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Our aviation professionals are here to serve you to enhance your aircraft ownership, maintenance or charter experience.
Andy Priester is the Chairman of George J. Priester Aviation and its affiliated companies, representing the third generation of Priesters at the helm of what is recognized as one of the largest and oldest family-owned management and charter organizations. The Priester family’s aviation legacy, which began in 1945, includes notable achievements such as the ownership of Palwaukee Airport—now known as Chicago Executive Airport—operating a flight school, managing multiple Fixed Base Operators (FBOs), providing Part 145 maintenance services, and running an aircraft sales division.
In 2022, Andy spearheaded the strategic acquisition of Mayo Aviation, a client-centric, family-run business with a long history akin to Priester’s. The following year, he further expanded the company’s reach by integrating Hill Private Aviation, a renowned aviation services provider based in the Southeast. George J. Priester Aviation concentrates exclusively on aircraft management and global charter services. Under Andy’s leadership, the organization has significantly expanded its fleet, growing from seven to over 85 aircraft managed across three brands and 20 bases worldwide.
Andy is a proud University of Dayton Flyer and holds a Master’s degree from Concordia University. He serves on the board of the Air Charter Safety Foundation and the Advisory Board for the O’Malley College of Business at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Additionally, he is a guest lecturer at both the University of Dayton and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he shares his extensive expertise with the next generation of professionals. He is also a former Chair of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and YPO Chicago – Windy City. In recognition of his contributions to the industry, Andy was awarded the prestigious NATA Distinguished Service Award.
His daughter Madison oversees the marketing efforts at George J. Priester Aviation, while his son Quinn plays professional baseball for the Boston Red Sox. Andy is actively involved in philanthropy, supporting local initiatives such as food pantries, the Chicagoland Urban League, and Feed My Starving Children. In his leisure time, he enjoys outdoor activities with family and friends, whether in the mountains, on the water, or exploring nature.
Building on the foundation built by his parents, Gwen and Bill Mayo II, Bill III led oversaw Mayo Aviation’s daily operations for 20 years until it joined the Priester Aviation family of companies in 2022. He joined the family business full time in 1985, doing whatever was needed to help operations succeed – from cleaning hangars to managing customer service and vendors. Bill led Mayo Aviation’s successful growth in aircraft management, maintenance and charter operations and assured its longevity in serving the Rocky Mountain West. His priorities have been to create and grow long-trusting relationships with customers and Mayo Aviation’s internal team. He continues to honor the legacy of the company’s founders, establishing the Gwendolyn O. Mayo Memorial Scholarship in 2022, for the Colorado Aviation Hall of Fame inductee.
Brent has served as George J. Priester President and CEO since 2024, having previously served the company as President of Mayo Aviation. He has been in the business of aviation since 1994 and flying before that. Throughout his career he has worked with a variety of aviation services, touching aircraft owners and management, charter operators and passengers, and sales, fleet operations and management. In all cases, his priority has been to serve the customer and provide the best possible aviation experience. He joined Mayo Aviation in 2019, where he led operations of the Rocky Mountain-located base. He has facilitated ways to make aviation better for clients and strategically eliminates obstacles for owners to get the most out of their aircraft. He is a strong supporter of the company’s work with Flight for Life Colorado, and prioritizes time spent with his family. He attended Denver’s Regis University and has held a private pilot’s license since 1990.
Kozin joined Priester in 2004 where she began her career as a trip coordinator in the Logistics department. Over the years, Kozin was instrumental in developing Logistics into a global 24/7/365 operation, and ultimately promoted to Vice President of Flight Logistics. Prior to joining Priester, Kozin worked for the Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK) studying and benchmarking airport noise. Kozin is a graduate of Lewis University with a B.S. in Aviation Administration, International Business and holds an FAA Approved Aircraft Dispatcher License.
Ron Carlstrom brings a wealth of experience and a track record of success to the role. With over two decades of senior executive leadership, Carlstrom’s career spans a diverse range of industries, including technology, software as a service, and life insurance.
Before joining George J. Priester Aviation, Carlstrom held pivotal CFO roles in various sectors. His extensive experience includes significant tenures at technology firms, digital interactive agencies, and life insurance companies. Notably, Carlstrom played a crucial role at AccuQuote, a leading life insurance brokerage firm, where he led the company through a successful acquisition by Swiss Re Group, one of the world’s largest insurance providers. His efforts in integrating financial reporting and establishing a robust governance framework were key to the success of this transition.
Carlstrom holds an MBA in finance and a B.A. in history, with a minor in economics. Outside of his professional life, he enjoys spending quality time with his wife and three children, whether it’s playing hockey on a backyard rink or attending concerts and outdoor events.
Carl Bennett serves as Vice President of Quality and Safety for George J. Priester Aviation. His role extends to both companies. Bennett is an accomplished aviation safety and regulatory expert with more than 35 years of experience in Part 135 on-demand passenger and cargo operations. He also holds a Master of Science (MS) degree in Aviation Safety from the Florida Institute of Technology College of Aeronautics.
In 2021, Bennett was among a select group to receive the Dr. Tony Kern Professionalism in Aviation Award, bestowed annually by the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) to those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in support of aviation safety. Bennett was also a founding board member of the Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA), a contributor to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 135 Aviation Rulemaking Committee and is a past Chairman of the Radiopharmaceutical Shippers and Carriers Committee (RSCC).
Rich Ropp serves as President and comes to Priester with 30+ years of industry experience in aircraft management and aviation sales. Ropp opened the base location in his native St. Louis for Jet Linx Aviation. In addition to serving as the company’s Base President of St. Louis, he was responsible for leading its growth as Vice President of Business Development and Aircraft Management Sales. Ropp also served as National Sales Director at Jet Aviation, where he was the single point of contact for major clients and flight departments to the global platform of services. His experience includes driving aircraft management and jet card membership, as well as developing and executing strategic plans, and building up teams.
Rich is pursuing a light sport pilot’s license and has been involved in several charitable organizations in the St.Louis area including Wings of Hope, Special Olympics, and the Children’s Miracle Network. A medical mission trip through Wings of Hope took him and his wife to Ecuador in 2005 and most recently in 2011 and 2013, two church mission trips landed him in Gressier, Haiti with a construction team building home structures and facilities at an orphanage following the great earthquake in 2011. He has also traveled to Europe, the Caribbean, Middle East, Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and the Bahamas with his sights set on many other destinations around the world.
Over the past several years, he was instated as President for the Greater St. Louis Business Aviation Association (GSLBAA) and as a Board of Directors Member for Wings of Hope in Chesterfield, Missouri. He was a member of NBAA’s Schedulers and Dispatchers Committee for six years. He is an active member of Calvary Church and served as a small group leader, greeter, and Sunday school teacher in the children’s ministry. Additionally, he was a coach for a fourth-grade girls’ basketball team through CYC. He always finds time for family, is a daily runner, loves to cook, prefers to be outdoors whenever possible, and absolutely loves to travel.
Darrell Herrera is a Flight Operations Leader with over 25 years of diverse experience in fast-paced aviation environments. He excels in roles that require collaboration across organizational levels and with geographically dispersed teams to align visions and drive key initiatives. Darrell brings extensive subject matter expertise on evolving industry topics and has a proven track record in business aviation management, corporate client relations, product management, and other critical areas.
With nearly 20 years of payroll and human resources experience, Stephanie joined Mayo Aviation in 2017. She brought a mindset focused on making positive changes that improve workplace culture, through continuous improvement of processes and employee resources. She has implemented systems and policies to enhance employees’ workplace experiences and has been effective in improving communication across departments and through the organization. Stephanie empowers all levels of George J. Priester Aviation professionals through employee engagement. She holds a degree in business management from Friends University and has earned Certified Professional credential from the Society for Human Resource Management. Outside of work she is passionate about her family, helping others and appreciating live music.
Ally Waterloo brings to George J. Priester Aviation more than 7 years of Human Resources experience. Ally joined the Priester team May 2022 where she leads talent development, benefits, onboarding and recruiting functions. Prior to joining Priester, Ally spent much of her career in the manufacturing industry and various industries as a business partner. Ally holds a Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution & Mediation from Roosevelt University.
Rustin King leads charter sales for the George J. Priester Aviation family of companies, including, Priester, Mayo and Hill Private Aviation. King brings more than 25 years of charter sales and management experience to the position and has a focus on relationships and maximizing efficiencies for our owners and clients. He works closely with the aircraft management team to develop further charter opportunities, if desired, for the more than 80 aircraft managed under the George J. Priester brands.
Madison Priester is a skilled marketing and communications professional who blends strategic planning, creative problem-solving, and innovative branding to drive organization-wide growth and champion sustainability initiatives. As a fourth-generation leader at George J. Priester Aviation, Madison carries forward a proud family legacy while driving the company’s evolution into the future.
A pivotal achievement in Madison’s career was leading the rebranding efforts of Priester Aviation, Mayo Aviation, and Hill Private Aviation, which culminated in the successful launch of the unified George J. Priester Aviation brand. Her contributions ensured a seamless transition, strengthening the organization’s market presence and aligning its identity with strategic goals.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from The University of Alabama.
Greg has been a strategic pioneer in the business world for more than 22 years specializing in private aviation solutions. Greg previously served as an executive at Bombardier, FlexJet and most recently was Vice President of Sales for Fractrade. Greg has completed hundreds of transactions for customers across the globe providing solutions including ad hoc charter, jet cards, fractional sales, and whole aircraft transactions.
James Schnell joined the Priester team in 2005 and now leads the Owner Services Department. As Director of Owner Services, Schnell oversees the client relationships, ensuring the client is at the heart of all we do. Schnell is dedicated to providing a seamless client experience from trip inquiry to day-of trip execution. He is the fourth generation of Priesters to work in a management role. Schnell graduated from St. Norbert College holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.
Eric Bewersdorf oversees the company’s Maintenance Control Department, bringing over 25 years of experience in aircraft maintenance and a dynamic leadership style. Bewersdorf’s expertise in business aviation has earned him a reputation as a leader in the industry. Eric has spent his time working at several aircraft manufacturers including Raytheon, Hawker Beechcraft, Cessna, and most recently Embraer Aircraft, where he was responsible for managing the company’s fleet, including aircraft used by the sales team and trade-ins. Bewersdorf also has experience with aircraft acquisition, trade-ins, and maintenance for owners and fleet operators. The focus of his efforts is to grow the team to match the pace of the fleet growth utilizing new technologies and maximizing efficiencies. The end goal is to have a maintenance control team that promotes safety above all, exceeding our customer satisfactions and making GJP a destination workplace for maintenance professionals.
Mayo Aviation is always looking for customer-focused individuals to join our team. Apply today.
