As Co-founder and Executive Chairman of jetAVIVA, Sigari has committed his life’s work to extending the benefits of mobility to all of humanity.

In addition to his work at jetAVIVA, Sigari is Co-founder and Managing Partner of UP.Partners, a venture capital firm investing in technologies that move people and goods cleaner, faster, safer and at lower cost – on the ground, air, sea, and space. UP.Partners most recent fund which closed in October of 2021 saw commitments in excess of $230M with investors like Alaska Airlines and Toyota to name a few.

Sigari is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on the future of mobility, particularly Advanced Air Mobility(AAM), which is forecasted by Morgan Stanley to be a $1.4 Trillion market by 2040.

In support of his work at UP.Partners, Sigari led the creation of the UP.Summit, which has become the definitive gathering for leaders in the world of transportation – the most recent occurring in Bentonville, Arkansas in June of 2022 in partnership with the Walton family and Perot family. The prior year’s event generated over $900M of direct investments into the companies that presented at the UP.Summit.

In 2023, Sigari was named the Outstanding Aerospace Engineer of the year from his alma mater, Purdue University for his contributions in aerospace and aeronautics.

In 2022, Sigari was appointed as Chairman of the Arkansas Council on Future Mobility by Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson. In this capacity Sigari has been charged with laying out and leading the statewide strategy for Arkansas to be prepared to support the rapidly changing world of future mobility.

Sigari has been flying airplanes and helicopters for more than 30 years and has accumulated many thousands of hours of flying experience. He is an instructor pilot and rated on 13 different jets, including the Boeing 747.

Sigari is also an Ironman triathlete and self-admitted adventure junkie. He also once rode on the back of a 1200 lbs grizzly bear.

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Ben Marcus soloed at age 16, earned private pilot certification at age 17, commercial pilot and flight instructor certification at age 18, and airline transport pilot certification at age 23. He holds multiple single-pilot jet type ratings and are rated in the Boeing 747-400. Ben and his cofounder Cyrus Sigari turned their passion of flight into a business that has helped hundreds of individuals and companies with the world of jet ownership. Ben Marcus is also co-founder and Managing Partner of UP.Partners, the early-stage investor partnering with entrepreneurs building businesses that are Transforming the Moving World.

Ben also co-founded AirMap, the world’s leading airspace management platform. AirMap leads the industry in delivering technology solutions globally for Unmanned Aircraft Traffic Management (UTM) to enable advanced aerial mobility operations at scale. AirMap was acquired in November 2021.

Prior to co-founding jetAVIVA, Ben served with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), as an aircraft salesman for Cessna’s leading domestic aircraft dealer, in operations management with a Fortune 500 corporate flight department, and as a flight test engineer and salesman for Eclipse Aviation. In addition to his efforts at jetAVIVA, Ben has been published in the largely circulated AOPA Pilot magazine and is an active volunteer for Angel Flight. Ben is also a founding member of the Citation Jet Pilots Owners group and the Eclipse 500 Owners Club.

Ben graduated from Purdue University where he studied Aviation Technology.

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Tim White brings unique OEM knowledge and perspective to jetAVIVA after a successful sales leadership career at Cessna Aircraft, Bombardier, and most recently as CEO of Kansas Aircraft. After a serving in a number of diverse sales roles at Cessna, he most recently served as Sr. Vice President, Sales for the Americas. As an officer and senior leader of Cessna, he oversaw the sales of Citation, Caravan and single-engine aircraft for North, Central and South America. In 2012, Tim joined Bombardier Aerospace in a sales leadership role for the Global, Challenger and Learjet product lines, providing him experience in the heavy jet market sector. In 2013, Tim decided to leave the corporate world to pursue his dream of business ownership with the purchase of Kansas Aircraft Corporation located in the Kansas City area. During his leadership, the company dramatically increased the number of turbine transactions, while strengthening its position in the high-end piston and turboprop markets.

A graduate of the University of Missouri, he is a multi-engine, instrument pilot and holds a Citation 525 type rating. He has flown more than 3,000 incident-free hours in a wide variety of single, twin, turboprop and turbofan aircraft.

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As the Chief Executive Officer for jetAVIVA, Emily Deaton leads one of the largest private jet sales organizations in the world as measured by total annual transaction volume. Deaton joined jetAVIVA in early 2019 and served as Vice President of Sales and COO before assuming the executive leadership of the firm. She holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Florida and is a Board Member for Angel Flight West, IADA’s Aircraft Exchange and the Central Florida Business Aviation Association.

Emily balances work with the best the Sunshine State has to offer. When not on the water, she can be found working on her golf game, or with her nose buried in a book. Most importantly, Emily and her husband Kevin are proud parents to a busy, blended family of seven kids.

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Ryan Scott is a 30-year Aerospace veteran. Ryan recently was the SVP-Global Sales for Boom Supersonic, an OEM startup based in Denver, where he was responsible for worldwide sales and business development activities. Prior to Boom, Ryan was with Embraer for 29 years. As a founding member of the Embraer Executive Jets division, Scott grew the brand from unknown to over $2B in revenue. Before launching the Executive Jets division, Scott was a key team member in the introduction of the ERJ-145 regional jet. Earlier, Scott served as a Senior Airline Analyst focusing on fleet planning, performance, and economic analysis as well as engineering analysis. He is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University and Wharton Executive Leadership.

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Kathy began her career in public accounting where she spent nearly a decade refining accounting and financial management skills. From there she moved into the private sector acting as a controller for a successful restaurant chain and then HR Director for a national mortgage company. In early 2000, she decided to focus on raising her three boys.

During this time, she began working as a consultant helping businesses organize and maintain their internal accounting processes. When she is not working, she loves to travel and spend time with family.

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Mike Simmen grew up on Florida’s Space Coast, where shuttle launches were a regular occurrence. His love for aerospace was fostered at a young age by his grandfather and father who both launched rockets for McDonnell Douglas and later Boeing United Launch Alliance.

Mike brings 10 years of experience in business aviation to jetAVIVA. He was one of the first employees hired into Embraer Executive Jets’ newly-established Melbourne, FL headquarters. Most recently he held the position of Manager of CRM and Customer Experience for Embraer. He helped to develop, implement, and administer an industry-leading CRM platform that integrated departments, improved automation, and informed leadership decisions. Later he incorporated artificial intelligence and big data to help improve and prioritize both marketing and sales processes. Mike also has a passion for customer experience and has found a way to incorporate both the quantitative data with qualitative data to improve the customer’s journey and experience.

While not thinking about data, process improvements and customer experience, Mike likes to slow things down by going on cruises with his wife, Missy. Mike also can be found working in his shop building drag race cars and rebuilding classic cars.

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Brittany has flying in her blood. She grew up flying right seat with her father in his Piper Lance which led to her becoming one of seven pilots in her family including her youngest son.

She started her career in pharmaceutical/medical sales where she learned the art of seeing a deal from all sides. The drive to create win/win scenarios for all parties has guided her career across positions ranging from sales, business development, marketing, and contract development/management. She is always striving to streamline processes to facilitate optimal communication and outcomes for all parties on any given deal. Her most recent experience includes seven years of aviation transaction experience.

Brittany is a proud wife, mother to two boys, and one very spoiled dog. Brittany is based in Kansas City where you will find her and her family cheering on the Chiefs!

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Ben Dow grew up at the airport through a family aviation business. He is a second generation aviation professional and was formerly the Director of Aircraft Sales at FirstFlight in Elmira, New York. Ben is a graduate of Ithaca College where he played football and earned a degree in communication. Although not a licensed pilot, he has enjoyed many hours as a copilot. Ben and his wife, Shannon, have two children. Ben is based in Syracuse, New York.

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As a former collegiate soccer player, Jason Deifik knows how to outwork the competition and achieve winning results for his clients. His tenacious work ethic and ability to navigate complex transaction dynamics are tremendous assets to our company and our customers. He has a detailed understanding of market drivers and a network of industry relationships around the world that allow him to identify opportunities and deliver highly personalized experiences for those he serves.

Jason is a graduate of Texas Tech University and has worked in the aircraft sales industry for 10+ years. Based in Austin, TX, Jason is a proud father (#GirlDad) and family man. When not serving his clients, Jason can be found hanging out in the pool with his family, sweating through a workout in the gym, watching college football, or cheering on the verde and black of Austin FC.

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Jade was first introduced to the world of Aviation as a child through her grandfather, and she knew then it was her calling. Jade is a graduate of Purdue University’s Aviation program, holding a Bachelor of Science in Professional Flight. Jade has flown 50+ different aircraft models, holds an ATP along with CFI/CFII/MEI licenses, is a Cirrus CSIP, and is typed in the Citation 525 Series. Prior to joining jetAVIVA, Jade spent seven years in Southern California as Managing Director for one of the world’s largest Cessna Dealers, followed by a move home to the Midwest to head up the Aircraft Sales division for a leading FBO.

Having experience in everything from single engine pistons to light jets, Jade brings with her a wealth of knowledge, experience, and industry relationships.

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Kandi Spangler is an Instrument Rated Commercial pilot and enjoys all facets of aviation. She has over twenty-five years of aviation experience, including both sales and operational roles for companies such as Netjets, The Air Group and JSSI. She is the former Chairwoman of the Colorado Aviation Business Association (CABA) and has been an advocate for business aviation through other various groups including the NBAA Access Committee and the Chicago Area Business Aviation Association (CABAA). Additionally, she has a degree in Aviation Business Administration from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. She is an avid adventure motorcycle rider in the Colorado mountains with her husband, Shannon. Kandi is based in Denver, Colorado.

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Timon Huber brings an unrivaled wealth of knowledge to all facets of aviation sales and transactions from his over 36-year tenure with Embraer. He joined up with the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer back in 1983 and served the business in multiple areas covering procurement, finance, product support and most-notably, sales.

As a Regional Vice President for the Commercial Aviation Division, Timon helped to negotiate some of Embraer’s largest airline accounts such as American Airlines, Republic Airways Holdings, Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Virgin America.

Timon brought his talents to the Executive Jet branch of the firm as a Regional Sales Director covering Mexico where he sold the first Lineage 1000 into the North American market, and then again in 2015 when he joined to cover the Southeastern US. He was singularly responsible for over 70 sales in the Phenom, Legacy and Praetor markets.

During his tenure, Timon has been directly involved in securing over $15 billion in sales for Embraer’s commercial and executive aviation divisions.

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Kyle Delphon has been hanging around airplanes since his youth. He started his aviation career in Louisiana a decade ago, serving as Assistant Flight Supervisor for Era Helicopters. He has worked in the aviation industry ever since. Previously, he served as Aviation and Technical Resources Manager at JetSwiss Aviation and Business Development Lead for Geomni Mapping. He brings a wealth of aviation knowledge to the team from his experience in flight operations, aviation marketing, aerial data imaging/services, and sales.

Kyle joined the jetAVIVA team in 2020 as a Sales Operations Specialist. He has spent the last three years contributing to the firm’s success through his best-in-class market knowledge and operational excellence.

As of January 2023, Kyle was promoted to Sales Director in the Citation CJ4 and Excel markets. Kyle’s passion for problem-solving and his creativity bring a unique and fresh perspective to each aircraft transaction.

Kyle lives in Olathe, Kansas with his two children. When not working, he can be found on the water fishing or coaching his high school fishing team.

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Max Oberbroeckling, Sales Director at jetAVIVA, brings over seven years of experience in the business aviation industry. His deep market knowledge and industry expertise are rooted in his previous role in Sales Operations, where he honed his skills in market analysis, client relations, and transaction management. During his time in Sales Operations, Max successfully sold and acquired a multitude of different aircraft for both first-time and experienced aircraft owners, mainly in the Beechcraft King Air market. Max’s comprehensive understanding of the aviation market and dedication to client success make him a trusted advisor in aircraft sales and acquisitions.

Max’s passion for aviation started at a young age that eventually led him to joining jetAVIVA in 2017 after graduating from Kansas State University. He continues to develop his aviation knowledge as a Student Pilot working towards his Private Pilot License on his quest to live the jetAVIVA ethos of “Life is Short. Fly a Jet.”

Beyond his passion for aviation, Max also enjoys spending time with his family and riding motorcycles. His ability to balance his personal and professional life is a reflection of his commitment to his well-being and the well-being of those around him. He is also an enthusiastic traveler, and his love for food and the outdoors is evident in his passion for exploring new places and cuisines.

With his expertise and experience, Max is a valuable asset to jetAVIVA, and his dedication to his work and clients is a testament to his commitment to excellence. Follow him on Instagram @max_c_o to keep up with his adventures!

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With over 25 years of aviation experience, David blends his passion for aviation with expertise in client relationships. As a former corporate jet pilot, he understands the operational needs of his clients and works tirelessly to exceed their expectations. Having spent over 9 years with Textron, serving as a Citation Sales Director and later as Head of Sales for TRU Simulation + Training, David brings a wealth of Citation knowledge to the team.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, David is an avid golfer and enjoys teaching high-performance driving at renowned racetracks like Sebring and Daytona. He lives in Orlando with his wife, son and 2 dogs.

Egan has been passionate about aviation since childhood, taking the controls of a plane for the first time at just 4 years old. He obtained his Commercial-Multi, Instrument and CFI ratings while studying at the University of North Dakota. Egan comes to jetAVIVA after more than two years leading Embraer’s pre-owned market research initiative, while also helping evaluate and process trade-in aircraft. Prior to Embraer, he worked as an Aircraft Sales Associate at Elliott Jets in Minneapolis.

A Minnesota native, Egan currently resides in Charlotte, NC. When not working, he can be found hiking and driving the best the Smoky Mountains has to offer with his wife, Catalina.

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Raphael Valor joins jetAVIVA as a Sales Operations Specialist, bringing his extensive aviation expertise and a unique global perspective to the team. Raised in the Venezuelan Amazon, Raphael grew up flying Cessnas with his father across southern Venezuela and the Caribbean islands, sparking his lifelong passion for aviation. His early exposure to flying, combined with his technical proficiency as both a licensed pilot and an A&P technician, has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of aircraft operations, maintenance, and performance.

In addition to his hands-on experience, Raphael has worked as an aircraft market research analyst, specializing in the Embraer market, where he developed a keen eye for aviation market trends and aircraft valuation. Currently, in his final year at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he is pursuing a degree in Aeronautics with a minor in Finance while also serving as president of the Investing Club and member of the Business Aviation Association. His blend of technical, financial, and market expertise allows him to deliver high-quality insights and support to clients at jetAVIVA.

Fluent in multiple languages and passionate about continuous learning, Raphael spends his free time reading, traveling, and staying active by preparing for triathlons, golfing, and playing tennis. At jetAVIVA, he will be tracking the C510 and C525 markets, where his unique background will provide clients with precise, insightful guidance in their aircraft transactions.

Rick Sylvia is a Licensed Aviation Professional with extensive experience leading corporate flight departments to ensure safe and efficient operations. He brings a hands on approach to inspections and technical problem solving. After 35 years in corporate aviation Rick has decided to step out and start his technical consulting business.

Most recently, Rick was promoted from Director of Maintenance to lead the CVS Health Flight Department where he was accountable for maintaining four airplanes, managing 12 pilots, 4 maintenance technicians, a busy flight schedule, and ensuring regulatory compliance. In this role, Rick managed all facets of the Corporate Aviation Department including flight operations, aircraft maintenance, budgetary planning/finances, purchasing, and hangar administration. He served as point person for airplane acquisitions and divestitures, partnering with brokers on strategies and execution, and managed aircraft completion and refurbishment. He also ensured safety management and compliance with IS-BAO standards, all Federal (FAA), State and Local regulations.

Prior to CVS, Rick spent 20 years as the Director of Maintenance for Textron. There he lead a team of technicians in maintaining a diverse fleet of airplanes and helicopters.

Rick has served on the MSG3 Industry Steering Committee for New Model Cessna Aircraft for over 15 years and is the Chairman, Citation Sovereign. He was previously a member of the NBAA Technical Committee/Cessna Citation Large Cabin Aircraft for 22 years.

Rick has extensive experience with Cessna Citations Models II through X, Falcon 2000 LXS, Falcon 20, Merlin, Challenger 600, Bell Helicopters 206L, 222, 230, and 430.

He earned his Degree in Aviation Maintenance from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

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Brian brings 20 years of aviation experience to the team, having held various roles during a two decade career with Textron Aviation. Brian has his Airframe and Powerplant License and served as a lead mechanic for many of his years at Textron. Brian later went on to become a Territory Sales Manager for Textron covering all of Texas and Louisiana. It was during this time that Brian discovered his passion for working directly with customers. Most recently Brian was the Quality Assurance Manager at Textron Aviation in San Antonio. In this position Brian directed the activities of the aircraft inspectors, ensuring all work met technical quality standards. He earned a bachelor’s degree in aviation management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and an MBA in Management from Wayland Baptist University.

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Kelly has a passion for adventure and flying, which she discovered through numerous trips overseas. Her love for seeking out new experiences has only grown since then, and she is always ready for the next challenge.

With a degree in Marketing and an emphasis in Entrepreneurship, Kelly has the education and experience to excel in any marketing role. Since joining the jetAVIVA team in 2015, she has become an invaluable member of the Marketing team, consistently delivering top-notch results and ensuring flawless execution of every marketing piece and event.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, Kelly spends her free time camping or spending time with family and friends. At home you will find her playing with her three young boys, baking, or watching movies with her husband in their home theater.

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Rebeka Rhodes began her career as an FBO receptionist before quickly advancing to a role at a charter and aircraft management company, where she played a key part in developing their charter department. Her dedication, strong work ethic, and exceptional client service soon led to her promotion to Office Manager. In that role, she refined her expertise in aviation and contract management. After meeting the jetAVIVA team, she set her sights on joining them and now plays an essential role in supporting the sales team and VP of Transactions, ensuring smooth operations and outstanding service to clients.

Rebeka’s expertise goes beyond administrative functions; she oversaw the construction of two aircraft hangars on behalf of a management company and a hangar ownership group (anyone who’s dealt with airport or city governments understands the hurdles involved). She also successfully managed a facility with five hangars and three offices.

Rebeka has a passion for learning and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Science from A&M Central Texas (though don’t be fooled, she bleeds orange) and is working toward her CAM designation from the NBAA. She holds an Associate degree in Liberal Arts with a focus in English from Austin Community College.

Outside of work, Rebeka enjoys spending time with her 16-year-old son, Kohnor, volunteering, traveling, and attending local events. They share their home with two beloved dogs, Osiris, an Australian sheepadoodle, and Anubis, a Chinese Crested. In her free time, Rebeka loves laying out by the springs, taking dance classes, running, hiking, cycling, and camping. A proud Texas girl, she’s always ready to throw down on BBQ or tacos!

Jack brings a fresh perspective to the aviation industry, fueled by a lifelong passion for aviation that began as a child hot air ballooning with his family. A recent graduate of Auburn University, where he earned a double major in Aviation Management and Business Management, he is currently enhancing his skills by pursuing his private pilot’s license. His experience as a Flight Services Representative at AeroAtlanta has provided him with valuable insights into customer service and aviation operations.

Jack is dedicated to delivering personalized experiences for clients. In his free time, he enjoys outdoor activities such as golf, skiing, and scuba diving, and embracing every opportunity to connect with nature. He also enjoys spending time with his family, especially when soaring the skies in their hot air balloon.

Tim jumped head-first into web design back in 1995 from a traditional print design background. Thinking back to the early days of the internet, he says he should have poured money into AOL, Netscape, Yahoo, Amazon and Apple. If so, we’d be working for him today! A pilot at 17 with all of 125 hours to date, he dreams of flying more than he flies. His relationship with jetAVIVA began 17 years ago with a simple request…”Can you make our website work better?” His philosophy is, your company will, through design, make a positive impression, negative impression, or none at all. We rely on Tim make jetAVIVA the coolest “looking” aviation company in the world.

Tim works 24/7 out of Los Angeles, CA and bikes and hikes in his spare time.

Tom Dafoe lost his life in a tragic incident during the MayDay STOL at Wayne Municipal/Stan Morris Field in Wayne, Nebraska, on Friday May 20, 2022. Tom is survived by his wife, Rebecca and their five children, his son-in-law and his first grandchild.

In 2021, Dafoe joined jetAVIVA as a Sales Director after a nearly 20-year tenure with Cessna Aircraft Co. He was a passionate aviator and devoted his career to promoting general aviation. His absence will be felt throughout our industry.

About Tom:
Tom was an adventurer. Raised as a farmboy in North Dakota, he had a deep connection with the soil and loved making things grow. Working the fields in the Red River Valley, watching hawks soar and Grumman Agcats at work peaked his interest in aviation.

Although his collegiate studies began with classical piano performance studies, he redirected to aviation midway through his sophomore year. After learning to fly and earning his Airframe & Powerplant certificates, he went to work for Cessna Aircraft Co. where he spent 19 years at their Citation Service Centers, ultimately as General Manager of the Sacramento facility. Tom was best known for connecting with his customers, listening to their needs and always seeking solutions that were in his clients’ best interests.

Tom’s first professional foray into sales was representing the Cessna brand of Utility Turboprops for Textron Aviation in Western North America. It took only one flight in the Grand Caravan EX to fall head over heels for this rugged plane.

Farming almonds with his wife in northern California kept Tom grounded, despite his free spirit. And as the father of one (married) daughter and four rambunctious boys, life was pretty full. But when there was free time to be found, you could find Tom floatplane and tailwheel flying.