Embry-Riddle Creates External Relations Unit

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Embry-Riddle Promotes Three to Vice President to Create External Relations Unit

Daytona Beach, Fla., May 7, 2004 -- Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has promoted three administrators to newly created vice president positions to form a universitywide External Relations unit.

John Metzner will lead the group as vice president of External Relations. Darryl Niemeyer, the new vice president of Corporate Relations, and Dr. Ken Stackpoole, the new vice president of Government Relations, will report to Metzner.

"Combining these seasoned professionals into one organization is sure to have a positive impact on Embry-Riddle's continuing growth and development," says Embry-Riddle president, Dr. George Ebbs. "This new group will coordinate a plan of action for all our external activities, creating new and exciting opportunities that will enhance our mission and leverage our strong Embry-Riddle brand."

The goal of the new unit is to strengthen Embry-Riddle's interaction with government agencies, corporations, associations, foundations, and other external communities. External Relations will also work with Embry-Riddle campuses, colleges, departments, and administration on new internal and external initiatives as they emerge across the university, such as selected international projects, research parks, the Teaching Airport, and the Center for Safety and Security Information.

Metzner came to Embry-Riddle in 2003 after spending 12 years in Germany and the Middle East. In Germany, he was the managing director of mci engineering, providing airline-asset management services and wind-generator technical management throughout Europe. In Abu Dhabi, he helped establish the Technology Park in Abu Dhabi and Dubai for the Higher Colleges of Technology, ultimately attracting 20 multinational corporations to set up business, training, and product-development operations.

At Embry-Riddle, he has served as the executive director of business development. In that position, he has led the development of the Embry-Riddle Research Park on the Clyde Morris Boulevard corridor south of the university, an economic development effort undertaken with the City of Daytona Beach and Volusia County to encourage high-technology aviation industry research and development.

In previous positions at Embry-Riddle during the early 1990s, Metzner was director of International Program Development and director of the Aviation English Language Program.

Metzner has a B.A. in History, English, and Education and an M.A. in English Literature, both from Midwestern University.

Darryl Niemeyer Niemeyer has been at Embry-Riddle since 1981, most recently as the director of University Relations, with oversight of Alumni Relations, Advancement Systems, Corporate Research, and Donor Relations. In that role, he produced Embry-Riddle's 2003 and 2001 Wings & Waves air and sea shows.

He has held several other positions at Embry-Riddle. As director of Industry Relations and Corporate Marketing, Niemeyer persuaded the Women in Aviation organization to relocate to Daytona Beach and established a beneficial relationship between the university and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

As director of Career Services he launched the annual Industry/Career Expo, which attracts high-tech employers to campus to recruit graduates. As the university director of Admissions he created a website for his department that includes online admissions applications. Niemeyer also served as university director of Financial Aid.

He holds a B.S. in Marketing from Florida State University.

Ken Stackpoole Stackpoole has been at Embry-Riddle for 23 years, most recently as the director of government relations. He organized and implemented the Southeast SATSLab Consortium, which coordinates Florida industry, university, and state government participation in the NASA Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) Research and Demonstration Program.

His previous assignments at Embry-Riddle include special assistant to the president; chairman of the Flight Technology Department at Embry-Riddle's Daytona Beach and Prescott, Ariz., campuses, instructor pilot, and pilot examiner; faculty member and speaker of the Faculty Senate.

Stackpoole holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and a Flight Instructor Certificate with Instrument and Multi-Engine ratings and has logged 4,600 hours of flight time. He earned a B.S. and M.S. in Aeronautical Science at Embry-Riddle and a Ph.D. in Public Affairs at the University of Central Florida.

Embry-Riddle, the world's largest, fully accredited university specializing in aviation and aerospace, meets the needs of students and industry through its educational, training, research, and consulting activities. Embry-Riddle educates more than 28,000 students annually through the master level at residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Fla., and Prescott, Ariz., through the Extended Campus at more than 130 centers in the United States and Europe, and worldwide through distance learning.