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Directors and Officers
Directors and Officers
Austin Hunt - President
Austin Hunt is the founder of EquityJet, Inc., an aircraft management and pilot services company in Kansas City. Equity Jet, Inc. is very active in aircraft sales, acquisition planning, and aircraft partnerships. Hunt is very passionate about flying and flight instructing and holds a multi-engine ATP license, CFI/II/MEI certificates, and is type-rated in the Falcon 2000, Citation Encore, Falcon 10, Falcon 20, Falcon 200, King Air 350, and Learjet series aircraft.
Aside from his passion for aviation, Hunt enjoys driving and maintaining his classic Ford Mustang, Ford Bronco, and motorcycles. He loves being outdoors, hunting, fishing, and is a former state champion trap shooter, and national runner-up. Hunt graduated with a Bachelors in Business Management from the University of Missouri - Kansas City.
Ben Moore - Vice President
Ben is General Manager for Atlantic Aviation at the Charles B. Wheeler Downtown Airport. He oversees all aspects of safety, service levels, compliance, financial performance, procurement, and facility construction. His proudest achievements for the base have been the Top 10 Rankings over the years in AIN, Professional Pilot and FltPlan.com. Ben also serves on the Risk Committee for Atlantic Aviation.
Before becoming an Atlantic Aviation location, Ben was fortunate enough to be a part of the original start-up group at Hangar 10. Prior to Hangar 10 he spent six years at Executive Beechcraft working as a lineman.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Flight Operations Management from the University of Central Missouri. Continuing his education, Ben takes courses in professional development through the NBAA.
Ben is married to his wife Jennipher and they have a son, Colton. Ben was born and raised in Kansas City and has spent over 20 years of his life at the Downtown Airport. Other than aviation, Ben’s hobbies include Mountain Biking, Boating and Lawn Care.
Drew Patton - Treasurer
Drew currently serves as a Captain in the Flight Operations department for a part 91 operation at the Charles B Wheeler Downtown Airport (MKC). Previously, he was the Director of Client Relations and Captain for Vaerus Aviation in Topeka, KS. Drew has been involved in general aviation for over ten years and truly enjoys the corporate flying industry.
Learning to fly at 16, he worked his way through his ratings and was a flight instructor at ATD Flight Systems at the Charles B Wheeler Downtown Airport while attending college at William Jewell in Liberty, MO, where he obtained a degree in Business Administration.
In his spare time, Drew enjoys spending time with his fiancé, Jillian, and their two dogs as well as getting a round of golf in every once in a while.
James W. J. Cooling - Board Member
James is an aviation attorney at Cooling & Herbers, P.C. in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. He is a third generation pilot and learned to fly at a young age riding with his father in a Piper Seneca, which James still flies today. James holds a private pilot certificate with multi-engine and instrument ratings.
Prior to attending law school in San Francisco, James worked as a civil and mechanical engineer in Kansas City and New York City, focused on the design and construction of water tunnels and infrastructure.
Outside of aviation, James enjoys being in the outdoors, water skiing, golfing, hiking, camping, and playing soccer.
Jim Dickerson - Board Member
Jim is the Director of Operations at EquityJet and the President of Prime Broadcast Group (parent company for 102.7FM KPGZ and KMO-TV). He comes to the KCBAA with a background in business development, public relations, broadcasting and communications.
Jim spent several years as an FAA Designated Operations Safety Counselor, where he was named Operations Safety Counselor of the year in 2001. He also served on the Contract Negotiations Team for the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) representing pilots during contract negotiations.
Jim is a Captain at EquityJet and he and his wife Sarah, who is a pilot for United Airlines, enjoy flying their Oshkosh award winning antique 1947 C-120.
Kara Wolf - Board Member
Kara is the MSP Sales Manager for Honeywell Engines & APUs, supporting Kansas and Missouri. Kara has worked in business aviation for the last 12 years, starting as an intern for Bombardier Safety Standdown then 4 years selling Textron Aviation’s ProAdvantage Programs. She also had the opportunity to live her dreams of entrepreneurship by growing the SierraTrax maintenance software company prior to joining Honeywell.
Kara graduated from Wichita State University, obtaining a degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. She has taken courses toward her MBA from Embry-Riddle University’s online program, with plans to finish soon.
Kara and her husband Justin have 3 daughters: Kate, Jordan and Kaylee. Kara was born and raised in Kansas City and is an avid Chiefs fan. When not traveling, she loves spending time playing outside with her girls, practicing soccer or t-ball and camping/boating at the lake.
Jeff White - Board Member
Jeff is a commercial lender with a local KC bank which specializes in aviation. He enjoys building partnerships that foster aviation growth and sustainability within our community, and the Midwest region. In addition to fixed wing and rotorcraft financing, he also helps aviation businesses and airports with their financing needs. He received his Aviation degree from the University of Central Missouri in addition to multiple pilot licenses and ratings.
His hobbies include working on any project outside, hiking in the mountains with his wife, and hanging out at that perfect lakeside RV site.
Contact usAddress: 1001 Lou Holland Dr., Kansas City, MO 64116 Email: info@kcbaa.org |
