NBAA Welcomes Announcement of New AOPA President

Contact: Dan Hubbard, (202) 783-9360, dhubbard@nbaa.org

Washington, DC, August 20, 2013 – The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) today welcomed the announcement of the selection of Mark Baker as the new president of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said, “We are pleased to welcome a longtime AOPA member, businessman, and pilot to this important leadership position in the general aviation community. AOPA is a vital association and a great champion for general aviation.”

Bolen added that “NBAA has long had an extremely close and effective relationship with AOPA, one that has involved successful advocacy on behalf of important general aviation issues, and we look forward to continuing to build on this relationship.”

“We congratulate the Board of Trustees on their selection, and welcome Mark to his new leadership role,” Bolen said. “He has served as an executive with several NBAA Member companies, and we look forward to partnering with him on issues that affect general aviation.”

According to the AOPA announcement, Baker is an aircraft owner and pilot with more than 7,500 hours of flight time, and a successful businessman who has served as president and CEO of Orchard Supply Hardware Corporation, president and COO of Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, president and CEO of Gander Mountain Company, and COO of The Home Depot.

Baker will be the fifth president of AOPA.

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Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 9,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition, the world’s largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.

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