Press Release

Issued by Tradewind Aviation.

September 25, 2024

Tradewind Aviation, the award-winning private aviation specialist and pioneer of the shared charter concept to top leisure destinations, has announced the appointment of Elise Garofalo as chief financial officer.

With decades of senior leadership experience across multiple industries including technology, consumer goods, and professional services, Garofalo will provide counsel on all financial, business, and operational aspects of Tradewind Aviation's growing business with a focus on increasing profitability and growth.

“The addition of Elise to the Tradewind Aviation team will further elevate our executive bench strength and serve to further support our leadership during this moment of pivotal growth and beyond,” said Eric Zipkin, Tradewind Aviation's CEO. “Elise is a valuable addition to Tradewind, and we know that under her careful leadership, we will continue to expand, innovate and transform the private aviation space.”

A passion for building relationships has driven Garofalo to create and grow world-class teams and company-wide collaborations. She joins Tradewind from the internet discovery platform Outbrain, where, during nearly a decade as chief financial officer, she oversaw the growth of revenues from $100 million to more than $1 billion, prepared its initial public offering, took the company public, facilitated multiple acquisitions and expanded the global finance team four-fold during a period of rapid growth. Garofalo's previous experiences also include a turn as senior vice president, treasurer and investor relations for Revlon; chief financial officer of Trinsum Group, which she led through a reorganisation; and treasurer and director of investor relations, corporate officer of GrafTech International, a publicly traded manufacturer of graphite and carbon products. She began her career with KPMG in Stamford, Connecticut and became a CPA.

Garofalo joins Tradewind at an integral time, with the company expanding its services to appeal to an emerging client base in the Southeast US and throughout the Eastern Caribbean. Tradewind has launched new scheduled service flights to Caribbean destinations including Virgin Gorda and Tortola, as well as to various islands in the Bahamas from Florida. Tradewind has also recently expanded its footprint with two new bases: one just north of Palm Beach in Stuart, Florida, to grow and serve clientele across the Southeast US; and the other at Hudson Valley Regional Airport in Dutchess County, New York, to enhance its appeal for clients residing and doing business locally. Garofalo's leadership, expertise and focused vision will prove critical for Tradewind Aviation, and co-founders Eric and David Zipkin are excited to see what Garofalo achieves in her new role.

Garofalo graduated summa cum laude from the University of Connecticut and earned her MBA from Vanderbilt University.