Director of Flight Operations / International Captain

MICHAEL G. PETRIDIS

+1.972.217.5758 ▪ ▪ Dallas, Texas

DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS / INTERNATIONAL CAPTAIN

Over 26 years of flight operations experience; over 15 years with high net-worth clientele.

Reputation as highly-focused aviation leader, dedicated to success. Concierge-like level of care. Solid history of successful supervisory roles. Skilled team builder and assessor of qualities of contributing members. Provides access to new global markets and customers by leveraging industry contacts and previous clientele. Recognized as strong motivator, exceptional innovator, and noteworthy communicator with superior business acumen. Training director.

CORE COMPETENCIES

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GLOBAL FLIGHT

OPERATIONS

FLIGHT DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP

FLIGHT EVALUATION/

TRAINING

¨  Over ten years experience in Europe, Asia, Middle East and South America; flight experience in non-WGS-84 countries.

¨  Calm, professional rapport with high net-worth clientele has resulted in repeat and referral business, allowing expansion to other countries.

¨  Supervisory experience of over 40 peer and student pilots;

¨  Formation and tactical military combat leader of 12-jet formations;

¨  Selected by US and Hong Kong governments to administer flight evaluations; former FAA DPE;

¨  Led development of training and upgrade syllabi for flight departments;

¨  Skilled at process improvement, project management, and strategic planning;

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

VIP Jets, LLC, Arlington, Texas. 1999 – 2001; 2011 - present. Founder / President of fractional aircraft ownership flight operations concern. Key challenges: (i) leverage relationships with existing aircraft owners to form “dry-lease” aircraft contracts in several states; (ii) Brand development and management; (iii) hire senior management; (iv) secure seed-round financing; (v) form Board of Advisors; (vi) manage and audit finances and establish financial control measures, (vii) create lean supply chain.

·  Training leader in development of courseware and instruction for pilots. Managed client training needs.

·  Developed budget based on seasonality and forecasting trends in industry; reviewed P&L daily to ensure within budget.

·  Led team of five pilots and four staff in daily operations.

·  Developed pilot operations manual and company employee handbook. Trained pilots on concierge-type protocol.

·  Leveraged relationships with existing aircraft owners/operators to establish aircraft fleet in the S. Central U.S. region.

·  Formed alliances with other aircraft management companies, minimizing supplier power, and enhancing supply chain.

·  Negotiated jet lease wholesale price to allow more than a 110% markup on retail price.

·  Coordinated with legal counsel to develop flight operations strategy, saving 10% on each lease/flight. Legal structure allowed favorable competitive advantage over other national programs.

·  Established financing requirements and secured “seed capital” for initial operations.

·  Coordinated with marketing staff to develop plan focusing on the high net-worth business traveler; utilized software program to quantify benefits of private jet travel.

·  Finished 2nd in annual business plan competition at Southern Methodist University. Top finisher in preliminary round at Rice University’s regional business plan competition. Secured letters of intent from venture capital investors.

Ourania, LLC, Dallas, Texas. 2005 – 2010. Managing Partner of M&A advisory, consulting, and aviation services firm. Key challenges: (i) use negotiating skills and boardroom presence to interact effectively with C-level clientele; (ii) use financial modeling skills to arrive at ideal acquisition/sales price range; (iii) use negotiating skills to secure letter of intent from counterparty; develop financial spreadsheet data of cost/benefit and cash flow analysis for aircraft acquisitions and business sales; (iv) use “soft skills” needed in effectively establishing liaison with high-net worth potential aircraft owners, (v) enhance supply chain relationships.

·  Global sales and marketing efforts resulted in over 50% increase in company sales.

·  Led and planned the development of a private jet charter company. Created a 3-month sales & marketing plan.

·  Assisted clients throughout private jet acquisition process, including fleet planning, pre-buy inspection and delivery, flight department setup, charter revenue and marketing efforts, and eventual resale.

·  Hand-picked by major OEM to train foreign owner’s pilots. Evaluated their performance for governmental entity.

·  Led development of RVSM, MEL, and Pilot Operations manuals and training syllabi for client.

·  Process improvement strategy developed for Asian client resulted in 15% increase in its company revenue.

·  Evaluated business plans for viability. Forwarded strong candidates to Venture Capitalists for potential funding.

·  Created profit optimization strategies for client, resulting in over 20% increase in EBITDA.

·  Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor, assisting owners in the sale of lower middle-market companies.

Gulfstream Aerospace (a General Dynamics company; NYSE: GD) / Galaxy Aerospace, Dallas, Texas. 2001 – 2005.

“Operations Officer” (supervising staff of seven) and senior production test pilot in G-200 and G-100 aircraft.

·  Safely handled aircraft system malfunctions in several instances resulting in a safe recovery of a $20 million asset.

·  Updated flight operations checklists to ensure thorough evaluation of aircraft systems and performance characteristics.

·  Provided input, revised, and managed airplane flight manual and master minimum equipment list for this OEM.

·  Assisted in flight demonstration process to other companies/principals, allowing sales goals to be met.

SimuFlite Training International, (a General Electric company; NYSE: GE), DFW airport. 1996 – 1999.

FAA designated pilot examiner and senior instructor on Cessna and Dassault Falcon business jets.

·  Presented, evaluated, and debriefed flight concepts to student pilots, including high-net worth owners of private jets.

·  Hand-picked to provide in-flight instruction to high net-worth clientele.

·  Received numerous commendations on student critiques for tailoring the lesson to the client’s ability, enhancing the sales process by creating repeat buyers.

McDonnell Douglas Aerospace Services Company (now a Boeing company; NYSE: BA), Panama City, Florida. 1995 – 1996.

Subject matter expert in F-15 Eagle aircraft weapons systems and tactical employment.

·  Researched, compiled, and wrote instructional flight tactics course material for F-15 weapons instructors to use.

·  Received accolades from the foreign-based client and USAF liaison on thoroughness and professionalism of final product. Work cited as a model for future client delivery efforts.

·  Required to obtain a Secret Security Clearance.

Associated Field Services, Arlington, Texas. 1994 – 1995. General Manager of health/life/dental insurance concern.

·  Represented various companies in tailoring insurance products to meet needs of owners of small businesses and their families.

·  Sales success resulted in being named monthly and “rookie of the year” award winner for parent company, UGA, subsidiary of NASDAQ-listed UICI.

USAF, Various locations in the United States and Europe. Honorable Discharge.

Fighter pilot in F-15 Eagle and F/A-18 Hornet aircraft (Canadian Armed Forces exchange officer). Key challenges: (i) develop and execute tactical plan within two minutes of enemy detection; (ii) achieve offensive advantage within two minutes of engagement; (iii) manage in-flight activities of up to 11 other teammates while simultaneously engaging enemy forces.

·  Team Leader in charge of organizing available assets, planning and executing flight tactics with groups of 12 jets involving rapid response time; chosen to debrief results to audiences of over 100 people, including senior management.

·  Consistently given praise by corporate HQ inspection team on leadership and management skills.

·  Selected ahead of peers to supervisory positions of over 50 subordinates. Top Secret Security Clearance.

·  At the time, one of nine pilots in the world who were combat-qualified in the F-15 and F/A-18.

·  Finished first or second in all military flight and combat training courses. AFROTC college scholarship recipient.

EDUCATION: MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business, Dallas, Texas; 2002: MBA in Strategy/Entrepreneurship, GPA 3.62

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, Florida: Master of Aeronautical Science, GPA 4.0

St. Michael's College, Colchester, Vermont: Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics, Magna Cum Laude

Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois: Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor, 2006

Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts: Computer Science Graduate Research Assistant

PERSONAL: Author, “Fighter Pilot Follies.” Avid rugby fan and golf enthusiast; Rotarian; Son of the American Revolution volunteer activities include: Meals on Wheels, Veterans Affairs, SCORE;

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