From 1986 through 1991, Flater was the President of HubExpress Airlines, a regional commuter airline offering scheduled helicopter service in eastern Massachusetts. He practiced law from 1973 through 1985 with national law firms in New York City, Richmond and Norfolk, VA. As a Marine aviator (1966-1973), Flater served in Vietnam during 1967-68, where he gained combat experience as Assistant Squadron Operations Officer for HMM-265, a Marine Corps medium lift helicopter assault squadron. Participating in major battles such as the siege of Con Thien, the 1968 Tet Offensive, the defense of Khe Sanh and the evacuation of Kham Duc, he was awarded 34 Air Medals including two “single mission” Air Medals, the Navy Commendation Medal with combat “v,” and two Purple Hearts.
Flater holds a bachelor of arts degree from Tulane University, a juris doctor degree (J.D., magna cum laude) from Washington & Lee University, and a master of laws degree (LL.M.) in international and comparative law from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a member of two honors societies, the Order of the Coif and Omicron Delta Kappa, and in 1995 was elected to become a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society. In 1998, he received Helicopter Association International’s “Excellence in Communications” award. In 2004, the AHS Board of Directors presented him the Society’s “Exceptional Service Award” in recognition of his efforts to promote national rotorcraft research and technology during the period 2000 – 2004.
David Renzi
Director of
Meetings & Marketing
DavidR@vtol.org
David Renzi joined the Society in early 2002 and he is the principal Forum coordinator, responsible to the Executive Director for the financial performance of this major event. He conducts all exhibit sales and coordinates the exhibit hall floor. He also administers the subcontracting for Forum activities including convention and hotel services, tours, special events, transportation, and entertainment. He also conducts a sponsorship solicitation program.
David works with the Director of Membership in the coordination, planning and scheduling of the Annual Forum and bi-annual Board of Directors meeting.
In
his sales role he is also the principal advertising contact for Vertiflite magazine, the AHS website, and all Forum related publications.
Ligia X. Muñoz
Information Resources Director
LigiaX@vtol.org
Ligia Muñoz has been with the Society since 1997. She is the Society's in-house computer resource specialist responsible for all computer back-up and upgrading as well as the maintenance of the Society's membership database, on-line information retrieval system, web site, and meeting registration management. Ligia is also responsible for disseminating all chapter-meeting notices.
The AHS Members' Only Directory is managed by Ligia as well.
She oversees the daily membership data entry and mass mailings, which includes renewal notices, new member packages, technical papers, video, proceedings, books, and novelty sales. In addition, Ligia works closely with the Society's accountant on membership and registration invoicing and accounts payable. She is the principal contact for Forum
and several AHS Specialists' Meetings registration. She oversees the smooth
registration process at the Annual Forum Registration Desk.
Liz Malleck
Membership Director
Liz@vtol.org
Ms. Malleck is our most recent hire and she joined the Society at the end of
July 2007. She is now the person responsible for all of the Society's
member benefits and services and Maria Muñoz reports to Liz. She generates
the monthly and quarterly membership reports and statistics and interfaces
directly with the chapter presidents and membership chairs. She develops
and implements individual membership campaigns.
Liz is the point of contact for the Society's corporate and educational
members, including overseeing the billing and accounts receivables as well
as solicitations for new corporate members. She handles the transactions
made online concerning membership renewals/applications and she oversees all
membership address changes. She is also responsible for all of the
membership materials that the Society generates including its various member
applications as well as the Officer's Guide.
An additional responsibility will be that she will be the point-of-contact
for the event planning for the Board of Directors as well as the Technical
Council meetings. She will also assist in registration for the Society's
many specialists' meetings. At the Forum she will be the Exhibitor
Registrar interacting with many of the Society's valuable corporate members.
Please introduce yourself to the newest member of the lean, but responsive
AHS staff.
María A. Muñoz
Membership Liaison/Office Manager
Maria@vtol.org
María Muñoz joined the Society in January 2005.
She will assist Liz Malleck in her membership duties including doing
database updates, answering member queries and chapter meeting mailings.
María will also help with technical paper, books and novelty sales. As the
Office Manager she procures and maintains all of the office supplies as well
as makes sure that all mailings and materials are sent out appropriately.
She also is in charge of novelty procurement and sales.
Maria, in addition to the duties detailed above,
works closely with the Executive and Deputy Director to coordinate and
procure all of the awards for the AHS Annual Forum. She assists the Federal
City Chapter with all of their meeting needs and is the point-of-contact for
all FCC reservation requests.
Kay Yosua Brackins
Director of Graphics/Membership Manager
Kay@vtol.org
Kay Brackins joined the Society in early 2004 and she is
responsible for the graphics and design of Vertiflite and all Forum and
membership promotional material. She came to us after more than 30 years as the
Executive Vice President of a full-service printer located in Washington, D.C.
If you are impressed by Vertiflite’s sharp design, you should pass your
compliments along to Kay.
As the principal coordinator for the Vertical Flight
Foundation, Kay processes all VFF applications and works closely with the
scholarship committee. She also assists with all specialists' meeting
registration.
Kay also designs and maintains the International Helicopter
Safety Team (IHST) web site and membership database. She designs all of the IHST
promotional material.
