James M. Blessing is the Vice President of Air Fleet Capital, Inc., a finance firm focused on aircraft lending to the “owner-flown” segment of the aviation industry. At Air Fleet, he oversees all functions of the company, to include strategic planning, marketing and sales, and he participates regularly with credit evaluation and underwriting. He joined Air Fleet in 1999 and has helped participate in its growth from a new entrant in aircraft lending to one of the larger firms in the segment. Prior to Air Flee the was the CFO for an aviation company with a focus on government contracting, a firm that provided logistical support through the Department of Defense and United Nations special programs groups worldwide.

Jim has worked in the field of aviation for his entire career, receiving his BS in Aviation from Florida Institute of Technology in 1988. He is a Private Pilot, a 25 year member of AOPA and a lifetime member of the EAA, the two largest aviation organizations in the United States. Aviation is in his blood, as he was originally inspired to pursue aviation by his father who served in the USAF. His wife Cathy is also a pilot with both Instrument and Seaplane ratings.

When he is not working at Air Fleet, Jim can be found actively supporting his local community, running an occasional half-marathon, or otherwise enjoying just about any New England sports team from his home in Arizona.

James “Jim” Simpson, Managing Director – Jim began flying aircraft in high school.  He came to First Republic Bank in 2006 from Bank of American where he provided financing for corporate, regional, and major domestic and international airlines that incorporated financing structures for Foreign Sales Corporations, EXIM Guarantees, Japanese Leveraged Leases for 25 years.  Through his leadership at First Republic Bank, he established a team that provides customized financing to meet the aviation needs of the Bank’s clients, which are High Net Worth US Citizens/US Resident Non US Citizens.  He has spoken at several industry conferences on financing aircraft for the High Net Worth and serves on the Board of the National Aircraft Finance Association.

The Aviation portfolio is geographically diverse with its clients centered in the Bank’s key geographic markets.  Furthermore, our clients are involved in diverse business activities – such as real estate, private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, entertainment, and the wine industry for which FRB specializes in meeting the unique financing needs of these industries – and they use aircraft as a tool to conduct their business.   Since inception, the team has funded 156 transactions with original commitments exceeding $646 Million since the team commenced operations in 2006.  Our losses have totaled $0 during this time.

Founded in 1985, First Republic Bank (NYSE: FRC) and its subsidiaries offer private banking, private business banking, and private wealth management services.  These services include a complete line of banking products for individuals and businesses offered through our San Francisco, Palo Alto, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Newport Beach, San Diego, Portland, Boston, Palm Beach, Greenwich, and New York City area preferred banking offices.  The Bank, with over $70 Billion in Assets, was rated #6 on Forbes’s best American banks in 2015.

Mr. Anthony (“Tony”) Kioussis became President and CEO of Asset Insight, LLC in April 2016, when Asset Insight, Inc., a company he founded, merged with SAI Valuations, LLC.  Asset Insight provides valuations, audits, analytics, and consulting services to the aviation industry, and has developed a proprietary Asset Grading System Process resulting in a uniform methodology for evaluating and grading an aircraft’s maintenance condition.

Prior to Asset Insight, he served as VP, Strategic Marketing with GE Capital’s Corporate Aircraft Finance group, joining GE after serving as VP – Aircraft Sales for Jet Aviation Business Jets, Inc.

Following a ten-year tenure with British Aerospace, Inc., where he became VP – Sales, for JSX Capital, the company’s aircraft remarketing subsidiary, Tony founded The K Group, Ltd., providing Marketing, Sales, and Financial Services consulting to companies headquartered in the Americas and Europe.

He later joined Jet Support Services, Inc., as Sales Director – Airframe Programs, and developed “Tip-to-Tail”, JSSI’s Airframe Hourly Cost Maintenance Program. 

Tony is a published author and active industry association member, serving as the current BoardSecretary for the National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA), past Chairman of the Products and Services Member Council for the National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA), and as a Member of the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) Business Aviation Subcommittee.

He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Florida Institute of Technology’s College of Aeronautics, has completed graduate studies at New York’s Pace University toward a MBA in Finance, and is a licensed pilot.

Tobias Kleitman is the President and founder of Time Value Property Exchange, Inc (TVPX). He has ten years of experience as a Qualified Intermediary, and has structured over $20.0 Bilion in complex tax deferred exchange transactions under IRC Section 1031 for many Fortune 500 corporations, privately held corporations, leasing companies, and wealthy individuals on their real estate, corporate aircraft, vehicle, and heavy equipment portfolios. Prior to founding TVPX, Tobias was a Senior Vice President at Apex Property Exchange Inc. and graduated from Syracuse University.

David Warner is Chair of the Lane Powell PC Aviation Practice Group, a leading Pacific Northwest lawfirm headquartered in Seattle with offices in Washington, Portland, Alaska and London, England. He focuses his practice on aviation law and frequently advises clients on aircraft acquisition, disposition, operation, leasing and financing. In addition, David also has extensive experience in business and securities law, mergers & acquisitions, securities regulation, finance and community banking. In the nearly 30 years he has been practicing law, he has represented clients ranging from start-ups to large public companies and has considerable experience advising the Board of Directors. He is “AV” rated by Martindale-Hubbell. David is an active participant in Bar and trade association groups, and serves on the Boards of Directors and is General Counsel to the National Aircraft Finance Association and the Pacific Northwest Business Aviation Association. He is a frequent speaker at aviation-related seminars around the country.

Richard K. Barret is Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Business Aviation lending at The Huntington National Bank. He has more than 38 years of experience in the field of aviation finance. During his career he has successfully negotiated and funded more than two billion dollars of aircraft leasing and finance transactions in both the business and commercial aircraft space. Richard’s experience in closing transactions in the United States, Central & South America, Europe and Asia provide him with a distinct and unique understanding of the aviation financing arena.

Richard is a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association, National Business Aviation Association, National Aircraft Finance Association, and The Experimental Aircraft Association. Richard currently serves on the Parker County Appraisal Board and recently completed a twelve year term on the Board of Trustees of his local school board.  He has previously served on various other boards including the Board of Trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Mission Possible, Vision America, Provident Bank and the Denton Airport Board.

A graduate of The University of North Texas, Richard earned a BBA in Finance. He is a pilot with both Instrument and Multiengine ratings. Richard also holds a Texas Real Estate license.

He was reared in Comanche County, Texas on a Hereford cattle ranch and is still active in family operations. Richard and his wife of 40 years, Shirley, live in a country setting west of the DFW metro area. They have four grown children and three grandsons.  

Bryan Byers is Vice President of Scope Aircraft Finance.  Scope Aircraft Finance specializes in financing new and used high-performance pistons, turboprops, helicopters and light jet aircraft primarily for the owner-flown aircraft market.  Scope also offers floorplan inventory financing for select aircraft dealers across the United States.  Scope is a subsidiary of Park National Bank headquartered in Ohio.  

Bryan graduated from Indiana State University in 1997 with a degree in Aerospace Administration. He has spent his entire career in the aircraft finance industry having worked for Cessna Finance Corporation (1997 – 2001), 1st Source Bank – Aircraft Division (2001-2019), and most recently joined the team at Scope Aircraft Finance in November 2019.  Bryan has served a variety of roles in aviation lending including sales, research, credit, and even some time as a repo pilot back in his younger days.  Bryan holds his Private Pilot certificate and enjoys flying, attending aviation industry events, and is a self-described aviation fanatic.  Bryan is an active member of various trade associations including the National Business Aviation Association, Experimental Aircraft Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, as well as several of the aircraft owner group associations.  He and his wife Courtney live in Osceola, IN with their son Chase and daughter Katelyn. 

Andrew Farrant serves as Chief Marketing Officer for Global Jet Capital. Prior to joining GJC, Andrew was the Vice President of Strategic Planning, Marketing, and Corporate Communications for Sequa Corporation and Chromalloy where he led strategic planning and brand development. He previously worked at StandardAero, leading brand development and management. Prior to that, he led the successful corporate rebranding of Landmark Aviation, a Carlyle Group company formed after the merger of three aviation businesses, including an engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul network. He previously spent 15 years in marketing leadership positions at Bombardier Aerospace. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada.

J.C. Ferrer is a partner in Holland & Knight's Miami office. Mr. Ferrer focuses his practice on commercial and private aviation matters, banking and finance, secured transactions, cross-border leasing and financing, general corporate matters, sales and acquisitions of capital equipment, and commercial and residential real estate. He actively represents lenders, lessors, airlines, aircraft manufacturers, publicly held and private companies, and high-net-worth individuals in connection with the purchase, sale and finance (including lease finance) of private and commercial aircraft. In addition, Mr. Ferrer has extensive experience in the banking, finance and real estate fields with substantial representation of financial institutions, publicly traded entities and wealthy individuals in syndicated credit facilities, mortgage and asset-based financing, corporate and other commercial financing, and commercial and residential real estate financing. Mr. Ferrer also represents clients in a wide range of corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing and corporate finance, and general corporate needs such as structural and formation matters.

Stephen Friedrich is the Chief Commercial Officer at Embraer Executive Jets, where he is responsible for the direct management of the global sales organization for new and pre-flown aircraft as well as the oversight of relationships with customers and industry collaborators. With more than 30 years of experience in the leasing and aerospace sectors, his wealth of experience spans sales, marketing, finance, aftermarket programs and customer support and services. 

Prior to joining Embraer, Friedrich led global sales efforts and marketing activities at Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace Business Aviation as the company’s Vice President of Sales & Marketing. His previous banking and aviation finance experience include key leadership positions as Vice President at Summit Bank of New Jersey and Assistant Vice President at United Jersey Bank. 

Friedrich graduated with an A.B. in Economics & Business from Lafayette College and received his M.B.A. from the Stern School at New York University.       

Keith Hayes is senior vice president and national sales manager of PNC Aviation Finance.  Prior to joining PNC Aviation Finance in 2017, Keith was with Regions Bank, BB&T and GE Capital for 27 years where he held numerous leadership roles across different business lines, including the last 8 years as national sales manager for GE Capital Corporate Aircraft Finance. Keith is on the board of directors of the National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) and serves as the 2^ndvice chairman of products and services for the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA). Keith holds a B.A. in business administration and a MIS degree from the University of North Florida.

Jens Hennig is responsible for GAMA’s activities for advancing safety, security and operations. He is the association’s primary staff person on Air Traffic Control modernization and issues affecting manufacturer flight operations.

Jens’ engagement in policy and rulemaking committees covers a wide range of topics including ADS-B rule development and implementation, landing and takeoff performance standards, and rulemaking cost analysis. He chaired FAA’s airman training and testing standards rulemaking committee which developed the new framework for pilot training in the United States and also managed the agency’s review of the Part 135/125 regulations. He is actively engaged in the General Aviation Joint Steering Committee which is an essential body to advance GA safety based on data- driven, systematic processes, and serves as co-chair of its Safety Analysis Team.

Jens is appointed to the aircraft manufacturer seat on the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) and serves as its general aviation subcommittee chair. He also served as co-chair of FAA’s Aircraft System Information Security / Protection working group on cybersecurity.

On the legislative front, Hennig provides technical analysis about security, funding,  and ATC modernization to GAMA’s government affairs team. He has testified about NextGen and homeland security before the U.S. Congress.

He has been a member of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) Flight Standards subcommittee since its formation in 2005, focusing on the agency’s extension of scope and the establishment of a safety agreement between the European Union and the United States. He served as chair of EASA’s Operational Suitability Data rulemaking group for type design changes and was a member of the committee that developed the regulatory amendment for operation of single engine airplanes in commercial service as well as rulemaking tasks focused on surveillance and data link services. Previously Jens served as the GA manufacturing industry’s representative on the Joint Aviation Authorities Operations Sectorial Team.

Hennig is actively involved with advancing data collection for the general aviation industry and frequently presents overviews of the state of general aviation, including the quarterly industry aircraft shipment report.

Jens has served on the RTCA Advisory Board since 2019.

Having joined GAMA in 2003 as Manager of Operations after a stint as manager of flight operations for contract training at Embry Riddle, Jens has advanced to Vice President, Operations. Originally from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, he holds a Bachelor of Science with honors in Aerospace Engineering from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Master of Business Administration in Aviation.

Jens serves as the staff contact for GAMA’s Flight Operations Policy Committee and the Security Issues Committee.

David Hudak

President – Aircraft Division

1st Source Bank

South Bend, IN

Education:     

Indiana University, South Bend, IN (December 1989)

B.S. in Business with majors in Accounting and Management

Background:

David Hudak is President of 1st Source Bank’s Aircraft Financing Division (promoted to this position in January 2020). 1st Source Bank has been a leading business aircraft lender since 1986 and serves a wide range of clients throughout the North and South Americas.  David has more than 30 years of experience in various commercial credit functions, 20 years in aviation credit underwriting.  David recently celebrated his 25^th anniversary with 1^st Source Bank in May 2020.    During David’s tenure with 1st Source he has held senior positions in various credit functions overseeing underwriting of transportation and equipment including over 20 years leading the Aircraft Credit Underwriting Team.  Prior to joining 1st Source Bank in 1995, he worked at Clark Credit Corporation, a subsidiary or The Associates Commercial Corporation in a credit role.

Organizations:

Previously held positions include Treasurer with Harris Township Senior/Junior Baseball Association, Assistant Treasurer at the LaSalle Council Boy Scouts; Assistant Treasurer at Stone Soup Community, Board member with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana.  

Hobbies:

Golf, sports, travel, family including 2 children and 2 grandchildren

Lifelong resident of St. Joseph County in Indiana. 

Bruce serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel for AIC Title Services, LLC, helping ensure that AIC’s clients and leadership are protected as they move through unprecedented FAA and industry changes.

Prior to joining AIC he served as: senior director and division general counsel of fractional aircraft ownership program; corporate counsel and business manager for a charter management company with both Part 135 on-demand air cargo and passenger operations; performed litigation, workouts and commercial loan transactions as vice president and legal officer for a major financial institution in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and; in private practice, represented banks, construction companies, transportation companies, and employee benefits funds in commercial litigation matters. Bruce is a frequent speaker at aviation industry events. 

Edward Medici is Managing Director of Capital Markets for Banc of America Global Corporate Aircraft Finance (GCAF) at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

Based in Providence, RI, Mr. Medici is responsible the management and development of strategic investor and trading relationships, oversees sales of transactions to third party investors and supports all of GCAF’s activities across its global platform.

In 1996 Ed began his working experience in contracts at predecessor Fleet Capital Corporation and has been a part of Banc of America Leasing’s Capital Markets group for general equipment and corporate aircraft transactions since 1998. 

Ed earned a B.A. from Connecticut College and J. D. from Roger Williams School of Law and is a member of the Rhode Island Bar.

Having joined Cirrus Aircraft over fifteen years ago, Cathy Nyen currently serves as the Director of Delivery Experience in Knoxville, TN.  She manages the highly talented Delivery Experience Team that interacts with customers of the entire Cirrus product line.  She also works closely with the finance, insurance, and preowned partners with which Cirrus is affiliated.  Cathy and her husband, Jon, moved from Duluth, MN to Knoxville, TN in 2016 and enjoy all that the friendly culture and warmer climate has to offer.

DONALD J. POINTER

Senior Director of Marketing & Communications

Dassault Falcon Jet 

Mr. Donald Pointer has been in the aviation industry for twenty-nine years and has been with Dassault for twenty-two years. After joining Dassault customer service in 1997, he has held various positions, including Director of Service Engineering for six years prior to joining the Dassault marketing department in 2006 as Director of Marketing Services & Development. 

Promoted in August of 2016 to his current position, he reports directly to the President and CEO, and oversees the company’s advertising, events, PR and communications groups as well as the back office functions of marketing research, sales engineering, cost of aircraft operation and administrative functions for DFJ Marketing.

His career began at Physical Acoustics Corporation in Princeton, NJ, as a Research Engineer/Manager for the aerospace industry where he applied the latest computer based acoustic NDT methods using pattern recognition and neural networks to various aircraft and rocket applications. 

He holds a BS degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as an MBA from Rider University. Pointer is currently Co-Chairman of the College of Engineering Advisory Board at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is also a member of NBAA, NAFA, Wings Club of NY as well as other aerospace organizations.  

He resides in Yardley, Pennsylvania with his wife and two sons.            

Lee has worked with a wide range of clients representing them throughout the process of new and pre-owned aircraft acquisitions, providing analysis of their current flight operations, audits and management reviews of both internal and third party flight departments and charter management companies. Additionally, he has managed a number of new aircraft completions, pre-purchase inspections and retrofit projects for various aircraft types, and he has also managed the export and import of aircraft on and off the United States registry, as well as various foreign registries. Lee has worked with all the major fractional programs representing clients in the acquisition, leasing, re-purchase by the program provider, and sale or leasing of various fractional shares to third parties.

Lee is a member in good standing of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilot Association (AOPA). Lee is currently an active member of the Robb Report Corporate Aviation Advisory Board, and was a previous member of both the National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) Associate Member Advisory Council, and the Board of Directors.

Prior to Essex, Lee served as President and COO of Aviation Management Systems, Inc., (2005 – 2013) an aviation consulting and aircraft acquisition firm. In 1988 Lee was co-founder of Londavia, Inc., which was acquired in 2001 by The Marmon Group, becoming part of the AmSafe Aviation group, a multi-national distribution company servicing the business and commercial aviation industry with offices in the United States, United Kingdom, China and Sri Lanka.

In 1982 Lee entered active duty with the United States Air Force serving as a computer and switching systems specialist on SACCS (Strategic Air Command and Control System) communications system. During his service he carried a top secret security clearance and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant prior to his honorable discharge in 1986.

Lee is an experienced pilot and holds an MBA and BA in Economics from the Whittemore School of Business & Economics, University of New Hampshire.

Anthony (Tony) Schieber is the Director of Customer Finance at Textron Financial Corporation (TFC). TFC is the captive lender for all Textron products which include the Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker and Bell brands. As a captive lender TFC’s role is to support the financing of Textron equipment through direct financing or by engaging with a global network of lenders that are active in the aviation finance space.

Tony started his career with Hawker Beechcraft in 2007 as a member of the Financial Leadership Development program.  When the down turn occurred in 2009 Tony moved to a newly formed Sales Financing group within Hawker Beechcraft, and in 2012 became Head of Global Sales Finance for Hawker Beechcraft.  In 2014, with Beechcraft being purchased by Textron, Tony moved directly to Textron Financial.

Tony holds a bachelor’s in accounting as well as an MBA from Wichita State University.  Tony is married to his wife Kayla, and has three boys: Pete, Hank and Charles.

As Chairman Emeritus and Special Advisor to the JSSI Board of Directors, Mr. Seno provides counsel to the JSSI Board and represents JSSI at important business aviation conferences, events and meetings. Prior to joining JSSI, Mr. Seno held senior management positions at the business aircraft units of Boeing Capital Corp. and G.E. Capital Solutions.

Mr. Seno serves on the Board of Directors of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and Duncan Aviation. He is a member of the Board of Governors of The Flight Safety Foundation. Since 2001, Mr. Seno has been an active member of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University President's Advisory Board and has been named as a trustee for the Institution.

David Vandenberg leads the Structured Finance team with overall responsibility for maintaining and managing a global network of third party banks, lessors, and brokers that finance the acquisition of Learjet, Challenger and Global business jet aircraft by Bombardier customers worldwide.  The team also works on special projects pertaining to residual values and innovative structured finance solutions.  

Prior to joining Bombardier Business Aircraft in 2006, he was Director of Structured Finance with Bombardier Commercial Aircraft arranging USLL, SIL, and debt financing for regional airline customers in North America.  

Mr. Vandenberg joined Bombardier in 2000 from the transportation unit of Export Development Canada (EDC) where he underwrote and negotiated loan financing for buyers of both fixed wing and rotary aircraft.  

He was born in Toronto, Canada and graduated from Carleton University where he obtained a Bachelor Public Administration.   He also earned a MBA from the University of Ottawa.

Mr. Vandenberg is based at Bombardier Business Aircraft headquarters in Montreal, Canada.

Phil leads Western Aircraft’s new and preowned aircraft sales and aircraft management/charter divisions, he has been with Western Aircraft since 1997. Western Aircraft is an authorized Piper dealer and the largest authorized Pilatus dealer in the world representing Pilatus with the PC-12 NG and the PC-24. Additionally, Western Aircraft operates an aircraft management division with an FAR 135 certificate and multiple aircraft, dba WestAir Charter. Prior to joining Western, Phil was a founding member of the Raytheon Aircraft Company (formerly Beechcraft) Resale Group in Wichita, Kansas. Winters’ primary focus is building and leading a team devoted to customer relationships in order to provide the best solutions for all of their aviation needs. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Technology from LeTourneau University, and has been a pilot since 1990. He holds an Airline Transport Pilot certificate, is a Certified Flight Instructor, and an A&P mechanic and regularly enjoys flying the company’s Piper and Pilatus airplanes. Phil serves on the IADA Board of Directors, is an advisor to the Pilatus Owners and Pilot’s Association (POPA) Board and is the chair of the Piper Dealer Advisory Council. 

Tracey is the Marketing Director for the National Aircraft Finance Association.  During her tenure, she has grown the membership and increased the sponsorship revenue through the use of targeted marketing and advertising campaigns.