Story ID: 003People
People in Aviation: March 2020
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: Industry announcements and appointments
Word Count: 1640
Brad Thress was named president and CEO of FlightSafety International, succeeding David Davenport, who left the company he had been a part of since 1996. Thress previously spent 27 years with Textron Aviation, holding leadership roles in several areas including engineering and customer service, with his last title there senior v-p of parts, programs, and flight operations. He also served as Cessna’s senior v-p of business jets. 

Textron Aviation named Kriya Shortt senior v-p of parts, programs, and flight operations, succeeding Brad Thress. Shortt, a nearly 14-year veteran of the company who was most recently senior v-p of global customer support, will have oversight of Textron Aviation’s global parts and distribution business, and also is president of Able Aerospace and McCauley Propeller Systems. Brian Rohloff, meanwhile, is Textron Aviation's new senior v-p of customer support. A more-than-11-year veteran of the company, Rohloff was most recently v-p of supply chain management and also held leadership positions in sales, customer support, and quality.

Women in Aviation International (WAI) selected Allison McKay as CEO. In that role, McKay becomes only the second person to lead the organization, succeeding WAI founder Peggy Chabrian, who recently retired. Stepping into the position after serving as v-p of the Helicopter Association International Foundation since 2015, McKay has more than 20 years of industry experience with companies such as Safran USA and B/E Aerospace.

Duncan Aviation president Aaron Hilkemann is expected to begin easing into retirement starting this summer with plans to transition to CEO and chairman of the board of advisors, a newly created part-time position. Jeff Lake, COO for Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln, Nebraska facility, will succeed Hilkemann as president. Hilkemann joined the company in 1996 as executive v-p and COO and was appointed president a year later. Lake, who became COO in 2008, joined Duncan in 1993 as company controller and also has served as v-p of finance and CFO.

Sheltair Aviation named Lisa Holland president, responsible for the day-to-day operations of the business. Founder Gerald Holland will continue as chairman and CEO and remain actively involved in management. Lisa Holland takes the new role after serving as president of corporate strategies for the FBO chain and aviation real estate company.

West Wind Aviation named Stephen Smith acting president, CEO, and accountable executive. Smith will succeed Michael Rodyniuk, who took a leadership role at Willis Lease Finance Corporation on March 1. Smith, who has held executive positions with Air Canada and WestJet Airlines, joined the West Wind Aviation board in February 2019 and in June became chairman.

The Asian Business Aviation Association named Jeff Chiang COO, providing full-time leadership to the organization that has been largely run by volunteer board members. Based in Hong Kong, Chiang has been involved with the association as a member while he held senior sales roles with Hongkong Jet and Asia Jet.

Peter Hokanson joined Cutter Aviation as CFO, managing the company’s accounting, human resources, and information technology organizations. Hokanson has more than 30 years of management experience with companies including Honeywell, Garrett Aviation, General Electric, MD Helicopters, AZmark Aero Systems, and Jormac Aerospace.

Wheels Up appointed Gail Grimmett as chief experience officer, responsible for Wheels Up member experiences such as event programming, marketing, public relations, social, digital, and member benefits. Grimmett joins Wheels Up after spending 20 years with Delta Air Lines, most recently as senior v-p for New York.

The Helicopter Association International elected four members to its Board of Directors for three-year terms beginning July 1. Returning to the board is Randal Rowles with Helicopter Institute. Joining the board for the first time are Mark Schlaefli with Sundance Helicopters, Nicole Vandelaar with Novictor Helicopters, and B. Adam Hammond with Tennessee Valley Authority Helicopter Services. Officers for the annual term beginning July 1 are Stacy Sheard with Executive Jet Management as chair; Marc Stanley, MassMutual Financial Group, as vice chair; Rowles as treasurer; and Jan Becker, Becker Helicopter Services, as assistant treasurer.

Gulfstream promoted Sheryl Bunton to senior v-p and member of the senior leadership team. Bunton, who is the Savannah, Georgia airframer’s chief information officer, joined Gulfstream in 2015. Before that, she was worldwide CIO for AGCO Corp., and also held senior financial roles with AT&T Capital.

Trenchard Aviation Group appointed Mark Radford v-p of business development. Radford brings 30 years of aviation interiors experience with both OEMs and Part 145 organizations, most recently as sales director-Western Europe for Iacobucci HF Aerospace.

Guardian Jet named Gabriel Bastos v-p of Latin America and South Florida. Bastos, who formerly was with Embraer Executive Jets, is Guardian Jet’s first executive representative in South America, Central America, Mexico, and Southern Florida.

Avinode Group has created a new customer experience team, naming Alex MacRae to lead the group in addition to serving as head of marketing. MacRae, who leads 12 marketing and customer experience specialists at Avinode, has spent two years with the company and before that spent more than a decade in marketing, digital strategy, account managing, and brand advising.

London Biggin Hill Airport appointed Chris Randall as head of aviation development. Randall formerly was business-development manager at Stobart Jet Centre at London Southend Airport and FBO Manager at London City Airport.

Modesto Jet Center named Otto Wright general manager. Wright brings 12 years of aviation experience to his new role, also having served as an aviation consultant and business owner as well as serving with Axis Jet, KaiserAir, Far East Russia Aircraft Services (FERAS), and Jetex Flight Support.

Jet Support Services, Inc. (JSSI) appointed Chris Charnley director of business development, Canada. Charnley has more than 40 years of aviation industry experience, including holding senior leadership roles at Hawker Beechcraft and Pratt & Whitney Canada.

Elliott Jets hired Eric Hammer as executive sales director. Before joining Elliott Jets, Hammer served as a regional sales director for Embraer Executive Jets and also has led sales efforts for Atlantic Aero and Cessna.

Donaldson Aerospace & Defense appointed Tom Newman as director of its Rotorcraft business unit and Robert Barr aftermarket sales manager. Newman, who joined Donaldson in 2007 and most recently was engineering director, previously was engineering manager and project engineer at Aerospace Filtration Systems, among other roles over his 40-plus-year career. Barr is rejoining Donaldson, bringing nearly 20 years of aerospace sales experience.

Aircraft Propeller Service named Mauricio Mazzini director of quality, responsible for quality management, certifications and supplier audits, and training, among other areas. Mazzini is relocating to APS’s Lake Zurich, Illinois headquarters from the APS Brazil facility, where he was responsible for coordinating the company’s quality assurance system and working with Brazilian and other foreign entities.

Phil Murphy joined MRO Insider as account executive for the East Coast. Murphy previously was director of aftermarket sales for Textron Aviation and also spent 21 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. In addition, Perri Bischoff took the new role of director of marketing. Bischoff previously was an account executive and has a range of startup experience, including in the California wine industry.

Duncan Aviation named Todd Shriner a technical representative for Bombardier products. Shriner, who has more than 12 years of experience with Bombardier products, has served as a lead mechanic in Duncan's airframe department since 2009 and before that was a line service specialist for Gran-Aire.

Brent Hanson joined Pentastar Aviation as account manager and client relations representative. Hanson, who will be based at Michigan's Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), as part of Pentastar’s new partnership with Avflight, formerly was a regional sales director for Textron Aviation and also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy and Navy Reserve.

Peter Schmitz joined The Loomis Company as a broker. Schmitz previously was the aviation practice leader at Lockton and global CEO for Aon’s Aviation Specialty. 

Elliott Aviation hired Amber Christianson as accessory-shop manager at its Moline, Illinois headquarters. Christianson previously led the component shop at Contour aviation.

Mike Peterson joined Pentastar Aviation as a maintenance sales representative. Peterson brings 35 years of aviation to his new role, previously as a senior avionics sales specialist with Gulfstream

AAR appointed Jessica Garascia as general counsel, overseeing both the internal legal team and outside counsel. Garascia formerly was deputy general counsel for USG Corporation.

Woolpert promoted Chris Snyder to aviation market director, responsible for its presence in targeted geographies that include Texas and Florida and specialized offerings such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and strategic asset management consulting. Snyder has served with Woolpert since 2001, beginning as an airport engineer and most recently as aviation design practice leader.

Western Aircraft hired Jacqueline Rambacal to serve as over-the-counter parts regional sales manager. Rambacal, who previously was v-p of aviation for Bank OZK in Little Rock, Arkansas, also has served with TruAtlantic Manufacturing and Kansas City Aviation Center.

West Star appointed Jeffrey Sneden quality assurance manager at its Chattanooga, Tennessee facility. Sneden brings more than 37 years of aviation experience to his new role previously serving with Miller Aviation, Flight Options, and Embraer.
Awards & Honors
NBAA named 11 recipients of the 2020 Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarship during its 2020 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2020) in Charlotte, North Carolina: Becky Bakeman, Yomaira Estrella, David Gall, Matthew Graniero, Shani Mendoza, Juan Muniz, Sarah Petruccelli, Corbin Philipp, Christina Riley, Sherry Whitcomb, and Kara Woodiwiss.

Designed to promote career development of current and aspiring schedulers and dispatchers, the awards are sponsored by Academy College, Airline Dispatch Federation in conjunction with Flamingo Air Schools, Beyond and Above Corporate Flight Attendant Training, Corporate Aviation Solutions, FlightSafety International, Jeppesen, Medaire, NBAA Air Traffic Services, ServiceElements International and Universal Weather and Aviation.