Craig Foster is currently President of Jet Source, a fixed base operation (FBO) and Part 145 repair station located at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad, CA. Mr. Foster has been in aviation services for 25 years, serving various roles with single location, small chain, and national chain aviation organizations. Prior to Jet Source, Mr. Foster was most recently VP/General Manager of Premier Jet, also in Carlsbad. Mr. Foster has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Walla Walla College and is an instrument rated private pilot.
Steve Nielsen
Vice President
Director of Aviation, Avalon Capital
Mr. Nielsen is currently the Director of Aviation for Avalon Capital where he operates a Global Express and a Eurocopter 145. Mr. Nielsen has over 45 years in corporate aviation experience. He retired from Yum Brands after 21 years as their aviation director. He is a former member of the National Business Aviation Association board of directors and NetJets advisory board. Mr. Nielsen served in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 - 1970.
Charlie Ferraro
Treasurer
Regional Vice President, Signature Flight
Mr. Ferraro is the Regional Vice President of Signature Flight Support. Mr. Ferraro's experience includes oversight and execution of corporate FBO transitions in the United States and international locations. Prior to his tenure with Landmark Aviation, Mr. Ferraro served in a management capacity with Landmark, Encore FBO, Black Canyon Jet Center, Atlantic Aviation and Trajen FBO Network.
Austin Blue
Secretary
President, Spectrum Aeronautical
Details coming soon
Debi Carpenter
Executive Director
DC Marketing
Debi Carpenter is the founder and leader of
DC Marketing, which offers a full-service network of business, design, advertising and marketing
professionals to the aviation industry.
Debi
has more than 27 years of business development and marketing
experience, with the last 15 years being spent in all aspects of
business aviation. She has served as Director of Sales and Marketing
with companies offering aircraft sales,
aircraft management, charter, fuel, avionics and maintenance. Debi has
also worked closely with aircraft and
avionics manufacturers, and flight training companies.
Currently, Debi also serves as the Executive Director of Southern
California Aviation Association (SCAA), in which capacity she presides over several aspects and events on
behalf of the 800-plus-member organization. A volunteer with SCAA since its inception in 2006, Debi later
ascended to the Marketing and Event Chair position in 2008 before being named Executive Director in 2012.
Debi also serves on the National Business Aviation’s (NBAA) Local
and Regional Group Leadership Committee. Previously, Debi has a served as a volunteer for the
American Heart Association (AHA) and launched a North San Diego County Make-A-Wish event to raise money
for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Truly passionate about and entrenched in the aviation industry and
community, Debi learned to fly the Cirrus SR20 in 2011.
Earl Marchesi
Director-at-Large
Director of Operations & Development, Corporate Air Parts
Mr. Marchesi is the Director of Operations & Development for Corporate Air Parts, Inc. where he specializes in cabin safety equipment and training for some of the largest air taxi operations in the world. Earl began his aviation career while in high school and has nearly 40 years of aviation and aerospace experience, including a total of 14 years as an air traffic controller, trainer and supervisor. He has received flight training both FlightSafety International’s Academy and Air Force Aero Clubs, and is proud to have been a charter member and chapter President for the first Jaycee chapter on a U.S. military installation. He earned a B.S from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale’s School of Engineering, and holds FAA Control Tower Operator, Repairman, and Commercial pilot certificates.
Julie Broderick
Director-at-Large
Area Director, Signature Flight Support
Julie Broderick is a seasoned general aviation industry veteran with more than twenty-five years of progressive FBO management experience. Ms. Broderick is presently the Area Director of Signature’s Southern California operations at Orange County, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs, and Thermal airports. Ms. Broderick is well known to the industry, having been named a “Best FBO Employee” by Professional Pilot magazine six times. Ms. Broderick has successfully managed the transition of numerous FBOs from former FBO Operators to Signature Flight Support.
Dave Ryan
Director-at-Large
Director of Flight Operations, MedImpact
Dave Ryan is the Director of Flight Operations for MedImpact Healthcare Systems in San Diego. Ryan brings over 30 years of aviation experience in corporate and OEM sectors of the industry and has held various positions as a Program Director, Adjunct Professor, Corporate Pilot, Senior Air Safety Investigator, Safety Captain/Demonstration Pilot, Chief Pilot and Aviation Safety Consultant to name a few. In addition, Ryan has served on the Bombardier Learjet Advisory Committee, Bombardier Challenger Advisory Committee, Center for Aerospace Safety Education Industry Committee (Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University), General Aviation Air Safety Investigators Committee, SCAA Safety Committee (previous Chairman), and the NBAA Safety Committee.Prior to joining MedImpact and Crownair Aviation Ryan was the Chief Pilot for Bombardier Aerospace / Learjet in Wichita, KS. During his tenure there, he managed the daily operations of the Learjet Flight Demonstration Team. Ryan was also responsible for department Safety programs and served on the design, development, and flight test team for the Challenger 300 Certification Program. He was also instrumental in the development and execution of the Bombardier Safety Standdown programs.
Tim Goulet
Director-at-Large
Universal Weather
Details coming soon
Curt Castagna, C.M.
Director-at-Large
President/CEO, Aeroplex/Aerolease Group
Mr. Castagna is the President/CEO of the Aeroplex/Aerolease Group and the current President of the Van Nuys Airport Association. He has over 35 years of expertise in FBO operations and management, facility design, development and construction, leasing, business development and airport advocacy. In addition to being an adjunct professor in the aviation program at Cal State University Los Angeles, Curt is a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and a pilot, with a range of experience in aircraft, airport operations, as well as airport security and environmental regulations.
Joe Barber
Director-at-Large
Director of Aircraft Management Sales, Clay Lacy
Mr. Barber works with individuals and corporations to tailor an aircraft management program for their jet and their objectives, providing the personal, professional client service. Joe has more than seven years of industry experience, including flight logistics coordination as well as charter sales. He has also helped develop marketing and sales programs for aircraft management companies. Joe has a B.A. in Communication Studies from California State University, Northridge, where he minored in Business Marketing.
