Announces Changes To Board Governance

Last week at its annual Membership Meeting, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) announced the selection of Andy Priester, President and Chief Executive Officer, Priester Aviation in Wheeling, IL, as Chair of the NATA Board of Directors. The association also named Marty Hiller, Owner and Partner, Marathon Jet Center in Marathon, FL, board Vice-Chair.

NATA also elected two new members to its board of directors: Scott Owens (left), Senior Vice President, McClellan Jet Services in McClellan, CA and Jeff Ross (right), President and Chief Executive Officer, Ross Aviation in Denver, CO.

Scott Owens, Senior Vice President of McClellan Jet Services, Fixed Base Operations has been with MJS since its inception in September 2001. In 2011, he became one of six partners in the surrounding privately held economic development project known as McClellan Business Park which has successfully transformed the BRAC-closed former McClellan Air Force Base properties located in Sacramento, California with an existing 8.5 million square feet of mixed use buildings and 3,000 acres of land, into a thriving business park and airfield adding 16,000 jobs to the local community since its beginning in 1998. Mr. Owens has 35 years of experience in the business aviation industry.

His early career through 2001 was in business aviation maintenance and included various roles from Mechanic, Supervisor and Management/Senior Management positions for various firms as well as aircraft maintenance consulting on his own. He has extensive experience with Federal Aviation Maintenance Regulations, specializing in FAA Part 145 Repair Station certification, Part 135 Charter maintenance operations and compliance and has held an Airframe and Power Plant Mechanics License and an Inspection Authorization certification for over 30 years.

Jeff Ross in an FBO industry veteran with twenty years of experience. During this time he has owned and operated a total of twenty FBOs.

In 2004, Jeff founded Ross Aviation. Ross Aviation was a premier FBO network encompassing prime locations in Denver, Colorado; Scottsdale, Arizona; Miami, Florida; the Hawaiian Islands (six locations); Santa Fe, New Mexico; Fresno, California; Anchorage, Alaska. Laredo, Texas; Trenton, New Jersey; Spokane, Washington; Thermal, California; Williston, North Dakota; Midland, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and its newest location, Bermuda. Additionally, Jeff Ross is a managing member of the Palomar Airport Center at the McClellan Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, California. Prior to Ross Aviation, Jeff had a portfolio of 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.

In August 2014, Ross Aviation sold the bulk of its portfolio to Landmark Aviation. At each FBO, Jeff’s team increased fuel sales, market share, operating profits and ultimately the value of the invested capital.

“The NATA Board of Directors comprises the finest leaders representing all areas of general aviation," said NATA President and CEO Thomas L. Hendricks. "The association will benefit tremendously from the vast experience of Andy, Marty, Scott and Jeff. We appreciate their support and commitment to advancing safety and prosperity in the aviation business community by joining the NATA Board of Directors," stated Hendricks.

(Images provided by NATA)

FMI: www.nata.aero