DALLAS, TEXAS, March 23, 2026 – Two prestigious industry awards were presented today during the opening session of the 69th annual Aircraft Electronics Association International Convention & Trade Show at the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, Texas.
Determined in a vote by AEA members, Quint DeGroot of Spencer Avionics was named the association's Member of the Year, while PS Engineering was honored as the Associate Member of the Year.
2026 AEA Member of the Year
Quint DeGroot, owner of Spencer Avionics, was recognized for his decades of service to the aviation industry and his commitment to supporting small aviation businesses.
DeGroot’s fascination with flight began in childhood and led to more than 5,000 hours of pilot-in-command experience, multiengine instrument and tail dragger endorsements, and proficiency in 25 different aircraft. After serving as a CH-47 Chinook helicopter mechanic in the U.S. Army, he attended Spartan School of Aeronautics and began a career in avionics that eventually led him to purchase Spencer Avionics in 1999. The company serves a wide variety of aircraft, from small personal planes to corporate jets, and has earned a reputation for expert troubleshooting and high-quality installations.
In addition to his business achievements, DeGroot has advocated for aviation legislation at both the state and federal levels. Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, he testified before Congress on behalf of small aviation businesses, helping secure low-interest SBA loans and expanded airspace access. He also worked with Iowa legislators to make sales of aviation parts and labor tax-exempt, benefiting businesses across the state.
2026 AEA Associate Member of the Year
PS Engineering was recognized for the company’s decades of innovation and service in aircraft communications.
Founded in 1985 by Mark Scheuer, PS Engineering began when Scheuer purchased a 1971 Grumman AA-1A and realized existing intercom systems did not meet his expectations. The company’s first product, the Aerocom, launched a commitment to high-quality, innovative audio control systems that has continued for 40 years. PS Engineering was the first company to receive FAA TSO certification for a panel-mounted intercom, the PM1000, and later introduced the PMA6000M and PMA7000M-S, bringing industry-first features such as individually gated microphones, split audio channels, and IntelliVox automatic VOX technology.
PS Engineering has been an active AEA member since 1991, supporting dealers and OEMs with pre- and post-sales service and contributing innovative solutions to the aviation community. The company also partners with the U.S. Air Force Wright-Patterson Laboratory to deploy patented MultiTalker technology for advanced cockpit communications in special mission and business aviation aircraft.
Today, PS Engineering employs 21 staff members, with an average tenure of nearly 14 years, and continues to grow while maintaining the principles of the “HP Way” that guided its founding. This marks the third time PS Engineering has been named the AEA Associate Member of the Year, as it also received the award in 1997 and 2014.
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Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in more than 40 countries, including approved maintenance organizations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of aircraft electronics systems in general aviation aircraft. The AEA membership also includes manufacturers of aircraft electronics equipment, instrument repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, engineers and educational institutions.