At its annual meeting of the membership, held in conjunction with its Aviation Leadership Conference, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) named three new members of its 2022-2023 board of directors.

Atlantic Aviation Services executive vice president Clive Lowe, based in Arlington, Virginia, was re-elected to serve an additional one year term as board chairman. California-based Aeroplex Group Partners president and CEO Curt Castagna will continue to serve an additional one year term as immediate past chair on NATA's executive committee. Denver-headquartered Ross Aviation president and CEO Jeff Ross was named chairman emeritus.

The following were nominated for re-election to serve additional three year terms: Standard Aero president, business aviation Marc Drobny; Naples Airport Authority executive director Chris Rozansky; and Flexjet COO Megan Wolf.

Newly elected to serve at-large were: Carlsbad, California-based Schubach Aviation owner and CEO Kimberly Herrell; Middle River, Maryland-based GrandView Aviation president Jessica Naor; and East Alton, Illinois-based West Star Aviation vice president of strategic development Chad Farischon.

"Kimberly Herrell, Jessica Naor and Chad Farischon have been pillars on NATA's Air Charter and Airport Business committees. Now, their collective industry experience and individual voices on the board will enhance NATA's collaborative and proactive leadership for our members," says president and CEO Timothy Obitts. "As the aviation business environment shifts and advances, so must our member guidance and advocacy. We look forward to continuing to benefit from our newest board members' knowledge and perspectives, and we thank them for their dedication to advancing the safety and success of the aviation business community."

Naor was named president of GrandView Aviation earlier in 2022 after serving as its COO and chief marketing officer. She was elected to the NATA board of directors and serves as vice chairman of the Air Charter Safety Foundation board of governors and is a former chairman of the Part 135 Committee; she was a member of the FAA's Duty & Rest Aviation Rule Making Committee; she writes a monthly aviation safety column for Aviation Week and was an NBAA Top 40 under 40 in 2020. She holds an Associate's degree in air traffic control, a BA in aviation business administration and an MBA in management and finance.

"I'm thrilled to continue supporting NATA's mission of advancing aviation infrastructure and services in the US," she says. "Our essential service cannot succeed without access to the over 5,000 airports and thousands of other aviation business that NATA advocates for."

Aviation industry veteran Herrell joined Part 135 operator Schubach Aviation in 2005. She was appointed president in 2018 and acquired the business in January 2020. As CEO, Herrell drives the company's overall vision and corporate values. Under her leadership it has instituted a 'safety first' organisational culture, earning IS-BAO Stage III and ASAP recognition. She oversees marketing, sales and business development initiatives with a strategic focus on future growth, positive company culture and delivering immersive aviation experiences for clients interested in customisable adventures. In 2018 she launched Schubach's Elevated Excursions programme followed in 2020 by the company's VIP Access programme, a curated collection of one of a kind travel opportunities. She is a graduate of Utah Valley University.

Farischon is vice president of strategic development for West Star Aviation, where he drives strategic growth opportunities through mergers and acquisitions, integration and business optimisation. His diverse background in aviation includes more than 30 years of expertise in operations and management. He co-founded the Lynx FBO network in 2016, holding the position of president and partner until 2021. During that time he grew the network to nine locations. Prior to that he served as the regional vice president of Landmark Aviation for six years. He has a BSc in aviation management and holds a pilot licence and serves as chair of the NATA Airport Business Committee.