FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Richard J. “Dick” Van Gemert joins Solairus Board of Directors
San Francisco (October 26, 2011) –
Solairus Aviation’s pattern of attracting business aviation’s best and brightest continued today with the announcement that Richard J. “Dick” Van Gemert will be joining the company’s board of directors. Van Gemert has decades of executive experience, having served as the Senior Vice President at Jet Aviation, President at New World Jet Corporation, Executive Vice President at KC Transportation Services, and Director of General Services for the Xerox Corporation. Van Gemert was appointed to the US Coast Guard Academy and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Engineering in Naval Architecture and a Bachelor of Engineering in Marine Engineering. Receiving his commission in the U.S. Navy upon graduation, Van Gemert served from 1959 to 1964, leaving active duty as a Lieutenant with the Pacific Air Squadrons.
In 2009, Van Gemert was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Business Aviation Association, recognizing his many years of tireless promotion of the interests of business aviation. In 2009 he also received the NATA Ong Award for the promotion of Business Aviation Interests. He is a past board member of the NBAA, NATA, and Flight Safety Foundation as well as a past board member of the American Management Association. He is an airline transport licensed pilot with type ratings in the Lockheed Jet Star, North American Sabreliner, Gulfstream II, Falcon 10, Canadair Challenger series aircraft, and Learjet aircraft.
“From the beginning, Solairus has had a tremendous energy surrounding it,” Van Gemert said. “Its rate of growth is impressive, and the company’s leadership team and personnel are among the very best in the industry. I’ve been drawn to the company for quite some time, having known and worked with fellow board members Jake Cartwright and Roger McMullin for decades. Like Jake and Roger, everyone at Solairus is absolutely committed to the company’s success and to the service of its clients, and that degree of dedication is extremely inspiring. Business aviation faces a tough market climate in the near future, and Solairus must focus on accurately communicating our value stream to an increasingly discerning customer base. It is my hope that my experience with burgeoning and evolving markets will help ensure that Solairus is able to build upon the company’s already impressive list of accomplishments.”
For Solairus Aviation Vice Chairman Jake Cartwright, Van Gemert’s appointment has caused the board of directors to go from strength to strength.
“Dick Van Gemert has decades of in-depth experience growing and positioning companies for success, and he will bring another welcomed new perspective to our already well diversified board,” Cartwright stated. “He possesses a remarkable ability to be able to not only see what a company is, but what it must become in order to stay in front of consistently changing business environments. As Solairus looks towards further expansion in new markets, Van Gemert’s professional insights will be invaluable as we look to ascertain, meet, and exceed the needs and expectations of customers across a wide variety of cultures. We are honored that Dick has accepted our offer to join our board.”
For more information, visit www.solairusaviation.com or call 800-359-7861 today to discuss your travel plans and explore what private air charter can do for you.
About Solairus Aviation:
Solairus is a full-service aviation asset management company that provides clients with expertise in acquiring and operating a wide range of private aircraft.
With a fleet of over 50 managed aircraft, Solairus is one of only 85 Aviation Research Group/US Platinum-rated charter operators in the world. After completion of an intense operations and safety systems audit, the ARG/US Platinum rating is awarded to those who have demonstrated that their procedures meet or exceed industry “Best Practices” in all phases. Solairus has also received the NBAA Commercial Business Flying Safety Award and is an IS-BAO certified company. For more information about Solairus Aviation, visit www.solairusaviation.com or call 800-359-7861.
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Solairus media contact:
Eric Wildt
707-775-2788
ewildt@solairusaviation.com