Oct 4, 2021
On Oct. 1, NBAA presented its prestigious Silk Scarf Award to Richard Schwartz, director of aviation operations for Enterprise Holdings, in recognition of his decades-long commitment to safe flight operations and to promoting the benefits of business aviation.
Enterprise Holdings relies on business aviation as an essential tool in managing its more than 8,000 Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car locations worldwide. Schwartz has led flight operations for the company since 2004, and he has also helped expand Enterprise’s products and support for general aviation and business aviation operators and companies.
“On behalf of NBAA, we thank Rick for his hard work in not only building a safe and efficient flight operation, but also for his leadership in fostering companywide appreciation for the value of business aviation at Enterprise Holdings,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “I am honored to present our Silk Scarf Award to Rick Schwartz in recognition of these efforts.”
In recent years, several Enterprise Holdings executives have also espoused the value of business aviation. Andrew Taylor, the company’s executive chairman, delivered the keynote presentation at the 2014 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) and offered his testimonial about the value of business aviation in the inaugural “Top Ten” resource, produced for the No Plane No Gain industry advocacy campaign, in which 10 respected CEOs affirmed how business aviation works for their companies.
Two years later, Enterprise Holdings President and Chief Executive Officer Pamela Nicholson further noted that “business aviation is a transportation mode that helps us be more efficient, productive and successful” in the expanded “Business Leaders on Business Aviation” resource. Nicholson later joined company Executive Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer Christine Taylor in speaking at the opening keynote session of the 2018 edition of NBAA-BACE.
Schwartz came to Enterprise Holdings after leading the flight operation at Ford Motor Company. He also worked previously at Executive Jet International and Eastman Kodak, and he served as a chief pilot, instructor and check airman for Freedom Airlines.
In addition to receiving the Silk Scarf Award, Schwartz was inducted into the FAA’s Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award Program in recognition of 50 or more consecutive years of safe flight operations.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.