Jennifer Vogel has been a member of our Board of Directors since October 2022 and has served as our Chair since March 2023. Ms. Vogel is the former senior vice president, general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer of Continental Airlines, Inc., where she worked until 2010 when she retired. Ms. Vogel is currently on the board of AAR Corp., a global provider of aviation services to commercial and government customers, the board of the Telluride Regional Airport Authority and on the National Council of the World Wildlife Fund, and has served on various other public company boards, including Virgin America, Inc. Recognitions include “Most Influential Corporate Board Directors” by Women’s Inc. and “Most Powerful and Influential Women in Texas” by the Texas Diversity Council and Texas Diversity Magazine. Ms. Vogel earned her BBA from the University of Iowa and her JD from the University of Texas. Ms. Vogel is a valuable member of the Board of Directors because of her experience as an executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in the airline and energy industries, including her leadership positions with Continental Airlines, her extensive legal and corporate governance expertise, her experience in regulatory issues, mergers and acquisitions, ethics and compliance matters and her experience as a director of four other public companies.
Jude Bricker has served as our Chief Executive Officer since July 2017 and as a member of our Board of Directors since April 2018. Mr. Bricker has 20 years of experience in the aviation industry. He previously served as the Chief Operating Officer of Allegiant Travel Company from January 2016 to June 2017, as well as various other leadership roles from 2006 to 2016. As Chief Operating Officer of Allegiant Travel Company, Mr. Bricker was the senior executive responsible for marketing, network, operations, treasury, fleet, scheduling, pricing, ancillary products, digital, distribution, charters, loyalty, and investor relations. From July 2004 to May 2006, Mr. Bricker was a finance manager at American Airlines. Mr. Bricker holds a BS in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and an MBA from the University of Texas. Additionally, Mr. Bricker served as an infantry officer with the United States Marine Corps from 1996 to 2002. As the Company’s current Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bricker is a valuable member of our Board of Directors because he has a direct connection to senior management and the benefit of management’s perspective on the Company’s business and immediate strategic goals. He provides leadership, extensive knowledge of the Company, and insight on the day-to-day operation of the business.
Dave Davis has served as our Chief Financial Officer and a member of our Board of Directors since April 2018 and as our President since December 2019. Prior thereto, from December 2017 to April 2018, Mr. Davis was an advisor to Sun Country. From July 2014 to February 2017, Mr. Davis served as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors, and from November 2012 to June 2014, served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer, of Global Eagle Entertainment, Inc., a leading global provider of media content and satellite-based connectivity systems for use in commercial aviation, maritime and remote land-based applications. Prior thereto, Mr. Davis was the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Northwest Airlines, Inc., the world’s fourth largest airline prior to its sale to Delta Air Lines in 2008. Additionally, Mr. Davis has held various finance leadership positions at US Airways, Perseus LLC, and Budget Group, as well as served on the boards of directors of Globecomm Systems, Inc., Lumexis Corporation and ARINC Corporation. Mr. Davis received a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Mechanics degree and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Davis is a valuable member of the Board of Directors because he has a direct connection to senior management and the benefit of management’s perspective on the Company’s business and immediate strategic goals. He also has diverse experience with a wide range of industries, allowing him to bring additional perspective to the board.
Marion Blakey has been a member of our Board of Directors since December 2021. Ms. Blakey currently serves as a non-executive director for Eve Air Mobility and on the advisory boards of Radia and Sunrise Transportation Holdings, having retired from Rolls-Royce North America Inc. in 2018 as President and Chief Executive Officer. Prior to joining Rolls-Royce, Blakey served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Aerospace Industries Association for eight years. From 2002 to 2007, Blakey was Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration. Prior to 2002, she held several senior positions including Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board and Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as ran her own consulting firm focusing on transportation and infrastructure issues. Ms. Blakey has received numerous honorary degrees and awards including the National Aeronautic Association’s 2011 Henderson Trophy, Aviation Week & Space Technology’s 2013 Laureate Award, and the National Aeronautic Association’s 2013 Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy, and most recently, the Carol B. Hallett Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the L. Welch Pogue Award from Aviation Week & Space Technology and the International Aviation Club. Ms. Blakey’s board experience is vast, and includes recent roles serving on the board of Alaska Airlines Group, Aerojet Rocketdyne, and NASA’s National Advisory Council. Ms. Blakey graduated from Mary Washington College of the University of Virginia before continuing graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies. Ms. Blakey is a valuable member of the Board of Directors because of her experience in the airline industry, including her leadership positions in both the private and public sectors (including with our primary regulator), and her past experience as a director of other public companies, as well as her deep expertise in safety oversight and administration.
Kerry Philipovitch has been a member of our Board of Directors since December 2020. Ms. Philipovitch also serves on the boards of Avianca Airlines, hospitality wine management company Intervine, and technology start-up OptIn. She served in aviation management roles for 23 years, most recently from 2010 to 2019 as Senior Vice President-Customer Experience for US Airways and, following the merger between US Airways and American Airlines, at American Airlines. She oversaw airline operations impacting critical measures of customer value, including worldwide airport customer service, and ramp and baggage operations; onboard flight service and catering; global call centers; cargo; customer planning; and service recovery. In addition to her operating responsibilities, Ms. Philipovitch worked with the NAACP and other important community partners to develop an inclusion and diversity strategy for the airline, and frequently served as a subject matter expert in educating government officials on important industry issues. Ms. Philipovitch was selected as an honoree for the Dallas Business Journal’s 2019 Women in Business Awards, an award that recognizes business leaders for impressive professional achievements and proven track record. Profiles in Diversity Journal named her as a Woman Worth Watching, and the Phoenix Business Journal selected her as one of the most influential business leaders in the Phoenix area. She has offered expert testimony in two congressional hearings. Passionate about inspiring female leaders, she frequently speaks to groups, offering advice on how to deliver results and advance their careers. Ms. Philipovitch graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Tulane University and received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. Ms. Philipovitch is a valuable member of the Board of Directors because of her leadership and experience in the airline industry.
Thomas C. Kennedy has been a member of our Board of Directors since April 2021. Mr. Kennedy currently serves as President and CFO for the North American operations of SIXT Rent a Car, a role he has held since November 2020. Previously, Mr. Kennedy served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hertz Global Holdings from 2013 until his retirement in 2018. Hertz filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2020. Prior to joining Hertz, Mr. Kennedy served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hilton Worldwide Holdings from 2008 to 2013. Between 2003 and 2007, Mr. Kennedy served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Vanguard Car Rental, parent company of the National Car Rental and Alamo Rental Car brands. Prior to joining Vanguard, Mr. Kennedy served in a number of financial positions with increasing responsibilities from 1992 to 2003 at Northwest Airlines, Inc., a global network airline, including Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller; Vice President, Financial Planning and Analysis; Managing Director, Corporate Planning; and Director Finance and Information Services, Pacific Division, Tokyo, Japan. Mr. Kennedy graduated from Tulane University, summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Economics in 1987 where he also was a three-year letterman swimmer. Mr. Kennedy received his Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard University in 1992. Between his undergraduate and graduate studies, Mr. Kennedy worked for Merrill Lynch Capital Markets in their Public Finance investment banking division from 1987 to 1990. Mr. Kennedy serves on the board of the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation. Mr. Kennedy is a valuable member of the Board of Directors because of his experience as an executive at large public companies and his financial expertise.
Patrick O’Keeffe has been a member of our Board of Directors since April 2022. Mr. O’Keeffe brings more than 30 years of experience in the airline industry where he worked at American Airlines Group, Inc. until his retirement in 2020. O’Keeffe is the former Senior Vice President, People for American Airlines, where from 2017 to 2020, he led American’s global People team, managing talent acquisition and development, compensation, health and wellness, pension and 401(k) management, team member engagement as well as diversity, equity and inclusion. Prior to that, he held multiple leadership positions in IT at American Airlines. He is currently an advisory board member for ID90 Travel. He earned an MBA from Rice University in Houston and a BBS in accounting and finance from the University of Limerick in Ireland. Mr. O’Keeffe is a valuable member of the Board of Directors because of his experience as an executive at a large public company and his expertise in the airline industry, as well as his significant experience in and expertise with talent management and information technology for companies in our industry.
Gail Peterson has been a member of our Board of Directors since January 2023. Ms. Peterson currently serves as Executive Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer at Ecolab, Inc. overseeing the company’s global brand, global communications, market research, sustainability and water partnership teams, a role she has held since January 2020. Ms. Peterson previously served as vice president of marketing for Ecolab’s Global Healthcare business. Prior to joining Ecolab in 2016, she spent 15 years as a marketing executive at General Mills, Inc. Ms. Peterson served on the board of the Minnesota Children’s Museum and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Executive Leadership Council, Black Executive CMO Alliance, African American Leader Council, and was a founding member of Ecolab’s Black Leaders Forum. Ms. Peterson has been named to Savoy’s “Top 100 Black Executives” list and Women’s Inc.’s “Most Influential Women in Business.” Ms. Peterson earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Princeton University and her MBA from Harvard Business School. Ms. Peterson is a valuable member of the Board of Directors because of her experience as an executive at a large public company and her marketing expertise. Ms. Peterson’s experience as a marketing executive also provides the board valuable insight into marketing strategies and tactics and is a resource on these matters for management.