 |
Kenneth
C. Ricci
Chief Executive Officer
Kenneth C. Ricci is a 26 year aviation veteran and among the industry’s most dynamic leaders. In 1980, Kenn founded Corporate Wings, an aircraft management, charter and FBO organization. Corporate Wings grew to include other aviation support services including aircraft maintenance and repair and acquired several regional fixed base operations.
Under Ricci’s leadership, Corporate Wings earned a spot the Inc. 500 plus the Weatherhead 100; recognizing the 100 top growth companies in Northeast Ohio. He is also a four time recipient of the NEO success award for business growth. In 2000, Ricci was honored as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of Year; plus has been named one the most influential people in aviation by Aviation International News.
In 1998 Ricci revolutionized the fractional aircraft ownership industry by pioneering of Flight Options. His marketing and strategic leadership took the company from inception to annual sales of more than $800M in 4 years. Flight Options outperformed over 50 other growth companies and merged with Raytheon Travel Air in 2002 and became wholly owned by Raytheon in 2005.
A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Cleveland Marshall School of Law, Ricci holds an airline transport pilot license with more than 6,000 hours. He is type rated in Gulfstream, Falcon and Citation jet aircraft and has captained aircraft on around-the-world flights.
Ricci serves on the Business Advisory Council of the University of Notre Dame and is an active member of the Young Presidents’ Organization. He is a Board of Directors member of Mercury Air Centers, Legatus, the Boys’ Hope/Girls’ Hope Organization, and The Gilmour Academy.
In 2005, Corporate Wings and Mercury Air Centers became wholly owned by Allied Capital Corporation (NYSE:ALD). Mr. Ricci was appointed CEO.
His leadership style is highlighted in the following articles:
• "How One Aviation Firm Deals With Labor Issues" -- The Wall Street Journal
• "To Have and to Hold" -- Inc. Magazine
And in his business leadership book
• Management By Trust -- published in 2006 by Citation Books
|
 |
Michael
A. Rossi
Chief Financial Officer
Mike Rossi began with Corporate Wings in 1984 and has spent the last 19 years
developing innovative business strategies in the Aviation Industry. In
1990 he was President of Inertial Airline Services. This successful
maintenance service organization became the largest overhaul provider of long-range navigation
systems. And in 1998, he began to oversee the day-to-day operations of the revolutionary
fractional ownership company Flight Options. Mr. Rossi implemented strategic plans in the
financial, operations and administration of the company which coincided with its growth to the
second largest company in the industry, taking sales to more than $800 million.
A graduate of John Carroll University, Mr. Rossi is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Rossi’s other business interests include involvement with the accounting firm Rossi,
Schlotter & Co., CPA which has assisted many businesses in the areas of planning and growth.
|
|
J. Chris
Herzberg
COO
Mr. Herzberg, Corporate Wings’ COO has over 30 years of general aviation experience with emphasis in FBO management, customer relations and brand standardization. His early credentials include Facilities Manager at Beckett Aviation and Line Service Manager at the Airplane Company and Ohio Aviation.
After studying Business Administration at Kent State University, Chris joined Corporate Wings and by the mid-1990's became vice president of FBO Facilities. His area of responsibility quickly expanded to include property management, lease administration, airport relations and acquisition analysis.
In 1998, Kenn Ricci tapped Mr. Herzberg to become Executive VP of Operations at Flight Options where he oversaw aircraft scheduling logistics and crew scheduling for an aircraft fleet of over 200 jets. Mr. Ricci appointed Mr. Herzberg to President of Corporate Wings in 2005 and COO in 2006.
|
 |
Richard
C. Michaels
Vice President Marketing
Richard C. Michaels has 25 years as an aviation sales and marketing executive. His career at Corporate Wings began in the early 1980s where he developed marketing initiatives that enabled the company to become a successful aircraft management, charter and FBO organization. Mr. Michaels later joined the sales team at Learjet division of Bombardier Aerospace and afterward became Chicago Regional Sales Manager at Gulfstream division of General Dynamics Corporation. Gulfstream is the world’s most prestigious business aircraft and the sales staff is ranked among the leading in the U.S.
In 2002, Michaels was selected by Flight Options founder Kenn Ricci to manage western operations as VP Sales and later followed Mr. Ricci to be appointed head of Marketing for Corporate Wings.
Mr. Michaels has a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace from Kent State University and Finance MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. His flying credentials include an Airline Transport Pilots License with Learjet ratings. |
