Board

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EDGEWATER, Md. - Oct. 2, 2019 – The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) is pleased to announce the recent expansion of their Board of Directors. NAFA’s Board now includes six new seats in order to better represent and serve the organization’s growing membership. Several of the new seats have been filled by manufacturers’ financial representatives, increasing NAFA’s connection and influence in the aviation finance industry, and directly benefitting members.

Jim Blessing, Vice President of AirFleet Capital, Inc. and President of NAFA, made the announcement and stated, “As NAFA continues to grow as an important partner to the global aviation industry, we must also continue to further our members’ interests and our organization’s initiatives – this expansion comes at a key point in doing exactly that. We’re excited to bring more diversity to our Board.”

Existing Officers & NAFA Board Members:

• Jim Blessing, AirFleet Capital, Director and President of NAFA
• Jim Simpson, First Republic Bank, Director and Vice-President of NAFA
• Richard Barrett, Huntington Bank, NAFA Director
• Jason Caterino, SalemFive Bank, NAFA Director
• Tracey Cheek, TLC Marketing, NAFA Marketing Director and Marketing Committee Chair
• J.C. Ferrer, Holland & Knight, NAFA Director
• Stephen Friedrich, Embraer Executive Jets, NAFA Director
• Karen Griggs, Executive Director, NAFA
• Brad Harris, Dallas Jet International, NAFA Director and NAFA 2020 Conference Chair
• Tony Kioussis, Asset Insight, Secretary of NAFA and Scholarships & Awards Committee Chair
• Tobias Kleitman, TVPX Trust Services, Treasurer of NAFA
• Dave Labrozzi, Global Jet Capital, NAFA Director
• Ed Medici, Bank of America Leasing, NAFA Director
• Debbie Mercer-Erwin, Wright Brothers Title, NAFA Director and Regulatory Committee Chair
• Adam Meredith, AOPA Finance, NAFA Director and Light Aircraft Roundtable Chair
• Lee Rohde, Essex Aviation, NAFA Director and Membership Committee Chair
• Ford von Weise, Citi Private Bank, NAFA President Emeritus
• David Warner, Lane Powell, General Counsel of NAFA

New Board Members:

• Keith Hayes, PNC Aviation Finance
• Scott Nelson, Gulfstream Aerospace
• Cathy Nyen, Cirrus Aircraft
• Donald Pointer, Dassault Falcon Jet
• Anthony Schieber, Textron Financial
• David Vandenberg, Bombardier Business Aircraft

The six new Board members provide a significant addition to the existing Board membership, rounding out representation in the light aircraft through large cabin equipment classes of aircraft.

For a full list and more information about NAFA’s Board Members, visit NAFA.aero/team.

About NAFA:  

The National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting the general welfare of individuals and organizations providing aircraft financing and loans secured by aircraft; to improving the industry's service to the public; and to providing our members with a forum for education and the sharing of information and knowledge to encourage the financing, leasing and insuring of general aviation aircraft. For more information about NAFA, visit www.NAFA.aero.