BETA Technologies CEO to Speak at Champlain’s 2026 Commencement

Founder and CEO of BETA Technologies to share insights on innovation, entrepreneurship, and building the future of sustainable aviation

Champlain College today announced that BETA Technologies (BETA) president and chief executive officer, Kyle Clark, will deliver the keynote address to the Class of 2026 at the College’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 9. Clark, an Essex, Vermont native, will also be presented with an honorary doctorate of technology and innovation honoris causa.

Clark is an aerospace engineer, pilot, and entrepreneur who founded BETA, a Vermont-based company that designs and manufactures electric aircraft, their critical systems and components, such as motors and batteries, as well as the ground support equipment to charge them. Under his leadership, BETA has grown from a small startup in Burlington into a nationally recognized pioneer in electric aviation that is redefining the aerospace industry and working to make electric aviation a reality.

“This graduating class has demonstrated the creativity, resilience, and determination that define Champlain graduates,” said Champlain College president Alex Hernandez. “Kyle Clark embodies what’s possible when passion meets purpose. His journey shows our graduates that they don’t have to wait for permission to lead, to innovate, or to build something meaningful. They have what it takes to be the entrepreneurs, the problem-solvers, and the changemakers our world needs.”

In 2025, BETA launched a successful initial public offering (IPO), which marked a significant milestone for the company and Vermont’s innovation economy. BETA’s expansion has contributed to the growth of high-skilled jobs in the region and strengthened the state’s position in the emerging electric aviation sector. BETA partners with local institutions, including Champlain College, to support workforce development and create pathways for students into advanced manufacturing and aerospace careers.

“Champlain College plays a critical role in developing the talent needed for future-facing, technology-driven industries,” said Clark. “The Class of 2026 is stepping into a world that needs engineers, creators and problem solvers who care just as much about outcomes as they do about ideas. Vermont’s future depends on people who can think critically, build responsibly, and stay committed to progress. Champlain students collaboratively approach complex problems with curiosity and discipline and I’m grateful for the opportunity to celebrate this class as they step into roles where their work will have real impact.”

Prior to BETA, Clark founded companies in the areas of electrification, energy storage and collaboration software. He was previously the co-founder of iTherm Technologies and subsequently the director of engineering at Dynapower Company where he created and managed an engineering team that designed, manufactured, certified, and deployed power systems ranging from 100 kW to 36,000 kW. Clark holds patents in the areas of production of electrical aircraft and associated batteries or related technologies. He is also a pilot and certified flight instructor with over 4,000 hours in fixed wing and rotorcraft aircraft and has completed over 200 test flights in electric aircraft.

Clark holds an A.B. in materials sciences and engineering from Harvard University. He was a three-year member of the Crimson men’s hockey team. In 1999, Clark was drafted by the Washington Nationals, and left Harvard in 2001 to play three years of professional hockey in the NHL minor leagues and overseas.

The 2026 Commencement Ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at the Champlain Valley Exposition. Commencement exercises will begin at 10:00 a.m., where Clark will address Champlain College’s on-campus undergraduate class as well as Champlain College Online undergraduate and graduate students.