The SFBAA Board of Directors consists of 12 members who oversee the operations of the Association, define objectives and goals each year, and establish policies pertaining to association matters. The Board of Directors are elected to two-year terms and are as follows:

2024-25 Board of Directors

President - Scott Ramsden, Ramjet Aviation

Scott has been an SFBAA board member since 2007, having previously held roles as Treasurer, Advertising Chair, Membership Manager, and Website Administrator. He is currently the Vice President and Co-Owner of Ramjet Aviation, specializing in aircraft sales, acquisitions, and appraisals. He joined Ramjet in 2005 and has excelled at bringing innovative ideas and an outsider’s prospective to business aviation. He is has his private pilot certificate & instrument rating, is an active member of NBAA & NAFA, and is a graduate of the Goizueta Business School at Emory University.

Vice President - Chris Salley, FBO Partners

Chris is currently an Associate with FBO Partners, leading contract FBO fuel sales, business development programs, and IT consulting. He has experience in the technology sector of private charter and flight operations software, and has previously worked with National Jets, Wyvern, Avinode/SchedAero, Dassault Falcon Jet and STS Component Solutions. Chris joined the SFBAA in 2011 and has served on the Executive Board since 2012. He currently assists with organizing SFBAA General Membership Meetings, the Annual Charity Golf Tournament, and the Board President as matters arise.

Treasurer - David Slivka, Anaconda Aviation

Dave brings 35+ years of aviation experience to the SFBAA. He has been a member for more than 15 years and has served as Treasurer since 2020. Dave is currently President & Owner of Anaconda Aviation and is an active participant in all of our events and charitable ventures. Semi-retired, Dave enjoys spending time with his family and friends around South Florida.

Secretary - Laura Caterino, PNC Private Bank

Laura has been involved with the SFBAA since 2016, previously chairing the Scholarship Committee and taking an active role in Board activities. She currently serves as Banking Market Director for PNC Private Bank where she oversees a team of Wealth Managers focused on premium finance activities, including aircraft lending. Priot to joining PNC Laura was a Senior Vice President & Senior Private Banker at Wells Fargo.

Member Representatives are the general membership's voice at all Board meetings. If you have any ideas or concerns regarding the Association, please contact one of the member representatives below.

Member Representative - Mark Mirin, Angel Flight Southeast

Mark is currently “Wing Leader” for Angel Flight Southeast, a non-profit entity that the SFBAA has supported since it began its charitable activities. Angel Flight provides for free air transportation by private aircraft to distant medical facilities when commercial service is not practical or available. Mark has volunteered with the SFBAA for more than 15 years and has been played a vital role in expanding the organizations membership.

Member Representative - Edward McLean, Falcon Spares

Ed is a sales and marketing executive with over 30 years of experience in aviation and a career that has spanned almost every spectrum of the aviation industry. He started out in private aviation and expanded to include military, commercial, and corporate aviation with positions as a Technician, Flight Crew Member, Administrator, Director, and now as a Sales Executive at Dassault Falcon Jet. Ed has been a member representative since joining the Board and takes a tremendously proactive role in sourcing donations for our charity golf tournament each year. He also sits on the Scholarship Committee and has a genuine interest in fostering the development & growth of young adults into the aviation field.

Member Represenative - Joe Taravella, AvFuel

Joe Taravella is a 2nd generation Fort Lauderdale native who graduated from the University of North Florida with a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design. He has worked alongside various Fortune 50 companies developing marketing and sales funnels through A/B Testing and Conversion Rate Optimization strategies. Between 2017 and 2021, Joe worked in Charter Sales and Management with Jet 1 Charter in Naples, FL. He currently serves as one of Avfuel’s two Area Managers in the Southeastern US.

If you would like to volunteer your time and effort, we are always in search of new faces. Please visit the Committees page and decide where you'd like to contribute.  The Committee Chairs are:

Advertising & Marketing Chair - Rebekah Knaster, Becks and the Jets

Rebekah is an Aviation specialist with a background in International Business & Trade. Her carreer started over a decade ago with Emirates Airlines then transitioned into Charter Flights with Swift Air, followed by Part 91 and then as private plane broker. Rebekah created Becks and the Jets in 2021 with the purpose of providing the private aviation community with tools needed to network and advertise aviation businesses in the social media industry, along with creating strategies that help generate leads and brand awareness.

Events Chair - Eliane "Elly" Cotran, Azorra

Eliane is the Vice President of Commercial at Azorra, an aircraft leasing company based in Fort Lauderdale. Eliane’s main focus is Aircraft Trading and building up the Business Aviation Division of the company. She has been in the aviation industry for 15 years with prior experience as an engineer at Bombardier and in aircraft interiors. Eliane is a has been a member of the SFBAA since moving down to Florida in 2020 and became the Events Committee Chair in January, 2023.

Golf Tournament Chair - Jeff Ramsden, Ramjet Aviation

Jeff is the former President of the SFBAA, having led the organization from 2007-2021. During his tenure he oversaw expansion of the organization into one of the largest regional groups in the country. He is currently the President and Co-Owner of Ramjet Aviation and has experience with all facets of the aviation industry, from sales to charter to maintenance. Jeff was previously a member of the NBAA Access Committee and is a former Chair of the Network of Regional Business Aviation Associations. He has been recognized numerous times for his dedication and contributions to the business aviation community, including being a recipient of the NBAA “Silk Scarf Award” and being named as an inaugural member of the NBAA “40 under 40.”

Membership Chair - Karen Kroeppel, KRPL Solutions

Coming Soon

Scholarship Chair - Dr. Sean Gallagan, Aviation Workforce Solutions

Sean is the CEO of Aviation Workforce Solutions who provides aviation professions, aviation companies, and educational & (non-)governmental organizations services to grow their business through feasibility and needs assessment studies, workforce acquisition & retention, training development & implementation. Prior to becoming a consultant, he served as the Associate Dean overseeing transportation programs at Broward College, including aviation, marine, automotive, and industrial technology and Principal/Director of George T. Baker Aviation Technical College – the largest FAA Part 147 public training institute in the SE United States. He has dedicated over 30 years to public education and is a highly motivated and results driven professional with over 20 years of progressive leadership and management experience. He received his Ph.D. from Barry University, Masters from Nova Southeastern, and his Bachelor’s from FIU. He currently serves on numerous boards and committees including the Aviation Technician Education Council, South Florida Aviation Maintenance Council, Greater Miami Aviation Association, Florida Memorial University Aviation Advisory Committee, Broward College Aviation Advisory Committee, Business Aircraft Records Foundation, Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance Aviation Committee, and the Beacon Council Aviation Committee.