The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) will present long-time business aviation volunteer Kellie Rittenhouse with the Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Outstanding Achievement and Leadership Award at its 2019 conference in January.

Rittenhouse, a certified aviation manager (CAM), was one of the first women to complete the CAM accreditation and holds an FAA dispatcher certification. She is now director of aviation for Hangar Aviation Management. Described by NBAA's senior director of educational strategy Jo Damato as an MVP (most valuable player) among volunteers, Rittenhouse is a former S&D committee member and chaired the 2004 conference in Savannah, Georgia. After achieving her CAM accreditation she served on the CAM governing board and continues to be a frequent presenter at NBAA and regional events.

“I met Kellie in 2004 when she chaired the S&D conference,” says FirstEnergy Flight Operations flight logistics lead Spring Adamo. “Her enthusiasm was contagious. Since then she has continued to set the bar high, not just for me but for other professionals, both women and men, walking in her footsteps. What Kellie has done for me and my professional development, she has done for many others.”

Rittenhouse's contributions to business aviation reach outside NBAA to regional organisations and far beyond formal volunteering positions. Not only is she the director of the Michigan Business Aviation Association but she is known by the scheduling and dispatching community for being just a phone call away, passionately and freely sharing her knowledge and experience with other professionals. Adamo shares one example of Rittenhouse's giving nature: “One night before I was to give a big speech, Rittenhouse prepared with me until the wee hours of the morning, until I felt confident for the day's presentation.”

Rittenhouse is the 11th winner of this award, which was created in 2008 and recognises individuals who have shared their business aviation industry expertise, provided extraordinary service, exhibited leadership and made significant contributions to the scheduling and dispatching function.

“Kellie is the first flight department leader to be presented with this award, which is notable as companies see the value in having non-flying professionals as aviation directors,” says Damato. “Her achievement as aviation director is the result of her taking big risks and being devoted to not just the craft of scheduling and dispatching but also to the craft of leadership. She is a humble and selfless leader.”