Four New Members Include Alumni, Experts In Aerospace Finance, Alternative Energy, Health And Insurance

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University’s Board of Trustees has elected four new members to help shape the future of the world’s top aerospace and aviation academic institution – Dr. Charles D. “Chuck” Duva, president and CEO of DuvaSawko; C. Jeffrey (Jeff) Knittel, president of CIT Transportation Finance; David B. O'Maley, chairman emeritus and retired president and CEO of Ohio National Life Insurance Company; and Jon W. Slangerup, an executive advisor to Moelis Capital Partners.

“We’re excited to welcome these new trustees with their wide variety of experience and solid records of leadership in their industries and communities,” said Dr. John P. Johnson, Embry-Riddle president. “Jeff and Jon are also Embry-Riddle alumni, giving them additional insight into the university’s challenges and opportunities.”

Dr. Charles D. “Chuck” Duva is the president and CEO of DuvaSawko, handling coding, billing, accounts receivable and practice management for emergency departments across the United States.

In addition, he is the chief operating officer of Emergency Medicine Professionals, P.A., which has held emergency department contracts with numerous Central Florida hospitals for more than 35 years, and CEO of PrimeCare Urgent Care Centers in the Daytona Beach, FL area. Previously Dr. Duva practiced emergency medicine for 20 years and was co-founder and vice president of Fish Memorial Hospital in DeLand, FL.

Dr. Duva is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and a certified medical manager. He is also a member of the Reimbursement Committee of the Florida College of Emergency Physicians (FCEP) and former chair of FCEP’s Medical Economics Committee.

C. Jeffrey (Jeff) Knittel is the president of CIT Transportation Finance, providing financing solutions for the aerospace, rail and maritime industries. He manages five CIT groups: Business Aircraft, CIT Maritime Finance, CIT Rail, Commercial Airlines and Transportation Lending. Mr. Knittel began his transportation finance career with Cessna Finance Co. and later joined Manufacturers Hanover Leasing Corp.

He is the chairman of the board of Just One Break and a member of the board of the Viscardi Center, both organizations aiding people with disabilities; a member of the board of the USO of Metropolitan New York; a member and former president of the Board of Governors of the Wings Club; and a senior appraiser with the International Society of Transport Aircraft Traders. Mr. Knittel earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation management from Embry-Riddle and completed the advanced management program of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.

David B. O'Maley is chairman emeritus and former president and CEO of the Ohio National Life Insurance Company, where he held various executive positions from 1992 until his retirement in 2012. In previous experience he was a top-level administrator with Life of Virginia for 24 years. Mr. O’Maley serves on the board of directors of U.S. Bancorp and the charitable Million Dollar Round Table Foundation, and is a member of the Cincinnati Business Committee and director emeritus of Bridges for a Just Community.

An active pilot, he is the founder and volunteer chairman of the Tri-State Warbird Museum in Batavia, Ohio, one of the largest collections of flyable World War II aircraft in the world. Mr. O’Maley earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in financial services from American College. He also received designations as a chartered life underwriter and chartered financial consultant.

Jon W. Slangerup currently serves on the executive advisory board of Moelis Capital Partners, where he consults on acquisitions, and on the boards of several portfolio companies. Over his lifetime he has accrued 34 years of corporate leadership experience and for the past 20 years has been president, CEO and/or director of both public and private companies.

Mr. Slangerup’s start in military and commercial aviation led to a 20-year career with FedEx, where he advanced through the ranks to become president of FedEx Canada. Since then, he has held executive positions with companies focused on bringing leading-edge products to market in the fields of industrial software, alternative fuels, renewable energy, distributed generation and water treatment. Mr. Slangerup graduated cum laude from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Kennedy-Western University. He is also a certified board leadership fellow with the National Association of Corporate Directors.

FMI: www.erau.edu