Michael Amalfitano

Embraer

Michael Amalfitano is the President and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets, leading the company’s global business with annual revenues in excess of $1.5 billion and an active fleet of more than 1,650 aircraft with over 1,000 customers worldwide. A long-standing industry veteran, Amalfitano has 40+ years of executive leadership experience in business aviation and financial services. He is a voting member of the Embraer SA Executive Leadership Management Board.

Prior to joining Embraer, Amalfitano led as Executive Vice President, Senior Managing Director of Business Aviation at Stonebriar Commercial Finance. Amalfitano also led as Managing Director, Executive Head of Global Corporate Aircraft Finance at Bank of America Merrill Lynch for over 22 years, following a decade-long tenure in sales management at GE Capital.

Amalfitano serves as a public member of the Board of Directors of Eve Holding, Inc. (EVE), a NYSE listed company (EVEX). He is also the Immediate Past Chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association (GAMA) and currently serves on their Executive, Finance, Investment, and Strategic Committees, following his previous role as Chairman of the Communications Committee. Additionally, Amalfitano serves as Chairman of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Advisory Council and is a member of the NBAA Board of Directors, Audit & Investment Committee, and Leadership Council. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) and serves on their Finance and Investment Committees.

Past board positions include former four-term OEM President representative for the International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA), Chairman of the Associate Members Advisory Council for the National Aircraft Resellers Association (NARA), and two-term President of the National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA).

Ramsey Ammar

Bizjet Law

Founding Partner

Ramsey Ammar is a founding partner of Bizjet Law. He represents both domestic and international clients on all aspects of aviation law and specializes in mergers and acquisitions in the aviation industry, purchases and sales of aircraft, aviation tax planning, and aircraft ownership structures.

Ramsey brings sophisticated state and federal tax counseling experience and extensive aviation regulatory knowledge to each and every transaction. His clients include HNWIs, owners of private and commercial aircraft, buyers, sellers, serial and portfolio entrepreneurs, lenders and other financiers. Ramsey’s goal is to distill complex tax and regulatory concepts into actionable recommendations for his clients.

Ramsey’s practice includes advising on mergers and acquisitions for traditional aviation companies, including Part 135, Part 145, and Part 137 operators, as well as fixed base operators (FBOs). Ramsey and his team help architect transaction structures (e.g., stock, asset or merger transactions), mitigate regulatory risk, coordinate key stakeholders including legal teams, brokers, and regulators, and execute the transactions.

Ramsey also has broad experience in structuring aircraft ownership and operating structures under Part 91 and Part 135 as well as complex hybrid operations. Often his services concentrate on designing and structuring business aviation related agreements, businesses, and ownership entities to meet clients’ objectives which most often include (1) FAA, DOT, and FAR compliance, and (2) the minimization of both liability and taxes related to aircraft ownership and operations.

Ramsey was selected as a 2023 NBAA Top 40 Under 40 Award Recipient, and has also been selected by Super Lawyers as a “Rising Star.”

Prior to founding Bizjet Law, Ramsey worked as an attorney in the aviation practice at Polsinelli P.C., a premier Colorado AmLaw 100 law firm. Ramsey received his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, as well as an LL.M., a Master of Laws in International Business Transactions.

Chad Anderson

Jetcraft

President

Chad Anderson joined Jetcraft in 2005 and was named President in 2010. In his current role, Chad is responsible for leading the companys overall global operations and strategy, with specialties in transaction structuring, aviation finance and tax. Prior to Jetcraft, Chad was the national asset manager and business development officer in the corporate aircraft finance division of Bank of America Leasing (formerly Fleet Capital Corporation). He directed all aircraft asset marketing, operation, support, and management functions with special focus on finance, industry intelligence and market research. He also held positions at Regent Aviation and Cessna Finance Corporation, and was an aviation underwriter for American Eagle Insurance Company.

Chad holds a B.A.A. in Aviation Administration from the University of North Dakota. He is a commercial pilot (single and multi engine) and certified flight instructor and is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Luis Barrajón

Airbus Corporate Jets

Sales & Marketing Director North America

Luis Manuel (Luisma) Barrajón is a highly accomplished sales & marketing executive with extensive experience in the aerospace industry. Currently spearheading the commercial initiatives in the North East & Central US regions and Canada at Airbus Corporate Jets, he has been instrumental in the introduction of the ACJ TwoTwenty and its competitive positioning against established large-cabin business jets. Luisma works directly with private individuals, end customers, corporate flight departments and operators to demonstrate how ACJ aircraft can meet their flight operations requirements.

Previously, he served as the Marketing Director Manager for Airbus Corporate Jets both in Washington DC and in Toulouse, focusing on the North American market and Governmental acquisitions.

His journey with Airbus began in 2012, joining the Marketing division of Airbus Defence and Space in Madrid. During this time, he made notable contributions as a Marketing Analyst for the A330 MRTT and as a Competitive Intelligence Manager, focusing on tanker and surveillance markets.

Luisma holds a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid with a specialization in Finance Management. He is a firm believer in continuous learning and went on to earn an additional master’s degree in professional development from Universidad de Alcalá.

Luisma is a native Spanish speaker with fluency in English and French. His varied interests encompass traveling, history, fitness, basketball, music and reading. Currently based in Washington, D.C., Luisma’s commercial acumen, technical expertise and strategic market insight have positioned him as a key player in Airbus Corporate Jet’s expansion efforts in the Americas.

Richard A. Berkemeier

Pegasus Aircraft Appraisal Group

Senior Aircraft Appraiser

Richard Berkemeier, ASA, Senior Appraiser at Pegasus Aircraft Appraisal Group, began his one-year term as International President for the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) effective July 1, 2022.
Mr. Berkemeier graduated from Cincinnati University and completed his required course of study for appraisal accreditation through ASA’s Appraisal Review & Management and Machinery & Technical Specialties program. He joined ASA in 1994 and earned his Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) designation in 2000. Richard has held many leadership positions, including most notably serving on ASA’s Board of Examiners, as International Vice President of ASA’s Board of Governors, as well as past Chair of ASA’s International Education Committee, ASA’s Budget and Finance Committee, and ASA’s Machinery & Technical Specialties Discipline Committee. He was also previously a member of ASA’s International Marketing Committee.
As an established senior appraiser, Richard owned and operated Pegasus Aircraft Appraisal Group, one of the world’s largest aircraft, helicopter, and parts appraisal firms, for more than 14 years. His strong passion for appraisal, valuation, and economic proposition related to aircraft and his expertise on this subject matter have taken him around the world, educating groups at the Big-4, Marsh, DLL, and many other businesses across six continents. He has taught appraisal classes in Russia, England, Japan, Australia, Germany, Korea, South Africa, Brazil, Argentina, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Canada.
Richard’s experience has included appraisals for many corporate jets, rare aircraft, helicopters, military planes, engines, spare parts, and simulators. He has been referred to as the “Appraiser to the Stars” and assisted high-profile individuals, sometimes involved in divorce cases, and has served as an industry expert witness.
Richard is a member of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the Helicopter Association International (HAI), the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT), and has been a featured speaker at many industry events. He is a life member of the Sigma Chi fraternity, a former board member with the Peace Museum, and a member of Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II Finance Committee. Mr. Berkemeier graduated from Piqua Central High School and the University of Cincinnati. Mr. Berkemeier is also an avid collector of the works of James Ingram Merrill and William Congdon.

Neil Book

JSSI

Chairman & CEO

As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Neil provides leadership and direction to the entire organization.

Prior to joining JSSI in 2012, Neil served as Vice President of Mobility for Juniper Networks, directing its mobile security business unit.  His role a Juniper began in 2010, in connection with their acquisition of SMobile Systems, where he had served as President and Chief Executive Officer. Neil began his career at AT&T where we held various management positions.

Randy Brandoff

Aviation Portfolio

Executive Vice President

Randy Brandoff is the EVP of Aviation Portfolio. Randy is an accomplished entrepreneur, executive, consultant and early-stage investor. Randy was Chief Marketing Officer of NetJets, a Berkshire Hathaway company, where he served post NetJets’ acquisition of Marquis Jet. As the first employee of Marquis Jet in 2001, Randy co-created the marketing and business development departments that drove $4 billion in sales and 80 percent customer retention. Randy is a venture partner with TIA Ventures, a seed-focused venture capital firm, and a frequent consultant and advisor to early and growth stage businesses. Randy founded and scaled Eleven James, a pioneering luxury watch membership platform. Randy was a co-founder and principal of Tequila Avion, a leading ultra-premium spirit that achieved notoriety on the HBO series “Entourage,” and successfully sold to Pernod Ricard.

Randy is on the Advisory Council for Entrepreneurship@Cornell, former executive director of Red Bear Angels, a member of YPO, and a frequent contributor to business and lifestyle media.

Lee Brewster

Thoroughbred Aviation

Vice President

Lee’s career started in an FAA Part 147 school, where she was active in career advisement and compliance. Lee was a founder of and served as the Executive Director of NCATT, which evolved into the ASTM NCATT Certifications and are now recognized as an alternate means of compliance for obtaining the FAA Repairman’s certificate. Her career naturally progressed to FlightSafety International as the Product Sales Manager for the DFW Center’s maintenance training. Her responsibilities encompassed the full line of Falcon Jets, Gulfstreams, Honeywell engines/avionics, and the Pratt &  Whitney Canada engine line. Next, she took her experience and passion for people and optimizing operational performance to Flightdocs, where she was named the Vice President of Marketing and Engagement after the acquisition by ATP. In 2022, Lee joined Thoroughbred, where she works directly to enhance and optimize internal operations and build a unique customer experience in the aircraft transaction space.

Lee holds a bachelor’s in business administration and a master’s in Education, Technology Leadership. She is chair of the Tarrant County College Aviation Advisory Board, vice-chair of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Maintenance Committee, co-chair of the  International Aviation Womens Association’s Career Growth Committee, and active member of other regional aviation groups.