New COO Position Created To Run Day-To-Day Operations
AOPA announced a significant redesign of its upper management
structure Thursday, creating the position of Chief Operating
Officer (COO) to oversee the day-to-day running of the Association,
as well as a new position to lead the AOPA Foundation, and filling
the top spot in the Association's government affairs division.
Robert H. Moran, most recently president and CEO of the Ancora
Group, LLC, has been named AOPA's COO, effective immediately. Karen
Gebhart, currently AOPA's executive vice president of
communications, will fill the newly created position of president
of the AOPA Foundation. And filling out AOPA's leadership team,
Melissa K. Rudinger, vice president and assistant to the president
of AOPA, has been named senior vice president of government
affairs, formalizing a role she has filled since earlier this
year.
"During my first year at AOPA, my travels have taken me from
Florida to Alaska and dozens of places in between, and I have been
reminded of what I learned over the years - that there is no
substitute for reaching out to people in their own backyard…
for meeting them where they are," said AOPA President and CEO Craig
L. Fuller. "Having Rob on board will ensure continued smooth
operations and decision making when I and other key members of the
leadership team must be out of the office."
Robert H. Moran has extensive association and non-profit
experience. He most recently owned and operated a management
consulting firm that has worked with AOPA for more than three
years. "AOPA is a tremendous organization that provides
unparalleled services and support to its members, and to general
aviation," said Moran. "It is an honor to be part of this dynamic
enterprise."
The Ancora Group focuses primarily on leading organizations in
transitions, developing leaders and managing talent, providing
consultation and coaching to leaders and executives, and strategic
planning and positioning. Prior to the Ancora Group, Moran headed
the California Association of Health Facilities, served as
executive vice president of the Pennsylvania Health Care
Association, and was the executive director of the American Society
for Psychoprophylaxis in Obstetrics, which revolutionized the
child-birthing experience, and of the International Halfway House
Association.
Karen Gebhart has worked with or for AOPA for 19 years, most
recently as the Association's executive vice president of the
communications. In that role, she was vital to the success of one
of AOPA's key initiatives, General Aviation Serves America, helping
to craft the messages that would convince opinion leaders and
decision makers of the value of general aviation. "Karen's intimate
knowledge of AOPA and of general aviation overall, as well as her
business and communications background, make her the ideal choice
to fill this new role, as the Foundation matures and takes on new
challenges," said Fuller. "I have great passion for general
aviation and believe we must do everything we can to protect our
freedom to fly," said Gebhart. "I look forward to working with our
members on key initiatives to preserve our future - such as growing
the pilot population and changing the public perception of GA."
Gebhart is a pilot. She joined AOPA in 1994 as vice president of
membership marketing, where she oversaw extensive membership
growth, earning a promotion to senior vice president in 1996. In
1999 she added AOPA's member products, technical assistance
hotline, and Internet department to her areas of responsibility
before being named executive vice president of non-dues revenue.
Her passion for flying is evident in the types of programs she has
championed while at AOPA, including numerous student-pilot outreach
and support efforts that have involved working with a general
aviation industry coalition. Before coming to AOPA, Gebhart was
vice president of Barry Blau & Partners in Baltimore, Maryland,
- AOPA's marketing agency at that time. Her previous agency
experience includes more than nine years in financial products
marketing, managing client relationships with Citibank, Commercial
Credit and First Chicago, among others. Gebhart holds a business
degree from Iowa State University.
Melissa K. Rudinger has been at AOPA for nearly two decades.
Most of that time was spent in the government affairs division.
During that time, she has worked on air traffic issues, aviation
security issues, aircraft certification, and other regulatory
issues affecting general aviation. She was instrumental in helping
get general aviation back in the air following the September 11,
2001, terrorist attacks, acting as a liaison between AOPA and the
Federal Aviation Administration. "Melissa's breadth and depth of
experience are just what we need to oversee the management of our
government affairs division," said Fuller. "She really understands
the issues and what is at stake for our members."
"I'm excited to have the opportunity to lead AOPA's government
advocacy efforts," said Rudinger. "AOPA's government and
legislative affairs staff is second to none and I look forward in
this new role to working with them to protect our members'
interest."
As senior vice president of government affairs, Rudinger will
oversee all aspects of AOPA's interaction with both the executive
and legislative branches of the federal government, as well as
state and local governments. Rudinger is a commercial pilot with a
lighter-than-air rating. She also has experience in flight school
management. "I am very excited about going into 2010 with this new
structure," concluded Fuller. "I am convinced that this will
greatly strengthen AOPA's ability to serve and protect our
members."