Story ID: 003
People in Aviation — November 2025
By: Jessica Reed
Caption: Canadian Business Aviation Association and Airlines for America see senior leadership transitions while the industry mourns loss of Sergei Sikorsky
Word Count: 1644
Anthony Norejko is transitioning out of his role as CEO of the Canadian Business Aviation Association as part of a planned leadership succession process. Norejko has served as CEO for seven years, leading the association through significant challenges and growth, including navigating the Covid pandemic’s impact on the aviation sector, federal election cycles, the implementation of luxury tax legislation, and ongoing advocacy efforts regarding airport access and infrastructure issues.
Mohammed Bin Mahfoodh Alardhi, executive chairman of Investcorp, was appointed chairman of RoyalJet’s board of directors. Alardhi, formerly the youngest and longest-serving chief of the Oman Air Force, is also chairman of the Muscat Stock Exchange.
Former New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu became president and CEO of Airlines for America (A4A) effective September 9. Nick Calio stepped down after 15 years in that role.
Richard Gort was named COO of sustainable aviation fuel producer and distributor SkyNRG. Gort’s most recent role was director of customer connections and capacity for European transmission system operator TenneT.
Wheels Up made three new hires under the leadership of recently appointed chief sales officer Mark Briffa. Tanya Weed, previously senior v-p of sales at VistaJet, joined Wheels Up as director of new business. Maris Kuklis was appointed business development manager for Wheels Up company Air Partner and brings experience working for JetBlue Airways. Meanwhile, Luigi Contessi joined Air Partner as regional business development director and brings more than three decades of executive experience in the aviation industry.
Western Aircraft recently made several appointments and promotions. David Harsay, who has worked at Dassault Falcon Jet for 12 years, was named Western’s regional sales manager in support of the MRO sales and marketing team. Brock Marshall came on board as regional sales manager for Pilatus PC-12s and Beechcraft King Airs, and brings more than two decades of aviation maintenance and operations experience. Western promoted regional sales manager Shannon Edick to maintenance program coordinator for Pilatus PC-24 and Piper aircraft; she has been with the company since 2015. Matthew Rainier was promoted from assistant chief inspector to Gulfstream service manager; he has specialized in Gulfstream aircraft for a decade. Chris Duncan was hired as Western’s interior modification manager, bringing 17 years of industry experience. Additionally, Kindra Mahler joined as marketing manager for its aircraft sales/management and charter divisions. Mahler previously worked to advance marketing initiatives and operational insights at Fargo Jet Center in North Dakota.
JetAviva hired Michael Barber as managing director and v-p of sales operations, specializing in super-midsize aircraft and supporting the company’s ongoing expansion into larger-cabin aircraft. Barber was previously regional v-p of sales and acquisitions for an IADA-accredited dealer and Argus Platinum-rated firm. At the same time, Ben Dow was promoted to v-p of sales for JetAviva. Dow has several years of aircraft sales experience and will continue to be a market expert for Falcons and large-cabin aircraft.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission promoted Mark Rudolph to assistant director of field maintenance. In his new role, he will oversee FAA airfield maintenance compliance requirements at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Rudolph had served as manager of field maintenance and planning at the airport for the past eight years.
Jon Najarian joined the advisory board of M2i Global, which announced an agreement in June to merge with Volato Group. Najarian, a professional investor, money manager, and media analyst, founded Mercury Trading in 1990 and co-founded optionMonster and tradeMonster in 2005.
Ametek MRO named Adam Payne business development director for Europe. Payne most recently worked at Ontic as senior sales manager and was previously at GE Aerospace for 14 years.
Candace Covington, senior director of aviation at Adobe, joined the Air Charter Safety Foundation’s board of directors. Covington formerly worked for Qualcomm as chief pilot and senior director of aviation.
Mohammed Bin Mahfoodh Alardhi, executive chairman of Investcorp, was appointed chairman of RoyalJet’s board of directors. Alardhi, formerly the youngest and longest-serving chief of the Oman Air Force, is also chairman of the Muscat Stock Exchange.
KCAC Aviation hired Preston Estes as director of maintenance. His most recent role was v-p of service at Skytech, and his experience in aviation maintenance spans more than 30 years.
Aviation Advisor promoted Steven Lemke to charter sales executive. Lemke joined the company’s flight operations team in 2021. The company also tapped Melissa Guadarrama as sales and marketing coordinator. Guadarrama has a bachelor's degree in digital media design and an MBA in marketing.
Duncan Aviation promoted Andy Duckworth to completions and modifications sales rep at its MRO facility in Battle Creek, Michigan. Duckworth joined the company’s upholstery shop in 2017 and started as a project manager in 2022. The company also promoted Kelly Otte to the airframe service sales team at its full-service MRO facility in Lincoln, Nebraska. Otte started at the company in 2000, working in the paint department before moving to the flight control department as a crew leader and later becoming a sales associate for service sales. Duncan named Paul Lewandowski as program manager for government programs. Lewandowski joined the company 24 years ago as manager of audit programs and was promoted to chief inspector in 2007.
Jowell Giovanelli joined AOne Parts & Logistics’ Global Service and Support team as a buyer/trader. Giovanelli brings more than 10 years of experience in regulatory work and previously launched her own business.
Frances Chovanak joined Bismarck Aero Center as an avionics technician. Chovanak, a licensed A&P technician, previously maintained Cessna 150, 152, 172, 206, and Diamond DA-42 aircraft at King County Airport as an A&P mechanic apprentice.
Dallas Jet International hired Mike Murphy as executive sales director. Murphy, a U.S. Air Force veteran, recently served as sales director and demonstration pilot at Honda Aircraft.
ACASS announced three new hires to its team. Zach Ungerleider, sales director for South Central U.S. and Mexico, previously worked at Honeywell Aerospace and has 15 years of experience. Joining ACASS as charter sales executive is Kevin Laloux, who brings eight years of experience in flight operations and compliance, most recently having worked at JB Aviation Services. Fulya Hargrave was named sales director for Turkey and the Middle East, bringing 32 years of experience in aircraft sales and management, including working at Jetex Dubai.
Go Rentals hired Kirk Stephen as senior director of aviation sales and analytics. His recent experience includes leadership positions at Signature Aviation and Meridian FBO.
Courtney Freeman joined Adams & Reese as counsel and as a member of its aviation and aerospace team. Freeman’s experience includes more than 10 years working at the FAA’s Office of the Chief Counsel, where she was involved in regulating advanced air mobility and beyond-visual-line-of-sight technologies.
Patrick Cote was named Cutter Aviation’s regional sales manager for Tecnam in Arizona and California. A commercial pilot and CFII, Cote recently completed a sales and marketing internship at Piper Aircraft.
Louise Barnekow, CEO of global software company Besedo, joined Web Manuals’ board of directors. Barnekow was previously CEO of PR and communications platform Mynewsdesk.
Aviation management platform FL3XX announced three senior hires. Andrew Iles, partnerships manager, has previously worked in the business jet, helicopter, MRO, and air ambulance sectors. New marketing manager Mike Paul brings almost 20 years of leadership experience in SaaS marketing. Joe Gettman, now account manager for FL3XX in North America, has 15-plus years of experience in customer success for aviation SaaS.
Christian Certa joined Invicta Finance, involved in private aircraft lending and yacht finance, as head of sales and originations. Certa previously held senior sales positions in aircraft and yacht financing at Credit Suisse/UBS and brings more than two decades of experience in the sector.
Awards & Honors
Doug Matthews was recognized by the National Aeronautic Association with the 2025 Frank G. Brewer Trophy, which honors contributions to U.S. aerospace education. Matthews has been involved in aviation education for more than six decades and is a prominent vintage aircraft instructor.
Perry Siler at Precision Aviation Group (PAG) was chosen to receive the FAA’s Charles Taylor Master Mechanic Award, given to those with at least 50 years of experience in civil and military maintenance and a U.S. Civil Aviation Authority or FAA mechanic or repairman certificate. Siler started his career as an entry-level mechanic with Petroleum Helicopters, later working for Aviall, Arizona Rotorcraft, Africair, and then Air Services International. He joined PAG’s Keystone Engine Services (now Keystone Turbine Services) MRO in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, in 2003, where he continues to work as a consultant.
 Final Flight
Sikorsky Helicopter lost a vibrant link to its past with the passing in September of Sergei Sikorsky, son of company founder and rotorcraft pioneer Igor Sikorsky, at the age of 100. He was an eyewitness to the development of the helicopter manufacturing industry.
Following a stint in the U.S. Coast Guard during World War II, Sergei Sikorsky joined the family business in 1951 in the international marketing and sales division for what would be a 41-year career with the rotorcraft manufacturer. In 1976, at the dawn of the OEM’s highly successful Black Hawk program, he was recalled to the company’s Stratford, Connecticut headquarters to become division v-p, overseeing Sikorsky’s co-manufacturing program, and later served in marketing and special roles.
Despite retiring in 1992, Sikorsky remained active with the company, serving as an ambassador at major trade shows and speaking about his family’s continuing legacy as the first commercial helicopter manufacturer. In 2019, in what he described as his life’s single greatest honor, the aircraft hangar at Sikorsky’s Stratford facility was dedicated as the Sergei I. Sikorsky Flight Center.