FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Eric R. Byer
Vice President, Government and Industry Affairs
800-808-6282
ebyer@nata.aero
NATA APPOINTS THREE NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEMBERS
Alexandria, VA, May 4, 2011 — The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) elected three new members to its board of directors today at its annual membership meeting. The new members are S. Michael Scheeringa, president, Signature Flight Support, Marian Epps, chief financial officer, Epps Aviation, and Ed Kilkeary, Sr., founder and CEO, L.J. Aviation.
Michael Scheeringa is the president of Signature Flight Support and is responsible for Signature Flight Support’s more than 100 fixed base operations. Michael’s background includes commercial and general aviation. Before joining Signature, Michael was chief executive officer of Flight Options, which was the world's second largest operator of business jets. Prior to that, he spent 13 years at US Airways, held officer-level positions, and had the oversight of several of the company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries. Michael earned a degree in transportation and logistics management from Arizona State University.
Click here to read Michael Scheeringa’s full bio.
Marian Epps is CFO of Epps Aviation, an FBO based at Dekalb Peachtree Airport in Atlanta, GA. A graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Marian earned a B.S. Industrial Management degree with a certificate in Technical and Business Communications.
At the age of 14, Marian soloed a glider; at 16, she soloed a “real” plane; and obtained her pilot’s license at 17. After graduation from Georgia Tech, Marian spent 10 years working in the securities industry for such leading financial services firms as Merrill Lynch and Smith Barney and earning her Series 7, Series 63 and Certified Financial Planner designation from 1994-1999.
After gaining experience outside the family business, she returned to Atlanta in 1993 to join Epps Aviation in a marketing role. In 1995, she was promoted to the position of CFO and elected to the board of directors in 2007. She manages accounting operations and information technology, and oversees charter, aircraft management, and Pilatus aircraft sales while building relationships with key customers, vendors and suppliers.
Click here to read Marian Epps’ full bio.
A career in aviation began for L.J. Aviation CEO and President Ed Kilkeary, Sr. in the most dramatic way possible -- as a helicopter crewmember in Vietnam. Returning to Latrobe, PA, after combat, Ed Sr. parlayed his skill of flying and love of aeronautics into L.J. Aviation, named, appropriately enough, for the plane that launched his civilian career – the Lear Jet. With the same precision, tenacity and focus that made him an exceptional pilot, Ed Sr. founded the company in 1980 and built L.J. Aviation into one of the top charter and aircraft management companies in the country.
L.J Aviation is truly a family-owned and operated business. Ed Sr., his wife, five children and an extended family of more than 125 employees manage a fleet of 31 multi-purpose aircraft (including large, medium and light jets, turbo-props and helicopters), as well as service clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic region with base operations in nine locations nation-wide, including Latrobe and Pittsburgh. Ed Sr. personally holds 11 type ratings and an ATP in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, and has logged over 24,000 flight hours to date.
This year, L.J. Aviation proudly celebrates its 30th anniversary and the passionate vision of Ed, Sr. After three decades of service to its customers and community, L.J. Aviation remains synonymous with high quality and dedicated to an enduring tradition of excellence in all the company does.
Click here to read Ed Kilkeary’s full bio.
“NATA’s Board of Directors comprises the finest leaders representing all areas of general aviation,” said NATA President James K. Coyne. “The association will benefit tremendously from the vast experience of Michael, Marian and Ed. We appreciate their support and commitment in joining the NATA Board of Directors.”
Click here to view the full list of the NATA Board of Directors.
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NATA, the voice of aviation business, is the public policy group representing the interests of aviation businesses before the Congress and federal agencies.