Avid Pilot Takes Reins At Texas General Aviation Firm

Here's a bit of a surprise... there's been a change in leadership at Mooney Aircraft. Gretchen L. Jahn, founder and former Chief Executive Officer of two different manufacturing and software companies, has been named CEO of the Mooney Airplane Company. Ms. Jahn has served in a variety of senior management roles prior to accepting her new post. She has been the founder, CEO and Chairman of Aegis Analytical Corporation, a manufacturer of quality compliance performance software for the Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology markets. Earlier, she formed and led her own consulting company to guide manufacturing and other firms in process and productivity improvements, ERP system implementation, and positioning operations for growth.

”Gretchen has an extensive and impressive background in building and managing successful businesses,” said Tom Gray, managing director of the Mooney Airplane Company, in announcing Jahn’s appointment. “We’ve strengthened our management team by adding an experienced executive who blends manufacturing and technology experience with a lifelong love for aviation. She has earned a solid reputation during her career as an excellent assessor of markets, competitive products, financial projections and personnel and we are very pleased that she’s bringing those skills to Mooney,” he added.

Gray went on to say that, “Gretchen will provide day to day leadership as Mooney moves forward as ‘the symbol of performance’ in general aviation. I will continue as Managing Director, representing the investors and assisting with strategic direction.”

As an avid pilot for 20 years, she is a member of the 99s, the Colorado Pilots Association, and on the Board of the Air Race Classic, Inc. A resident of Eastlake, CO, Ms. Jahn will relocate to Kerrville in the near future.

Jahn is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, and holds a master’s degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colorado. After beginning her career as a senior software specialist at the Digital Equipment Corporation, she developed and managed Information Technology departments at two different companies before founding Conformation, Inc., a software consulting business, in 1979. She remained the firm’s president until merging it with Mile-High Information Services in 1991. She remained a vice president and principal of Mile-High until 1994, when she joined MIS, Inc. as vice president of engineering.

FMI: www.mooney.com