Embry-Riddle Grads Take Care of Business

Alumni talk about their jobs in the aviation business and "the Embry-Riddle Advantage"

Sam Ingalls
Assistant Director of Aviation, Information Systems, Clark County (Nevada) Aviation Department.

Embry-Riddle degree: B.S., aviation business, with emphasis in airport management; 1988

What I do: I am head of technology for all five of our airports. McCarran International Airport is the only entirely common-use airport in the United States, providing air carriers with all of the systems they use to process passengers, from agent-facing systems to self-service kiosks, to flight information, to baggage handling. Our other flagship project is the use of radio frequency identification chips in bag tags to accurately track all luggage through the system. We’re also implementing off-airport check-in service in major hotels, the car rental facility, and the Las Vegas convention center.

Proud moment: I was named a 1998 Computerworld-Smithsonian Laureate for technical innovation in the transportation industry, for my effort in moving McCarran to a common-use airport.

Peter Modys
Director of Aviation, Lee County (Florida) Port Authority

Embry-Riddle degree: B.S., aeronautical science, 1979.

What I do: I oversee Southwest Florida International Airport’s operations, maintenance, police, aircraft rescue, firefighting, and contracts departments, as well as the operation of our general aviation airport, Page Field.

How I help people: We make sure passengers can safely and efficiently transition from aircraft to ground transportation and vice versa. In addition, we make sure our airlines, tenants, and concessions can provide their service to the public.

Proud moment: We just opened our new terminal complex – a 750,000-square-foot, 28-gate terminal building, parking garage, rental car facility, apron, taxiways, and parking lots.

The Embry-Riddle advantage: It’s the aviation culture and the language 'Riddle speaks that prepares students for the world of aviation. Flying airplanes is glamorous, but our industry needs many more managers of things and leaders of people. Those folks come from business programs. Why not learn from a leader in aviation education?

Thomas Vadakedath
Manager of Business and Financial Analysis, Technical Services & Purchasing, Mesa Airlines

Embry-Riddle degrees: B.S., aviation technology, 2001; MBA, aviation, 2005

What I do: I manage and track the technical services division budget of $250 million. Other responsibilities include financial analysis for upgrade, modifications proposed by original equipment manufacturers, capital expenditure tracking, base maintenance, maintenance planning, inventory and sparing levels, maintenance labor, contract performance tracking, and savings evaluation.

Proud moment: Over the past year, I have been involved in projects that have saved the company in excess of $100 million.

The Embry-Riddle advantage: The business concepts are the same at any school, but at Embry-Riddle you are exposed to business with an aviation focus, taught by faculty with a wealth of industry knowledge.

Juan Ruiz
Senior Financial Analyst, Continental Airlines

Embry-Riddle degrees: B.S., avionics engineering technology, 2001; MBA, aviation, 2006

What I do: I work on capital improvement projects and cost-saving initiatives, and ad-hoc studies for the technical operations and purchasing group.

How I help people: The problems I solve help provide management with the information necessary in decision making, and help make every flight safe and pleasant for our customers.

Proud moment: In school I did a project with Dr. Massoud Bazargan-Lari and the Airline Operations Simulation Lab for AirTran Airways. I developed a simulation model to examine various methods of boarding an aircraft, which is critical to efficient operations.

The Embry-Riddle advantage: You can take part in research projects with faculty and corporate sponsors, and the MBA curriculum can be utilized in any industry.

Shaun Londono

Aviation Planner, LPA Group

Embry-Riddle degrees: B.S., aviation business, 2003; MBA, aviation, with emphasis in airport planning and design, 2005

What I do: The LPA Group is a consulting firm specializing in aviation and roadway infrastructure planning and design for airports. Our planning analyses include airport master plans and layout plans, benefit-cost analysis, forecasting, Part 150 studies, feasibility studies, and airport security studies.

How I help people: Because airports serve a greater community, I develop planning activities with the user in mind to ensure that the airport is a good neighbor.

Proud moment: For Mt. Airy-Surry County Airport in North Carolina, I conducted a benefit-cost analysis to study the feasibility of a runway extension and road relocation to meet growing demand for larger jet operations there. The timeline and budget were tight, but I completed and delivered it ahead of schedule.

The Embry-Riddle advantage: One of the most important skills I’ve gleaned from Embry-Riddle is the ability to think critically and decisively. Aviation functions because different elements come together. There wouldn’t be advancement in flight without aerospace engineers, no airports for aircraft without airport planners, and no airlines without good management teams. Embry-Riddle offers all of these disciplines.

Ronan MacMichael

Manager of Charter Sales, Delta Air Lines

Embry-Riddle degree: B.S., aviation business, with emphasis in airline management, 2000

What I do: I manage Delta’s charter portfolio and secure new business. Our customer base includes professional and collegiate athletic teams, military, and corporations.

How I help people: We offer customized air travel from point A to point B in comfort and style. In many cases, we fly charter clients to and from destinations that are not served by scheduled airline service.

Proud moment: I coordinated all charter flight-related aspects of the New England Patriots’ 2003 and 2004 Super Bowl appearances in Houston and Jacksonville.

The Embry-Riddle advantage: Time management is a skill every Embry-Riddle student learns. Being able to prioritize is critical to success in an industry as fluid as the airline industry.

Chaim Van Prooyen
Airside Operations Agent, Department of Aviation, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (City of Atlanta)

Embry-Riddle degree: B.S., aviation business, with emphasis in airport management, 2005

What I do: My responsibilities include taxiway and runway inspections. I ensure that the airport is in compliance with FAR Part 139 certification, and I manage the airport’s cargo airlines and handlers’ representatives.

How I help people: I take a proactive approach by searching for and reporting potential hazards immediately. This approach helps the airport meet its number one priority: safety for the airlines and passengers.

Proud moment: I was assigned to work on the airport’s fifth runway project six months before it became operational. My job was to update the airport’s certification manual and maintain numerous documents and all drawings using AutoCAD. The highlight came when I was on board a flight with airport, city, and state delegates to mark the first takeoffs and landings on the runway.

The Embry-Riddle advantage: I learned the value of networking and met some giants in the industry. And my professors gave me practical classroom projects that relate to my work today. In our operations department we have seven Embry-Riddle alumni.

Mark Talage Mark Talaga
Senior Staff Analyst and Operations Analysis, United Airlines

Embry-Riddle degree: MBA, aviation, 2005

What I do: I ensure that United’s block time for flights to the western United States and all of Canada is properly forecast for a given period. Block time drives schedules and any opportunities for the airline to redeploy the aircraft. My secondary duties involve analyzing United’s fuel burns for the entire fleet and looking for unusual discrepancies.

How I help people: I look for unusual patterns, such as flights with low reliability in a particular station, spikes in delayed and canceled flights, or unreliable block time for certain flights. My work helps the entire airline increase reliability and value to the consumer.

Proud moment: I was part of a team that implemented complex new software that helps United passengers during schedule changes. The old system was inefficient and often misconnected passengers. The new system ensures that passengers will not misconnect or deviate far from their original departure and arrival times.

The Embry-Riddle advantage: Thanks to Dr. Bazargan and Dr. Pagiavlas, I was involved in real world-projects at Embry-Riddle. Actual companies used our work to make important decisions. I learned to systematically analyze a problem down to its root causes and come up with a solution. This mindset has helped me solve complex issues in the day-to-day life of an airline. At United, 6 alumni work in revenue management.

Manolo Centeno
Senior Financial Analyst, Field Services Controllers Group, Continental Airlines

Embry-Riddle degree: MBA, aviation, 2002

What I do: My main focus is the financial analysis and modeling of airport operations. I get called when they are trying to understand the financial implications of a new policy, procedure, or idea to improve the operation. These may involve operational resources such as gates, ground support equipment, and bag handling; contracts with vendors; activity costing; and rents and landing fees.

Proud moment: Last year, I developed for a fuel efficiency task force a financial model that helped management start tracking and reducing the amount of fuel overfilled. I was able to save Continental millions of dollars.

The Embry-Riddle advantage: I got a deep understanding of airlines operation and optimization at Embry-Riddle, and I helped Dr. Bazargan develop a class called Airlines Optimization and Simulation. At Continental, we have a great group of business alumni. In fact, Embry-Riddle is one of seven schools where we recruit MBAs.