A lifelong aviation enthusiast who joined&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;in 2007, Curt came to&nbsp;the publication&nbsp;from the broadcast industry where he was a national science and technology television reporter and producer. He writes on the FBO field, aviation finance, and sustainable aviation and occasionally contributes to&nbsp;AIN&nbsp;sister publication&nbsp;Business Jet Traveler. Curt was a member of the AINtv reporting staff that won the 2008 Aerospace Journalist of the Year award for Best Airshow Daily. That same year, he was a finalist for another AJOYA award. He earned an AJOYA for Best Business Aviation Submission in 2018 and was a finalist in that category in 2021. He received the National Air Transportation Association’s&nbsp; Aviation Journalist Award in 2012 and won a Pegasus Sapphire Business Aviation Award for outstanding journalism in 2021.
Before joining AIN, Curt worked with&nbsp;Consumer Reports’ television division, CRTV, and for several local television news staffs. An honors graduate of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, he earned a master’s degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University in 1995. Curt lives in New York State with his wife and two young sons.

Senior Editor

Curt Epstein

Jet Support Services (JSSI) has named Lou Seno its new president. He has three decades of aircraft financing experience and previously was a senior manager at Boeing Capital’s and GE Capital Solutions’ business aviation units.
Orlando, Fla.-based Signature Flight Support promoted David Best from managing director for Europe and the Middle East to chief commercial officer. Steve Lee, previously the company’s president for North America, has been named COO, while Mark Johnstone, formerly group corporate development director for parent company BBA Aviation, has been promoted to CFO. The company also named Debbie Martin, former director of customer relations for Monterey Jet Center, as its sales manager for the northwestern U.S. 
Dallas-based aircraft services provider Imaginaire Private Jet Charter named Bill Koch its new CEO. He recently served as president and COO for Dallas-based FBO and flight services firm Seven Bar Enterprises.
The National Air Transportation Association has a new leadership slate. Kurt Sutterer, who announced his retirement as president of Midcoast Aviation, has been named chairman. He replaces Dennis Keith, president of JetSolutions. James Miller, Flight Options executive v-p, was chosen as the association’s new vice chairman. Todd Duncan, chairman of Duncan Aviation; Kenneth Forester, CEO of Meridian Air Charter; and Mark Willey, CEO of Bridgeford Flying Services, joined NATA’s board of directors. The association also hired Michael France, previously quality control and training coordinator with Volo Aviation, as its new manager for regulatory affairs.
Oliver Masefield, former v-p of engineering at Eclipse Aviation, is returning to Pilatus Aircraft as manager of engineering in the firm’s advanced projects office. The Swiss airframer also announced the promotion of Bruno Cervia to head of research and development, replacing John Senior, who is leaving the company after 20 years. 
Duluth, Minn.-based Cirrus Aircraft named Ian Bentley to the post of v-p and managing director of international sales. Most recently he was the company’s v-p of products and services.
StandardAero has appointed Chris Swan, previously a regional director with GE Aviation, v-p and general manager of its component services operation in Cincinnati. The Tempe, Ariz.-based service provider has also named COO Jack Lawless president of subsidiary Associated Air Center in Dallas. He will continue in his COO capacity as well. 
Don Petersen has been named president of Midcoast Aviation and Jet Aviation’s North America maintenance and completions businesses. He was previously v-p and general manager for product support at sister company Gulfstream’s Appleton, Wis.; Westfield, Mass.; and Minneapolis facilities.
André Wall, Jet Aviation’s COO of Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia operations, has left the company. Charles Celli, previously v-p and general manager of Gulfstream’s Dallas service center, has been named head of completions for Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia as well as general manager of Jet Aviation Basel. Also at the Basel facility, Elisabeth Harvey has been promoted to manager of interior design. 
Waco, Texas-based avionics supplier FreeFlight Systems announced the appointment of Alain Brunais as CFO. Previously he held the same title with Turbomeca. Gulfstream has named new managers at three of its facilities. Robby Harless, previously general manager at the company’s Brunswick, Ga. facility, has been named v-p and general manager of the Dallas facility. He will be succeeded by Ron Aldrich, formerly the company’s final phase director, who has been named Brunswick’s general manager. Greg Laabs, director of service, will be the interim site leader at the company’s Appleton, Wis. facility. 
Denton, Texas-based training specialist U.S. Flight Academy has hired Jim Tardi as v-p and director of training for all operations. Most recently he was director of training at the Air Safety Flight Academy in Glendale, Ariz.
Eugene Clow, formerly TAG Aviation’s regional v-p of aircraft acquisition and sales, has joined Broomfield, Colo.-based transaction consultancy Jet Advisors as v-p of sales.
Satellite Beach, Fla.-based communications solutions provider Satcom Direct has named Rob Waterhouse, previously senior manager for sales and business aviation services with Arinc, as its new director of sales. 
Phoenix-based AmSafe has named Chris Muklevicz, formerly v-p of sales and marketing with Danaher, as its new v-p of sales for its aviation business unit.
Sabreliner has announced promotions and organizational changes at its St. Louis headquarters and Southeast Missouri operations. D. J. “Jim” Meier was promoted to senior v-p for government and subcontracting services. Gene Harbula has been named senior v-p for strategic development, while Cindy Tekeser has been promoted to director for contracts. Mark Weir, v-p of the company’s Ste. Genevieve operations, assumes the additional responsibilities of managing engineering and tooling manufacturing at the facility. Jay Hoffer moved from the Perryville facility to become senior director, St. Mary operations. Craig Anderson, senior director for quality assurance and product integrity, has had his duties expanded to include Perryville engineering and planning. Patrick Finneran Jr., who recently retired as v-p of Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems, has joined the company as executive advisor to the chairman.
John Avery, previously with British Airways, has joined UK-based parts supply and repair specialist A.J. Walter Aviation as its director of supply chain services.
Kevin Whitmore, a former Bombardier Learjet field service technician, has joined Nashville, Tenn.-based aviation services provider Averitt Air as its new service manager.
NationAir Aviation Insurance, headquartered in Chicago, has appointed three new sales executives: Alison Hunter for the Great Lakes region, Brian Lauer for the Southeast and Jamie Zigler for Missouri and surrounding states.
Fargo Jet Center has promoted Jeremy Sobolik to line service manager. 
Waterford, Mich.-based aircraft services provider Pentastar Aviation has made several staff additions: flight operation manager Steve Mineck, flight follower supervisor Patrick Tschudi, aircraft charter sales representative Stacy McFall and customer care representative Jessica Brant. The company also promoted Keith Hagner from avionics lead to avionics supervisor and Cate Ovenshire from flight attendant to customer service representative.
Air BP has added two new managers to its sales team. Kenneth Edwards has worked with Epic Aviation for the past five years as manager of strategic and process analysis, while Tracy Thomason joins the company with 25 years of marketing and sales experience. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

People in Aviation: May 2009

Jet Support Services (JSSI) has named Lou Seno its new president.

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