Amid unprecedented growth, Naples-based private charter company Elite Jets has added one pilot and a pair of administrative team members to its expanding team.
Elite Jets owns four Embraer Phenom 300 jets and one Embraer Legacy 500 jet that transport passengers to destinations across North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean. The luxury charter service for affluent business and leisure travelers also provides management services for a Gulfstream G550 jet capable of long-haul flights to Europe and Asia. The company additionally has a Bell 407 helicopter that provides sightseeing and travel services across southern Florida.
“Increased demand among both loyal, long-time customers and new and prospective clients means that our jets are in the air more often and our teams on the ground require more support,” said Stephen Myers, CAM, senior vice president at Elite Jets. “Growing our workforce ensures that we continue providing an exceptional travel experience for years ahead.”
Stephen Johnson is Elite Jets’ new Phenom 300 first officer. In that role, he is responsible for assisting the captain with aircraft operations during flights.
His passion for exploration by air started at an early age while traveling the world with his father, who worked in engineering at British Airways London on the Concorde, classic 747 and Vickers VC10s. Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science and served as a computer systems programmer on U.K. Ministry of Defense projects, including BATES and ADCIS, before transitioning to flight. He has logged over 7,000 hours in flight time and brings more than two decades of experience to Elite Jets as a pilot and flight instructor, along with extensive FAA and CAA credentials.
Kristina Noble is Elite Jets’ new client services manager. Since joining the company in March, Noble has distinguished herself by ensuring that every part of the customer experience is exceptional. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northern Arizona University and has 15 years of experience as an elementary school teacher.
With an eye for detail and a passion for making guests feel welcome and empowered to fulfill their dreams, Nobles is responsible for arranging catering, special events, transportation and more, as well as accommodating any special requests.
The third new hire is Joseph Koppelkam, CPA, director of finance. In that role, Koppelkam leads the company’s accounting and financing team. He previously served as the head of accounting areas for two successful financial institutions: the $540 million Community Bank & Trust in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, followed by the $800 million FKA-Commerce State Bank and Summit Credit Union in West Bend, Wisconsin.
His responsibilities included corporate strategy and analysis, capital planning, risk monitoring, reporting and compliance, acquisition analysis and more. Koppelkam earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as well as a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
For more information about job opportunities at Elite Jets, please visit EliteJets.com/careers or call 239-900-9000.
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