2021 Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40 Award Recipients

The Next Generation of Leaders is Here

An evolving industry is being led into the future by a new generation of innovative thinkers. Unafraid of challenging norms and breaking barriers, these leaders represent a bright future for our industry. NBAA’s Young Professionals in Business Aviation (YoPro) program is privileged to tell their stories.

Earlier this year, nominations were submitted in nine career categories. NBAA’s YoPro Council reviewed these candidates and identified 40 men and women who represent the best of our industry. Read their stories below.

• 
  Brett Abbott
  Principal Pilot
  Boston Scientific
• 
  Jasmine Alvarado
  Cabin Attendant
  Clay Lacy Aviation
• 
  Claudia Arnold
  Director of Marketing
  AEG Fuels
• 
  Katherine Bales
  Assistant Airport Manager
  Napa County Airport
• 
  Alexis Bennett
  Regional Sales Director
  Textron Aviation
• 
  Kyle Black
  President and Director of Operations
  GFK Flight Support
• 
  Danielle Booth
  Director of Sales
  AVEX
• 
  Ashley Bouzianis
  Marketing Director
  Standard Aviation LLC
• 
  Griffin Bruehl
  Flight Attendant and Aviation Consultant
  Private Owner
• 
  David Buritica
  Director of Sales and Marketing
  Sheltair
• 
  Nate Dietsch
  Assistant Aviation Maintenance Manager
  Netflix
• 
  Amanda Ferraro, CAM
  CEO
  Aviation Safety Solutions, LLC
• 
  Natasha Gardner
  Cabin Attendant
  Visa
• 
  Ryan Gibbons, CAM
  Captain/Safety Officer
  CNL Aviation
• 
  Caleb Gibson
  ProOwnership Maintenance Specialist
  Textron Aviation
• 
  Julia Harrington
  Lead Captain/Base Manager PWK
  Axis Jet
• 
  Jared Hasty
  Co-Founder
  Piedmont Jets
• 
  Shelbey Hooker
  Director of Aircraft Management Services
  Jet It
• 
  Dan Jenkins
  Flight Department Solutions Consultant
  World Fuel Services
• 
  Megan Knox, CAM
  Scheduler and Accounting Administration, Aviation
  Liberty Global Inc.
• 
  Kevin Kovarik
  Senior Vice President – Underwriting, Rotary Wing Business Line Manager, Regional Supervisor
  USAIG.
• 
  Justin Lobb
  Deputy Director of Aviation
  Naples Airport Authority
• 
  Rekha Lyons
  Director of Marketing and Communications
  Hillsboro Aviation
• 
  Michael Mansur
  Aviation Maintenance Technician, Sr.
  The Williams Companies
• 
  Brett Melcher
  Aircraft Program Manager
  Encompass Health – Aviation Department
• 
  Leah Murphy
  Line Pilot
  First City Helicopter
• 
  Jason Newbold
  Founder and President
  BOLDJets
• 
  Andy Nixon
  President
  MRO Insider
• 
  Anthony Oshinuga
  USA Aerobatic Pilot
  AirOshi
• 
  Lee Rafalko
  Aviation Finance and Scheduling Manager
  Corteva Agriscience
• 
  Kerri Russi
  Cabin Safety Manager
  Adobe
• 
  Trevor Steffensen
  Systems Engineering Manager
  Gogo Business Aviation
• 
  Austin Stephens
  Captain
  TriFly LLC
• 
  Grant W. Sussey
  Airport Manager
  Watertown International Airport
• 
  Elliott Taub, CAM
  Assistant Manager Aviation
  ADS, Inc.
• 
  Jacob Velky
  Director of Aircraft Operations
  Duke Energy Corporation
• 
  Tim Wade
  Director of Environmental, Health and Safety
  Constant Aviation
• 
  Stephanie Werner
  Principal Aircraft Interior Designer & Business Development Analyst
  Exosonic, Inc.
• 
  Christina “Tina” Wilson
  Aviation Development Program Manager
  Office of Multimodal Commerce, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
• 
  Kellie Young
  International Captain – G600
  The Coca-Cola Company