BNET Industries

Last Fiscal Year Sales:$44.0M
  • Private
  • US
Dow Jones Description

Founded in October 1998, Flight Options emerged as a leader in the fractional jet industry. In December 2001, Flight Options combined operations with Raytheon Travel Air, effectively doubling the size of the company and moving the company into the sale of both new and pre-owned aircraft. In December 2005, Flight Options became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Raytheon and introduced the Go-Forward Business Plan that rationalized the fleet, which is now one of the youngest fleets, as well as the most effective and efficient fleet in North America. Flight Options was acquired in November 2007 by H.I.G. Capital, LLC, a leading global private equity firm with more than $4 billion of equity capital under management. H.I.G. specializes in acquiring companies with great growth potential and helping them achieve their goals. H.I.G. support and investment will allow Flight Options to build on its success as the most innovative company in private aviation.

Chief Executive Officer
Michael J Silvestro
Number of Employees 500
Contact Information

26180 Curtiss Wright Pkwy

Richmond Heights, Ohio 44143-1453

www.flightoptio...

(216) 261-3500

NAICS Code All Other Motor Vehicle Dealers: 441229

Recent Events

  • Teamsters and Flight Options Management Agree to Rigorous Bargaining Schedule in Attempt to Finalize Pilots'...

    10/14/09 - Joint Venture / Alliance - View Story

  • Flight Options Introduces Phenom Program

    6/22/09 - Product Announcement - View Story

Decision Makers

Name (plus bio) Position
Michael J Silvestro Chief Executive Officer
Bruce C. Boyle Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Cameron Gowans Chief Marketing Officer
J. Chris Herzberg Chief Operating Officer
Julie A. Boland Chief Financial Officer
James G. Miller Executive Vice President
James P Miller Executive Vice President
James Guerin Senior Vice President, Sales
Chuck Starkey Vice President of Safety and Security
D Russell Hood Vice President and General Counsel
James Dauterman Vice President, Sales
Jay Heublein Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Jerry Bemis Vice President, Maintenance
Pat Gallagher Vice President, Sales, West
Philip R. La Velle Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Ralph Knull Vice President, Human Resources and Labor Relations
Robert H. Tyler Vice President, Flight Operations
Robert Sullivan Vice President, Human Resources
Toby Ludvigson Vice President, Corporate Accounts
Tony Ferrante Vice President, Sales, East
Dan Lucey General Manager, Aircraft Management
Megan Wolf Director of Enterprise Program Management
Robert J Hargrave Hawker Jet Captain
Robert P. Pinkas Officer
Rusty Hood

Board of Directors

Name (plus bio) Position
Kenneth C. Ricci Chairman
Mike Metera Board of Directors
Preety Aggarwal Board of Directors

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Chief Executive Officer Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Current
Buckeye Council, Inc President Former
Wayne-Dalton Corp. CFO Former
Raytheon Company Former
Rockwell International Corporation Former
Buckeye Council, Inc Board of Directors Former
University of Chicago Masters of Business Administration Former
Carnegie Mellon University Bachelor of Science In Mathematics Former

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Chief Marketing Officer Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Chief Operating Officer Current
Airplane.Com Current
Corporate Wings Inc. President Former
Kent State University Vice President Former
Kent State University Business Administration Former

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Chief Financial Officer Current
Oglebay Norton Company Chief Financial Officer Current
Oglebay Norton Company Board of Directors Former
University of Chicago MBA In Finance and Statistics Former
University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Masters In Business Administration Former
University of Vermont Bachelor of Science In Accounting Former
University of Vermont Degree Former

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Executive Vice President Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Executive Vice President Current
Flight Options LLC Chief Operating Officer Former
Miller Aviation Founder Former
Flight Options LLC Board Member Former
The Pennsylvania State University Degree In Electrical Engineering Former

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Senior Vice President, Sales Current

Serving as the Vice President of Safety and Security, Chuck Starkey manages the Company's safety and security programs, and advises the executive team on matters of safety, security and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining Flight Options in 2000, Chuck served more than nine years as a U.S. Navy aviator, check pilot and aviation safety officer, and then taught as an assistant professor and assistant chief pilot in Kent State University's Aeronautics program. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University, a Masters in Technology from Kent State University, and an FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate.

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President of Safety and Security Current
Kent State University Chief Pilot Former
Kent State University Assistant Professor Former
U.S. Navy Pilot Former
Kent State University Masters In Technology Former
Boston University B.S. In Mechanical Engineering Former

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President and General Counsel Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President, Sales Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President of Sales and Marketing Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President, Maintenance Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President, Sales, West Current

Philip LaVelle serves as Flight Options' Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Prior to joining Flight Options he served as senior vice president, Sales and Marketing for Wayne-Dalton Corporation, a leading manufacturer of residential and commercial overhead doors. He was responsible for all domestic and international sales and marketing with independent dealers, national accounts, major retailers and company-owned distribution centers. Prior to this role, Philip held senior management level positions with PrimeSource Building Products, Inc., an Itochu Inc. subsidiary and Builder Marts of America, a Guardian Industries, Inc. subsidiary. He received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Finance from the Ohio State University and attended an Executive Management Program in association with the Wharton School of Finance.

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President of Sales and Marketing Current
Wayne-Dalton Corp. Vice President, Sales & Marketing Former
Primesource Building Products, Inc. Former
ITOCHU Corporation Former
The Ohio State University Bachelor of Science In Marketing and Finance Former

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President, Human Resources and Labor Relations Current
Hahn Loeser and Parks Attorney Former

Bob Tyler began his flying career as a United States Air Force decorated, combat fighter pilot. He has spent over 30 years as a flight crewmember, manager, and executive officer in military, commercial, and corporate aviation. Bob has logged over 17,000 hours of flight time while also performing duties as a test pilot, flight and simulator instructor, Check Airman and FAA Designated Examiner. His academic credentials include a B.A., an M.B.A., and he is a Labor Relations Professional. Bob currently leads the Flight Operations team.

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President, Flight Operations Current
Federal Aviation Administration Instructor Former

Organization Position Status
Nextant Aerospace, LLC Vice President, Human Resources Current
Flight Options LLC Vice President, Human Resources Current
Campbell University Bachelor's Degree In Business Administration Former

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President, Corporate Accounts Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Vice President, Sales, East Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC General Manager, Aircraft Management Current

As the Director of Enterprise Programs, Megan Wolf supports the management of the Company's enterprise wide initiatives and projects. Megan also serves as the Six Sigma lead for the organization, applying the knowledge based process and disciplined methodology of analysis in support of the Company's goal of continuous improvement. Megan has been with the company since 1999; serving as the Director of Owner Services prior to this role. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Business and Organizational Leadership from Fort Hays State University.

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Director of Enterprise Program Management Current
Fort Hays State University Bachelor's Degree In Business and Organizational Leadership Former

Captain Robert J. Hargrave is a graduate of the Army Aviation Rotor Wing Program, and is Chief Pilot for Voyager Jet Center. Captain Hargrave graduated from Valley Forge Military Junior College, and received his commission in the United States Army Reserves at the age of twenty. Rob went on to Military Intelligence Officer Basic Training, followed by Army Flight School. He then graduated from La Roche College in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After returning from active duty, Rob flew helicopters for the Army Reserves out of Washington, Pennsylvania for several years. His civilian flight experience began in 1990 as a Medevac Helicopter Pilot for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. After more than six years in this position, Captain Hargrave expanded his aviation knowledge base to include fixed wing aircraft. Since 1997 his primary aviation focus has been in the fixed wing arena. Since that time Rob has worked for LJ Aviation in Latrobe, Pennsylvania and most recently as a Hawker jet captain for Flight Options of Cleveland, Ohio. Rob joined the team at Voyager in 2004 and presently works additional duties in the areas of standardization and pilot training.

Organization Position Status
Voyager Jet Center Chief Pilot Current
Flight Options LLC Hawker Jet Captain Current
L.J. Aviation Current
Voyager Jet Center Captain Former

Organization Position Status
Brantley Partners Managing General Partner Current
Brantley Partners Manager Current
Flight Options LLC Officer Current
Orion Healthcorp, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Flight Options LLC Director Current
Psa Healthcare Director Current
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett Llp Strategist Former
McKinsey & Company, Inc. Strategist Former
Pediatric Services of America, Inc. Board of Directors Former
Brantley Capital Corporation Director Former
University of Pennsylvania J.D Former
Harvard University M.A. Former
Harvard University A.B Former
Harvard University Degree Former

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Current
Risk & Insurance Management Society, Inc. Board of Directors Current
The Travel Centers Senior Legal Counsel Former
The Scott Fetzer Company Corporate Counsel Former
The College of Wooster BA In English Former

Kenneth C. Ricci is a 26 year aviation veteran and among the industry's most dynamic leaders. In 1980, Kenn founded Corporate Wings, an aircraft management, charter and FBO organization. Corporate Wings grew to include other aviation support services including aircraft maintenance and repair and acquired several regional fixed base operations. Under Ricci's leadership, Corporate Wings earned a spot the Inc. 500 plus the Weatherhead 100; recognizing the 100 top growth companies in Northeast Ohio. He is also a four time recipient of the NEO success award for business growth. In 2000, Ricci was honored as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of Year; plus has been named one the most influential people in aviation by Aviation International News.

Organization Position Status
Corporate Wings Inc. Chief Executive Officer Current
Young Presidents' Organization Active Member Current
Flight Options LLC Chairman Current
Gilmour Academy Board of Directors Current
Corporate Wings Inc. Founder Former
Raytheon Company Former
Allied Capital Corporation Former

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Board of Directors Current

Organization Position Status
Flight Options LLC Board of Directors Current

Executive News

  • SEC Busts Advisors For Fees-Related Fraud

    Financial Advisor Magazine - 8/14/09 - View Story

  • SEC Charges Brantley Capital Management With Securities Fraud

    Morningstar.com - 8/13/09 - View Story