Introducing NATA’s 2017 Board Members Continued from page 65 advocacy and education programs to our members so they can focus on running their businesses. I look for- ward to continue to serve our industry in this new role.” Diverse lines of business represented Jeff Ross, President and CEO of Ross Aviation, will continue in his current role as Board Vice Chairperson. Ross Aviation, based in Denver, currently owns and oper- ates six FBOs across the United States—in Alaska, Arizona, California, and New York. Ross specializes in the acquisi- tion, sale and recapitalization of operating companies; since 1992, his teams have acquired and successfully operated a total of over 25 FBOs—including Vail/Beaver Creek Jet Center, Million Air La Quinta at the Desert Resorts Airport, Million Air Palm Springs at the Palm Springs International Airport, and the Newport Jet Center at the John Wayne Airport. Additionally, Jeff Ross is a Managing Member of the Palomar Airport Center at the McClellan Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California. He is also a Managing Partner of CapEx, L.P., a $60-million mezzanine and equity fund based in Denver, investing in private and small public companies. CapEx provides financing to a variety of industries including aviation, manufacturing, service and distribution. Over the past 20 years, Jeff has directed approximately 75 acquisi- tions, financings and sales in excess of $800 million. Secretary Scott Owens is Senior Vice President of McClellan Jet Services, in McClellan, California, and has helped build it into the largest FBO in the greater Sacramento area over the last decade, overseeing tre- mendous growth in business jet operations and the accompanying expansion of the FBO, airfield buildings, and new partnerships like the McLellan Business Park’s collaboration with Cal Fire to create a staging area for a DC-10 and other fire-fighting aircraft operations. Other returning members of the NATA Board include Clara Bennett, Executive Director of Boca Raton Airport in Boca Raton, Florida; Curt Castagna, President and CEO Aeroplex/Aerolease Group in Long Beach, California; Gary Dempsey, Senior Vice President - Worldwide Customer Care at Jet Aviation in Teterboro, New Jersey; Clive Lowe, Senior Vice President of Atlantic Aviation Service; and Christian Sasfai, COO and Vice President of TAC Air in Dallas, Texas. “Serving on the NATA Board these last few years has been a great opportunity for me—as a career gen- eral aviation airport director—to learn about the indus- try we serve from the people who lead the industry and the issues that affect us and our customers,” said Clara Bennett. “I’m excited to have Randall Berg, another air- port director, joining the Board, and it’s already been a pleasure to get to work with each of the other new mem- bers. Anytime you have new Board members, it is a great opportunity for a fresh perspective and new ideas.” Back at Boca Raton Airport, Bennett has been busy preparing for the October 2017 completion of a new U.S. Customs and Border Protection Facility, and wrapping up $13 million in other recent improvements, including an EMAS installation on the runway. And, as she looks to upcoming debates in Washington around the FAA reau- thorization and some of the proposed legislation that could impact the general aviation industry profoundly, Bennett says she’s reminded that the needs of individual NATA members are often universal across the membership. “It’s really important, now more than ever, that NATA be able to advocate for what’s in the best interest of the entire general aviation industry,” Bennett observed. “NATA is exclusively focused on the issues that affect the many dif- ferent businesses in general aviation, and it’s crucial for the Board to be in tune with the membership and make sure our collective voice is heard as Washington debates the reautho- rization and a whole host of potential regulatory reforms.” That’s a stance we heard echoed by every member of the NATA Board. “NATA has really evolved into a position of being key to the aviation business users as a voice in Congress,” said Curt Castagna. “We have big challenges ahead within a challenging political environment, with an upcom- ing focus on the reauthorization and a number of other legislative and regulatory issues to continue to help our businesses. I think having a strong and diverse board that truly represents every facet of our industry is going to prove to be a tremendous asset. It also helps that we’re a financially healthy and streamlined organization.” Castagna says he hopes to bring expertise in col- laborative and efficient maximization of resources Continued on page 68 Aviation Business Journal | 3rd Quarter 2017 67
