Vets To Drones, a workforce development and training program that helps military and first responder veterans build careers in the commercial UAS industry through training and certification. The program focuses on more than education alone, aligning veteran skills with current industry standards and preparing members for real-world employment opportunities.

Chris is a North Carolina State University graduate and an FAA Part 107 certified commercial drone pilot with experience across both commercial and military UAS platforms.

Mike den Hartog, Air Boss, Air Operations Inc.

Mike den Hartog is a veteran aviation manager, FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) Lead DronePro, and the Air Boss for Air Operations Inc. With decades of foundational expertise spanning air traffic control, emergency response, and public safety integration, Mr. den Hartog is a highly sought-after professional specialized in complex airspace management and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) safety.

Mr. den Hartog's extensive background includes rigorous technical training at Miami Dade College, Central Missouri State University, and the FAA Academy. Following the historic aviation and national security shifts of September 11, 2001, he joined the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Air Traffic Organization. Over his career, he bridged the gap between conventional air traffic control and emergency incident command structures, establishing a reputation for flawless execution under pressure.

As the operational leader of Air Operations Inc. based out of Fort Myers, Florida, Mr. den Hartog regularly commands the airspace for major public events, industrial drone deployments, and emergency response operations. In his parallel role as an FAASTeam Lead DronePro for the Tampa area, he acts as a vital liaison between the federal government and commercial operators, training municipal and public safety agencies on how to responsibly deploy drone technology within tightly controlled, high-risk airspaces.