NATA Annual Meeting Confirms Three New Board Members and Continuity in Leadership
NATA (the National Air Transportation Association) announces continued leadership of board of directors and the election of three new members following its annual meeting of the members held during its Air Charter Summit.
Todd Anderson, chief operating officer of Sheltair Aviation, has been reelected for a 1-year term of board chair and 2-year term as past chair. Clive Lowe, executive vice president at Atlantic Aviation, will continue to serve as immediate past chair on NATA’s Executive Committee for an additional 1-year term. Anderson's home base is in Orlando, Florida, while Lowe is located in Arlington, Virginia.
“I would like to recognize Todd Anderson and Clive Lowe for their ongoing devotion to furthering NATA’s mission,” stated NATA President and CEO Curt Castagna. “Over the past few years, Todd and Clive have been instrumental in supporting NATA’s efforts to shape and influence industry standards and policy decisions, as well as pursue solutions to prioritize the safety and economic viability of our industry. We look forward to seeing these initiatives and the Board continue to flourish under their leadership.”
Renewing for an additional 3-year term is C.R. Sincock of Avlfight, headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Geoff Heck, president and COO of Aero Centers based in Orlando, Florida; Donald Howell, president and CFO at Southern Sky in Birmingham, Alabama; and Eric Legvold, president and CEO of Davinci Jets in Charlotte, North Carolina, were elected to serve at-large.
“As NATA’s scope, influence, and reach grow, Geoff, Donald, and Eric will contribute significant experience, perspective, and depth to the Association’s governance,” added Castagna. “We look forward to continuing to elevate NATA’s profile and programs with executive leaders who are dedicated to placing the health and welfare of the overall membership first by fostering open communication and exploring opportunities that benefit all general aviation industry stakeholders.”
Donald A. Howell joined Southern Sky Aviation in February 2018 as chief financial officer and assumed the dual role of president and chief financial officer in November 2018. Howell is responsible for overseeing daily operations across all service segments of the business and has overall financial responsibility for the company. He also works with the chairman and chief executive officer to set the company’s strategic direction and identify target acquisitions. Howell graduated from Auburn University in 1990 with an accounting degree. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant with 27 years of public accounting experience in the aviation, distribution, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and distribution industries. He also specializes in mergers and acquisitions.
Geoff Heck was named president/COO of Aero Centers in 2023. He is responsible for propelling safety, operational effectiveness, and enhancing customer experience for its seven fixed-base operations (FBOs) across the US. Heck leads a dynamic team of over 250 members, with financial and operational oversight across the company's comprehensive portfolio, which includes traditional FBO services such as fuel, hangar, parking, part 145 aircraft maintenance, as well as part 135 aircraft management and charter. Previously, Heck ascended through various management positions within the Signature Flight Support network starting in 1985. He last served as Signature’s senior vice president of Global Operations, where he oversaw the management of over 6,500 employees and was responsible for the operational integrity of 200 FBOs worldwide. Heck also serves as a board member and Credit Committee Chair for Wings Credit Union, a $10B financial institution headquartered in Minnesota.
Eric Legvold is the CEO and co-founder of Davinci Jets based in North Carolina. Legvold is a seasoned aviator and has served as a professional aviation manager for more than two decades. He has over 20 years of experience flying corporate business jets. In addition to extensive operational expertise and industry knowledge, Legvold holds multiple jet aircraft type-ratings and has thousands of hours of flight time in Cessna Citation Jets, Gulfstreams and other mid-size and super mid-size business jets. Legvold's aviation journey began in 1999 when he started as a co-pilot for a small charter operation in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Legvold quickly advanced to the role of Chief Pilot. In 2004, he co-founded Davinci Jets and assumed the position of director of operations. In 2015, Eric Legvold assumed the role of CEO at Davinci Jets, where under his leadership, the company has continued to thrive and expand. He has actively contributed his insights to various industry committees and boards, influencing the future of aviation.
