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Our aviation professionals are here to serve you to enhance your aircraft ownership, maintenance or charter experience.
Andy Priester serves as Chairman and CEO for Priester Aviation and Mayo Aviation.
He is the third generation of Priesters to lead the business, the largest and oldest family-owned Management and Charter company in the world. The Priester family has a rich aviation history starting in 1945 including owning Palwaukee Airport – KPWK (now renamed Chicago Executive Airport), operating a flight school, operating multiple FBOs, providing 145 maintenance services, and operating an aircraft sales division.
In 2022, Andy led the strategic acquisition of Mayo Aviation, a customer-focused, family-led company with decades of history similar to Priester. Priester currently focuses solely on Aircraft Management and Global Charter after the strategic sale of the other business units, while Mayo Aviation is the Rocky Mountain region’s expert in Aircraft Management, private jet charter, and also operates an FAA Diamond Award-winning Part 145 repair station. In this role, Andy is dedicated to leading the organization’s growth and enhancing Priester and Mayo’s position as the preeminent choice in aircraft management, aircraft charter, maintenance support, and related aviation services. During Andy’s tenure at Priester, he has grown the fleet from seven aircraft to over 85 managed between Priester and Mayo from 20 bases globally today.
Andy currently sits on the board of the Air Charter Safety Foundation, as well as the Advisory Board for the O’Malley College of Business at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He is past Chair of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) and YPO Chicago – Windy City. Andy is a proud University of Dayton Flyer and holds a Master’s degree from Concordia University.
Andy is the proud father of Madison, who manages Priester and Mayo’s marketing efforts, and Quinn, who is a professional baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Andy participates philanthropically at his local Food Pantry, the Chicagoland Urban League, and Feed My Starving Children. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends in the mountains, on the water, or exploring the outdoors.
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.
Leading operations at Mayo Aviation, Brent 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. Joining the company in 2019, he facilitates ways to make aviation better for clients and strategically eliminates obstacles for owners to get the most out of their aircraft. Within services and operational teams, he ensures business matters are run efficiently and effectively, without losing sight of the rewarding and personal nature of the aviation industry and how it connects people to one another. He is a strong supporter of Mayo Aviation’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.
Don joined Mayo Aviation in 2010 and is responsible for accounting, budgeting, information technology and financial reporting. He worked for Lockheed Martin for 20 years, with his recent position as Accounting Manager for their Space System Division where he managed 40 professionals and was responsible for financial reporting, payroll, and cost accounting for a division with over $3.5 billion in sales. Don also gained merger and acquisition experience as the primary financial liaison during the acquisition of General Dynamics Space System division. In 10 years of public sector work he held director roles, including as Director of Accounting, where had financial operational responsibilities for funds of nearly a billion dollars. He led project management of numerous software development and implementation projects. Don graduated from the University of La Verne in California with a major in business management with concentration in accounting and IT.
Carl serves as Vice President of Quality and Safety for Mayo Aviation and the Priester Aviation family of 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. 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).
Victor serves as National Director of Charter Sales, leading charter sales for all of the Priester Aviation family of companies, including Priester, Mayo and Atlanta-based Hill Private Aviation. In his decade in private aviation, Schaefer frequently handled accounts of VIP and high-net-worth clients, handling detailed logistics and managing the experiences of these individuals. He joined Mayo Aviation shortly after Priester’s 2021 acquisition. There, he grew Mayo’s charter volume and promoted its mountain-terrain charter experience, setting it apart in the region. With his sales and charter experience, he focuses on creating an environment that empowers his team, and serves to provide the best outcomes for charter customers and aircraft owners alike.
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 Mayo 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.
I believe in providing the best customer service to our clientele. Our clients trust us to get them to their destination safely. We take that responsibility extremely seriously. Your safety is at the forefront of every decision we make. As Director of Aviation at Mayo Aviation, I am focused on ensuring our teams work together to provide you with the best possible experience with private flying, down to the smallest detail. I am proud of my commitment to our customers’ safety and service. My greatest success is working with my colleagues across the company in a collaborating and cohesive manner. Not every flight goes as planned. We are aware of this every changing environment and our team takes pride in adapting to every situation. I believe in our company’s commitment to going above and beyond for our customers. I enjoy mentoring up and coming aviators through local flying organizations. In addition to my aviation career, I enjoy writing music as an accomplished songwriter.
Alex has spent the last 10 years working among the world’s elite, specializing in top-tier hospitality and white-glove customer service. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the luxury market, with a special emphasis on Aspen clientele. Early in her career, Alex began her journey into aviation while working at many of the top FBOs in the country. Over the years, this spurred her interest in flying, and recently Alex has begun training to earn her private pilot’s license, with plans to continue with her certifications during her career at Mayo. Alex brings her unique background in luxury markets to the Mayo team to build and expand the company’s networks and plans to deliver the same quality service Aspen has come to know and love to the charter business here. Both personally and professionally, Alex loves to travel and explore. Her love for the outdoors, snowboarding and the mountains have landed her in the beautiful town of Aspen.
Among her 17 years in corporate aviation, Ms. Kelly has worked for several Part 135 operators during her career. With a primary focus as a dispatcher, she quickly moved into a variety of management roles. Her background includes operations, sales, customer service, training, product management, and regulatory needs.
After many years behind the desk, she felt she could better serve the business aviation culture through the use of emerging technology. Ensuring that companies maximize efficiency through technology, Ms. Kelly specializes in scheduling software and process engineering. She focused on working closely with hundreds of flight departments, charter companies and vendors to embrace the technology. In turn, workflow improves, and workplaces become safer, more efficient, and better understood. With a working knowledge of flight department processes and requirements, her specialty is ensuring the right people fill positions that uniquely fit them and work best for the company’s workflow. At Mayo Aviation, she plans to apply the same processes to elevate expectations and create the best experience for our owners, customers, crew and fellow employees.
MacKenzie Kelly is a FAA certified dispatcher, ARG/US auditor, 2020 NBAA Top 40 under 40 recipient, Chairwoman Emeritus of the Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) and graduate of Colorado State University.
Outside of work, MacKenzie loves family time, her dogs and all dogs, staying active and cooking.
David has been with Mayo Aviation since 2019, serving as Line Service Manager. Before coming to the Denver area, he managed line operations at Vail Valley Jet Center, one of the busiest FBOs in the country. In 2022, David received the NATA Safety 1st Certified Line Service Professional Award, and was recognized in the “best of the industry” section of its Buyers’ Guide & Business Journal. In more than 15 years of line service, he has encountered and handled nearly every scenario imaginable in general aviation, offering solutions focused on safety and service. David takes pride in creating positive and unique experiences for clients, but also building personal connections with customers and crew.
Mayo Aviation is always looking for customer-focused individuals to join our team. Apply today.
