Story ID: 003
People in Aviation
By: James Careless
Caption: EASA selects Florian Guillermet as executive director and Rob Balzano becomes CJP CEO
Word Count: 1243
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) management board has selected Florian Guillermet as its future executive director. Guillermet, who has more than two decades of aviation industry experience, was presented to the European Parliament’s Committee on Transport and Tourism on January 22, with a formal appointment to the role expected on February 15. He currently serves as the director at French air navigation services provider DSNA and was the executive director at the SESAR joint undertaking from 2014 to 2021.
The Citation Jet Pilots owner-pilot association (CJP) has chosen Rob Balzano as CEO. A retired U.S. Air Force colonel and former F-16 pilot/instructor, Balzano founded the Check-6 Foundation to provide aid, assistance, experiences, purpose, inspiration, and hope to children battling serious illnesses and military veterans in need.
Oliver Kosing has joined Aero-Dienst to share the CEO position along with André Ebach. Kosing had been a member of the board at IABG, covering analysis, simulation and testing, and system operation.
Sonoma Aviation has hired Jeremy Epperson as its new president while appointing Clayton Lackey as vice president. Epperson was previously president and COO of Aero Centers, while Lackey had been Sonoma Aviation’s director of FBOs.
Ingenio Aerospace has hired Simon Lafrenière as its first COO. His last position was co-founder and chief transformation officer of Golë & Co. Global Business Consulting.
Boeing promoted Stephanie Pope to executive v-p and COO, effective Jan. 1, 2024. She was previously the CFO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has set its executive committee leadership team for this year with Chuck Wiplinger, president and CEO of Wipaire, stepping in as chair of the board. Wiplinger most recently was vice chair. The 2023 chair, Simcom International president and CEO Eric Hinson, became immediate past chair, and Henry Brooks, president of Collins Aerospace Power and Controls, is vice chair. GAMA’s electric propulsion and innovation committee is jointly led by Oliver Reinhardt, chief risk and certification officer at Volocopter, and Ben Tigner, CEO of Overair.  
The National Gay Pilots Association (NGPA) announced a new board of directors and officers. New directors elected to three-year terms are: Kalli Boyne, a U.S. Air Force Reserve remotely-piloted aircraft pilot based in Nevada; Sydney Kathryn Faruzzi, a captain for Delta Air Lines; and Zachary Mathews, an ATP-rated pilot flying helicopter air ambulance flights in the Washington, D.C. area. Charlie Williams, chair of NGPA’s University and Flight School Chapters Committee, was elected to a one-year term. Additionally, the board elected the following directors as officers for 2024: Scott Konzem (chair), Doug Carr (vice-chair), Ryan Davis (secretary), and Alan Miles (treasurer).
Cristine Kirk, CEO of Malone AirCharter, was named vice chair of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) board of directors. Kirk joined Malone AirCharter in 2010. Further, Allen McReynolds was elected to the NATA board. McReynolds is currently the COO of West Star Aviation.
Gail Erwin joined Thornton Aviation as manager of contracts and sales. She formerly held the same position at Western Jet Aviation.
Jet Access has promoted Kevin Legault to v-p of flight training operations and chief flight instructor. Legault previously served as the senior assistant chief flight instructor/director of flight training ops. Corrie Bennett has been promoted to v-p of marketing. Her previous position was director of marketing and public relations at First Wing Jet Center. Danny Kirby joined the Jet Access team as flight training maintenance director. His former position was process improvement administrator at FedEx Express.
ExecuJet promoted Nadia Coetzee to general manager of its MRO facility at Brussels International Airport. Coetzee previously was the technical services department manager at the company’s global headquarters near Johannesburg, overseeing all aspects of aircraft maintenance projects.
Embraer has appointed Guilherme Paiva as director of investor relations and mergers and acquisitions. He was previously managing director of Morgan Stanley.
Yvonne Bilshausen has joined Aecom as global head of airport architecture and engineering. She was previously v-p of aviation at Hill International.
Duncan Aviation has promoted Tony Curtis to components repair and parts and rotables sales manager. He was previously assistant manager of component repairs.
Blackhawk Aerospace appointed Bill Cadow as engine sales manager. He formerly was v-p of sales and marketing/director of sales at Raisbeck Engineering.
MPIJet hired Beth Stebenné as director of sales and service. Previously, Stebenné was chief of staff for XoJet Global.
West Star Aviation has promoted Charles Brooks to second shift manager at their East Alton, IL (ALN) facility. Since joining West Star in 2016, Brooks has held both Technician and Lead positions.
After nearly 55 years in the industry, Joe Esmerado is retiring from Leading Edge Aviation Solutions. He has served as v-p of aircraft technical services since 2006. In 2017, Esmerado received the Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award from the FAA for 50 years of service dedicated to aviation safety.
 
Awards and Honors 
 
The National Aeronautic Association (NAA) named Cassandra Bosco as the recipient of the 2023 Frank G. Brewer Trophy in honor of her “lifetime of leadership and service as an effective advocate for shaping and cultivating the next generation through aviation education.” Established in 1943, the Brewer Trophy resides in the National Air and Space Museum recognizing individuals and organizations for significant contributions of enduring value to aerospace education in the U.S.
Bosco, who has been involved in industry advocacy for four decades—including holding positions with GAMA and NBAA—was a founding board member of Women in Aviation International (WAI), where she played a leading role in establishing the organization’s Young Professional Advisory Group. Bosco also played a key role in the creation of WAI’s Super Mentor Program and Jobs Connect platform. While at NBAA, she developed the AvKids (Aviation for Kids) program to provide resources and activities on aviation, and business aviation in particular, to educators at the elementary level. NAA identified her launch of a successful “Leadership for Women in Aerospace and Aviation” program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University as one of Bosco's most impactful collaborations. The program has drawn more than 2,200 attendees to date. The co-chair of the Aviation Accreditation Board International Industry/Educator forum, she also has served as interim director for the University Aviation Association.
Past recipients include AOPA’s You Can Fly Program, King’s Schools founders John and Martha King, the Academy of Model Aeronautics, and Women in Aviation International founder Peggy Chabrian.
 
ExecuJet, the global ground handling arm of Luxaviation Group, has received honors for its Africa division. At this year’s South Africa Civil Aviation Awards presentation, the company earned top rank in the categories of aviation innovation, people development, aviation security, and aviation customer service. It was also named first runner-up in the aircraft operator segment, one in which it competed against all operators, including scheduled airlines. The awards, established by the South African Civil Aviation Authority in 2018, recognize aviation entities operating in the country for their excellence. ExecuJet Africa—which offers a wide variety of aviation services including aircraft charter, sales, management, and insurance, along with FBO operations, tours, and air cargo—earned top honors in aviation customer services and people development in that inaugural edition, along with first runner-up in Aviation Support Services.