Benefitting From This Industry’s Very Impressive Brain Trust – The Hard Way
Over the past two years, as we brainstormed the concept of the “Next Big Thing” in aviation media, we did so in concert with the assistance of hundreds of people via many hundreds of conversations.
And while even the initial aspects of the Airborne Partnership Initiative require a tremendous amount of talent, work, insight and resources, it was obvious to us right from the beginning that we needed to change the leadership dynamic as we went forward from concept to reality.
Out of that process, we began to envision a pretty heavy-duty Advisory Board… not the usual group of big names offering up a few glitzy quotes once a year… but to get involved with a group of innovative leaders, highly experienced aviation community icons, and giving them some serious marching orders – to be brutally critical, to take their best shots, and to take no prisoners as they provided oversight for the building of aviation’s next NewMedia innovation… as provided by the same folks that brought you the last one.
Officially; these are the marching orders for the Airborne Advisory Board… a rotating group of 10-12 aero-leaders who will be doing their best to push us in the right direction toward a solidly disruptive and innovative path. Do understand that, according to their personal availability and resources, that we expect the Board and its participants to be an evolving program… with some stepping aside to take on other projects to allow others to offer their expertise, before returning when they're in the position to resume their roles.
AAB Mission Statement:
To provide critical guidance and insight for the Airborne Unlimited/Airborne Partnership Initiative effort, an industry-wide initiative to transform the communications processes and information outreach efforts on behalf of the entire aviation and aerospace community. AAB members are expected to monitor and inspect AU programming and efforts with an eye to providing extremely aggressive critiques and suggestions as to the progress of the mission and to keep the program on a path designed to seek a better future for the ‘Aero-Verse.’
Please note that this is not meant to be a complimentary process (at least, where we’re concerned)… in that AU staffers and management expect (and encourage) highly critical communications and insightful challenges to the processes we have started—in other words, AAB members are expected to ‘take no prisoners’ with their commentary to Airborne staff. Also; please note that no aspect of AU development is off-limits or taboo. We promise to be as transparent with them (and all of you) as we can and to honor the AAB member’s contributions with respect, consideration—and feedback.
We’ll have more to say on this as we gain momentum, and learn from this process (and what we’ve already learned over the last few days has impressed and enthused us greatly), but for now, let me introduce the inaugural members of the Airborne Advisory Board.
Phil Boyer (Chairman)
Why He’s On The Board: We know of few people that can claim to have had as positive an effect on the world of aviation as has former AOPA President, Phil Boyer. Passionate about the aviation world, Phil is the ‘real-deal’ -- a guy who led aviation very well and has experience in a stunning number of sport, general and commercial aviation disciplines… as well as being a very experienced media expert. Phil’s guidance and leadership have been critical to this program and we’re not sure we’d have gotten this far without his support. But... when he's not advising Airborne, Phil stays airworthy by flying his Beech A36 or Great Lakes Biplane... and he's got an RV-12 under construction.
Rich Davidson
Why He’s On The Board: With experience in birds ranging from flying machines that predate WWII and working, currently, as a pilot on a number of variants of the 747, Rich is one of the strongest grassroots aviation advocates we’ve ever met. Brutally frank, and the owner/operator of a beautiful grass strip (Lee Bottom) that hosts one of the best Fly-Ins in the nation, Rich and his wife Ginger, walk the walk, talk the talk and have dedicated much of their lives to this endeavor. Few flyers bring the kind of passionate expertise to this world as does Rich.
Julie Filucci
Why She’s On The Board: A flight instructor, educator and experienced industry staffer, Julie has forged a reputation as an uncompromising advocate for the aviation world. A published author (she has a GREAT book out on the DC-3), Julie has worked with some of the more demanding companies in the business and managed to maintain a sterling rep as both an educator as well as a marketing specialist. Type rated in both the Cessna Mustang and the DC-3, Filucci is now founding member of JulietBravoFox Media LLC (established March 2014), and vice president of aviation business development with Embark LLC.
Gary Harpster
Why He’s On The Board: Gary is one of the most notable players in the avionics world and has been part of it since starting with Duncan Aviation in 1985. Gary has a degree in Electronics Design Technology and has a Commercial Pilots license with over 1,000 hours of flight time. He enjoys helping others sort through all the misinformation that is out there in the industry (and is very good at it—hence the reason, he’s on speed dial at ANN). Gary is Chairman (Emeritus) of the Aircraft Electronics Association, and past Chairman of the Trustee Committee.
Dr. Don Marinelli
Why He’s On The Board: What ANN did some 20 years ago revolutionized aviation media -- and if we hope to succeed in raising the bar even higher, it will be with the guidance of media/education experts like Don Marinelli. Dr. Marinelli retired from Carnegie Mellon University in April 2012, concluding 31 years of service to the university in a variety of capacities where, together with the late computer science professor, Randy Pausch (The Last Lecture), he co-founded the world-renowned Carnegie Mellon Entertainment Technology Center (ETC). Don is one of the few folks that is qualified to truly discern the future of media and entertainment, having been one of the men who defined it over the last couple of decades. With a love for and a fascination with aviation, Don’s assistance is critical to the goals we have established for the Airborne mission in years ahead—and best of all, he’s been a delight to work with.
Gregg Maryniak
Why He’s On The Board: Who hasn’t heard about the wonders of the XPrize revolution? Well, if anyone was truly responsible for getting it off the ground, it has to be aerospace educator and industry leader, Gregg Maryniak (shown below, center pic, in Zero-G with Burt Rutan). Gregg’s gift of a book about the Orteig Prize, won by Charles Lindbergh, is credited with inspiring Peter Diamandis to make it a reality. An instrument-rated commercial pilot with more than 30 years of flight experience, Maryniak was the Flight Director for Erik Lindbergh’s New Spirit of St. Louis flights in 2002 – and he has also served as the Director of the James S. McDonnell Planetarium, the Vice President for Energy and Aerospace of the Saint Louis Science Center and the Corporate Secretary and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of XPRIZE. Most of all, Gregg is one of the most insightful folks we’ve ever worked with… and a personal inspiration to many of
us at ANN.
Rol Murrow
Why He’s On The Board: A true networking wonder-guy, Rol serves as Executive Director of the Wolf Aviation Fund, a nonprofit foundation which provides grants and disseminates information supporting general aviation and improving the public's understanding of it. Hundreds of grants have been awarded to date and if anyone understands the value of innovation in the aviation world, it’s Rol. We’re not the only ones to think highly of the guy -- some time ago, AOPA President Phil Boyer asked Rol to serve on the founding board of the Alliance for Aviation Across America during its initial phases, in order to emphasize the value of charitable aviation in service to the Nation. Rol is also currently leading the inspiring work of the Air Care Alliance.
Roger Sharp
Why He’s On The Board: Unconventional, outspoken and a master flight training innovator, Roger Sharp is a perfect selection for the AAB. Roger is currently the General Manager of Flight Operations for RedBird Skyport and stays an active flight instructor and pilot examiner in airplanes, seaplanes, and helicopters. With a Master's degree in Educational Management, Roger has authored over a dozen Part 141 FITS accepted courses for airplanes and helicopters and represented various aviation industry entities such as RedBird and Cessna Aircraft on FAA Advisory Councils. Watching his work at Redbird has been fascinating (and often downright amusing) and we’re thrilled to have him be a part of the Airborne Advisory Board.
Bob Showalter
Why He’s On The Board: One of our favorite stops in Orlando is at Showalter Flying Service (recently sold to a major FBO chain), where family patriarch Bob Showalter has been holding court for decades. One of the most powerfully persuasive GA advocates we’ve ever met, this is a guy who has worked as hard in the aviation business as anyone we know… and given back as good as he’s gotten… which is saying something. He’s a plain-speaking guy, and manages to be a good challenge in any conversation involving aviation – a conversation which he usually wins. We’ve bugged him a number of times over the years about aviation matters and never come away disappointed… and couldn’t be happier to have him aiding the AAB with the wealth of business and aviation experience he brings to this program.
Patty Wagstaff
Why She’s On The Board: One of the most important traits that Patty brings to the AAB (according to a few folks at ANN) is her willingness to pick a fight with ANN CEO, Jim Campbell (grin). But far more noteworthy are her many accomplishments in the aviation world… not the least of which has been her consistent expert presence on the airshow circuit and her abilities in the competitive aerobatic world, earning Patty her first position on the US Aerobatic Team in 1985. Patty has worked hard in a number of aviation disciplines outside of the airshow biz… including flight instruction, T6A/B Texan II demo pilot, and Cal Fire/Air Attack OV-10 Bronco pilot. Thousands have been inspired to join the ranks of aviation by Patty and in her latest pursuit, now at the helm of the Patty Wagstaff Aerobatic School, she’ll be helping the industry turn out safer and more confident flyers.
Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.17.24)
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