Jan. 16, 2020
NBAA may be headquartered in Washington, DC, but on any given day, the association’s regional representatives and many of its staff members can be found fanned out across the country, meeting with local and regional aviation groups, attending conferences and working closely with members and business aviation advocates nationwide.
This essential two-way communication between NBAA staff and local business aviation operators and advocates starts right at the top, with NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen frequently traveling to participate in meetings and conferences. On Monday Jan. 13, Bolen spoke at the annual kick-off luncheon for the Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA), and on Tuesday, Jan. 14, he was the featured speaker at the annual meeting of the Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA).
“We are most appreciative that Ed and [NBAA Central Eastern Regional Representative] Paige Kroner made it very clear that they are available and here to help as we tackle key aviation issues on a local level that NBAA is working on at the national level,” said newly-elected CABAA president Norah Lenardic. “It is reassuring to know the importance NBAA continues to give workforce development, for instance.”
About 100 CABAA members and guests attended the meeting, according to Lenardic. “We were surprised to hear about the strides taken in sustainable fuel, and to hear Ed’s first-hand knowledge about UAMs and how fast this technology is advancing,” she said.
On Tuesday at Denver’s Centennial Airport, Bolen spoke to more than 60 attendees at CABA’s annual meeting of members. Kristi Ivey, NBAA’s Northern Mountain regional representative, also participated. Bolen discussed a number of key priorities for NBAA in 2020, including the need for business aviation to embrace innovation and new technologies; continuing to lead the charge in sustainability, for which the industry already has a good track record and the importance of workforce development.
“We need to keep people excited about business aviation and tell our story,” Bolen told the CABA members. “We have a lot to offer as a career, and we have best, coolest and newest technology. We have opportunities to give back, and we are a community that takes care of people.”
CABA chairman Chris Swathwood noted that “CABA appreciates the continued and valuable support of NBAA in helping us advance general and business aviation in the state through their tireless advocacy for our industry at the federal level.”