Story ID: 003
People in Aviation: May 2020
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: Vicki Nakata succeeds David Fox as CEO at Stellar Labs, Kevin Ducksbury is chairman of The Air Charter Association, and Ian Beaumont is CEO of IBA Group.
Word Count: 1714
Stellar Labs appointed Vicki Nakata to succeed David Fox as CEO. Fox, who co-founded and steered Stellar Labs over the past six years, is transitioning to chairman, focusing on long-term strategic initiatives. Nakata, most recently serving as COO for Stellar Labs, joined the company in April 2018 as v-p of business development and customer success after spending 15 years in the online travel business.

Kevin Ducksbury was named chairman of The Air Charter Association. In that role, he is succeeding Weston Aviation’s Nick Weston, who completed his term. Ducksbury, who has a 30-year aviation background that has included time with Monarch Airlines and Air Partner, founded Emerge Aviation, an aviation consultancy and management services company in 2012. In addition, Ducksbury is working with Dubai-based Air Charter International.

IBA Group appointed Ian Beaumont CEO. Phil Seymour, who had been CEO for the aviation consultancy over the past five years, will remain president. Beaumont is the founder and former CEO of Matrix Solutions.

Omni Aircraft Sales and Omni Air Transport realigned its leadership, naming Dan Burnstein chairman, while promoting Mike Skow to CEO and Chris Deslongchamp to president. Formerly CEO, Burnstein has held a leadership role at Omni for more than 30 years and has more than 10,000 flight hours. Skow has 10 years of complex aircraft transaction experience and began his career at Omni Air Transport as a Learjet 35 pilot. Deslongchamp has 25 years of aviation experience and is a licensed SMS instructor, flight dispatcher, and master navigator.

Jet Maintenance Solutions (JET MS) named Vytis Zalimas CEO. Zalimas spent the last five years as head of corporate customers at Telia Company and head of contact center at a major Baltic banking institution, and also has worked with several Avia Solutions Group companies.

London Biggin Hill Airport appointed Nigel Masson CFO. Masson has held financial leadership positions at Emirates, the British Airport Authority, and Maersk.

David Wyndham has joined Par Avion as executive sales director. Wyndham formerly had spent 27 years with Conklin & de Decker as co-owner, president, and vice president and became director of business strategy after Jet Support Services, Inc. acquired the firm.

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) retained Keith DeBerry to serve as senior advisor of regulatory affairs with a focus on maintenance, as well as to become the liaison for its Aviation Maintenance and Systems Technology Committee. DeBerry, who has a 22-year federal career, formerly was the FAA Academy director and also has led the Regulatory Standards Training Division. In his new role, he succeeds Carol Giles, who has decided to focus more on other aspects of her career.

The Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) promoted Jim Busha to v-p of publications, marketing, and membership for the organization. Busha, an EAA member for 35 years who joined its staff in October 2014, will continue to lead EAA’s editorial, photo/video, and marketing teams, as well as take on membership services and marketing.

Summit Aviation hired Josh Allen to serve as director of manufacturing for its facility in Somerset, Kentucky. A U.S. Navy veteran, Allen previously was positive train control project director for Keolis Commuter Services in Boston and also has held roles with Star Aviation, Zodiac Aerospace, and Gogo Aviation.

Avfuel Corporation appointed Zinnia Lerma and Candace Schroeder as contract fuel sales associates. Lerma brings more than 20 years of aviation experience, having held sales, business development, and account manager roles with companies such as Universal Weather and Aviation and Million Air Houston. Schroeder has nearly 15 years of aviation industry experience, previously serving with Southern California Soaring Academy, Rotor F/X, Bob Hoover’s Jet Center, Universal Weather and Aviation, and Castle & Cooke Aviation.

Laura Pogue joined Honeywell Aerospace as a senior strategic planner in Aerospace and Defense. Pogue brings a varied background as a dean for Taft University, instructor for SimCom, and consultant focused on education, industrial, and aviation markets.

Traxxall added Tyler Webster as a regional sales director based in Santa Barbara, California. He previously has served as a sales director for Jet Edge, v-p of charter for Silver Air, and trip manager for XOJet.

Metrojet named Justin Liu as regional sales manager of MRO. Liu, who will work with Metrojet’s Hong Kong and Clark MRO facilities, previously was regional sales director for Textron Aviation and also has held sales positions with Shanghai Sikorsky Aircraft, China National Aviation Fuel Group, and Global Jet Concept.

Patient AirLift Services (PALS) hired Brook Leighton as director of development and marketing. Leighton brings 15 years of nonprofit development to her new role, including as director of development and communications for Phipps Neighborhoods and Community Mainstreaming Associates, and most recently as owner of her company, Ideas in, Inc.

Mike Peterson joined Pentastar Aviation as a maintenance sales representative. Peterson brings 35 years of aviation experience 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 Aviation 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.

Duncan Aviation appointed Dennis Kruse as avionics install sales representative for its Provo, Utah facility. Kruse has spent seven years with the Duncan avionics sales team in Lincoln, Nebraska, and before that served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Duncan further named Tim Fidler accessories business development manager. Fidler previously was responsible for business development at Ametek and before that held customer service and sales roles for Mid-Continent Instruments & Avionics.

Immaculate Flight hired Jay Helland as Texas regional manager. Helland brings a background in aviation maintenance to his new role, having previously served as maintenance manager for Flexjet, director of operations for Standard Aero, and general manager for Constant Aviation. 

Tyler Webster joined Traxxall as a regional sales director based in Santa Barbara, California. Webster previously has served as a sales director for Jet Edge, v-p of charter for Silver Air, and trip manager for Xojet.

Presidential Aviation named Martin Rodriguez director of maintenance. He previously has served as general manager at Hop-A-Jet Worldwide, as well as held COO and director of maintenance roles for aircraft management and charter companies in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Universal Avionics (UA) appointed Don Milum U.S. senior sales manager, overseeing the UA sales team, as well as the authorized-dealer and integrator network in the U.S. Milum, who joined the sales team last year as regional sales manager for the Midwest, has more than 25 years of aviation industry experience, including holding positions with Honeywell, Textron, and StandardAero.

West Star Aviation promoted Amber Kasting to human resource manager, Midwest region. Kasting joined West Star’s human resources team in 2018 and has played a key role in implementing internal employee communications software and its apprenticeship program nationwide.
Awards and Honors
The International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA) Foundation awarded a total of $32,000 to eight college students seeking business aviation careers.

Six of the recipients of the individual $4,000 IADA business aviation scholarships are students at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: Talina Gulati (senior); Wendylie Alix (postgraduate); John Esquivel (postgraduate); Yvy Von Helde (junior); Gary Wegener, Jr. (sophomore); and Jesus Cendejas (sophomore). Two other recipients attend Vaughn College of Aeronautics & Technology: Jenelle Samuel (sophomore) and Bowie Tam (senior).
Final Flights
Peter Fleiss, the executive director of the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) for more than a decade and a highly regarded executive in the business aviation industry, passed away on April 4 after fighting various illnesses for the last two years. He was 76.

Fleiss retired from CAN in 2016 as the organization recorded its 50,000th flight. Under his guidance, CAN expanded its membership—the corporations that fly CAN’s cancer patients to and from their treatment centers at no charge—to more than 500 lift providers.

During his tenure with CAN, Fleiss was instrumental in working with NBAA for the annual fundraising benefit at NBAA-BACE on behalf of CAN. In late 2016, Fleiss retired from CAN and current executive director Gina Russo took over.

“Peter was instrumental in developing CAN into the organization it is today,” said Russo. “His continued commitment to the mission was well-known by patients and business aviation peers alike.”

Before joining CAN, Fleiss served with Safe Flight Instrument Corp., working in collaboration with that company’s founder and CAN co-founder Leonard Greene.

Randy Smith, 54, who spent three decades with Stevens Aerospace and Defense Systems, died on March 20 after a battle with cancer. Most recently v-p of Stevens AOG and mobile services division and based in Nashville, Tennessee, Smith was “one of the company’s most beloved and tenured employees,” Stevens said.

He joined the organization in 1990 as an A&P technician following service with the U.S. Air Force. Over the next three decades, he served as crew lead in Nashville, director of maintenance for the military C-12 program in Greenville, South Carolina, and general manager of the Nashville facility.

He stepped into his current role in 2016, tasked with revitalizing the AOG division. Under his stewardship, the division grew to 13 locations and became a significant contributor to company revenue.

“Randy was a highly dedicated member of the Stevens team who showed amazing commitment and determination in helping the company meet its goals,” said Stevens Aerospace owner Tom Foley.