Frederick, MD - The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association has created seven new, full-time regional manager positions to better build strong local GA communities and strengthen the organization's relationships with state and local governments across the country.
AOPA has had a successful regional representative program for many years, primarily focused on state and local advocacy. In 2012, we are re-organizing the country into seven regions, headed by regional managers who will work on state and local issues and handle pilot outreach. Many of the previous regional representatives will continue in a new AOPA program attending aviation events as part of the association's local engagement initiative.
The hiring of the regional managers marks the first overhaul of AOPA regional advocacy and representation in decades. "We are pleased and fortunate that many of our ‘new' regional managers are familiar faces, having served very capably as AOPA regional representatives," AOPA President Craig Fuller said. "As cash-strapped states eye GA taxes, cut spending on airport maintenance and community airports face an ongoing threat, the need to make sure pilots have a voice in community decisions is greater than ever."
The new Regional Managers are:
Northeast Region: Craig Dotlo
Alaska: Tom George
Southern Region: Bob Minter
California: John L. Pfeifer
Great Lakes: Bryan Budds
Central Southwest Region: Yasmina Platt
Northwest Mountain Region: David R. Ulane
FMI: AOPA