CJP Directors

R. Blake Curd, M.D. and Debbie have been married since 1993 and are proud to have their 3 children making their own path in the world. Their eldest, Elliott Hunter, is a pediatric ICU nurse in Kansas City having moved away from her mom and dad in February 2020. The middle child, Rilie Bryn, is entering her senior year at Boston University and beginning an internship in molecular cancer research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute. Debbie and Blake’s youngest son, Zachary Blake, shares his dad’s love of flying and began his academic career at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs this past June and is planning on becoming a USAF Pilot. Dr. Curd is the Chief Executive Officer of Sioux Falls Specialty Hospital and a practicing orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand, upper extremity and micro vascular surgery. He is also the Chief Medical Officer of Medical Facilities Corporation. Dr. Curd serves on the Executive Committee of The Orthopedic Institute and is Chairman and is a past Chief of Orthopedic Surgery for Avera-McKennan Hospital and University Health Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Dr. Curd is Clinical Assistant Professor for the University of South Dakota School of Medicine and is a frequent guest lecturer for graduate medical education, community education, and peer surgeon educational meetings. Blake is Chairman of the Board of Surgical Management Professionals- delivering design, build, equity, management and consulting for outpatient and inpatient surgical endeavors. Dr. Curd was first elected to the South Dakota State Legislature in 2008, has served as the Senate Majority Leader and is currently the Chairman of the Education Committee of the South Dakota Senate.

Dr. Curd spent over ten years in the United States Air Force serving as a flight surgeon for a combat search and rescue squadron, a B-1 Bomber Squadron and as an orthopedic surgeon. Blake initiated his civilian flying while a flight surgeon and has owned or flown numerous aircraft from Aviat Huskies to Waco bi-planes, TBM, Mustang and the 525 series. Dr. Curd graduated from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine with a Bachelor of Arts in both Biology and Chemistry and Medical Doctorate. Dr. Curd completed his Orthopedic Surgery Residency Training in San Antonio, Texas and completed his fellowship in Hand, Upper Extremity, and Microvascular Surgery at the Indiana Hand Center/Indiana University.

Stephen Elop is a technology executive with a competing passion for aviation.

He is currently a senior advisor to TPG, a private equity company, for whom he serves as Executive Chairman of Digital.ai, and Chairman of Nintex. He also serves on aviation-related Boards, including AOPA, the Museum of Flight and Angel Flight West. Stephen has served as the CEO and President of Nokia Corporation (Finland) and as a President of Microsoft Corporation. Stephen has also held executive and senior technology positions at Telstra (Australia), Juniper Networks, Adobe, and Macromedia. Stephen is a member of the Board of Governors at his alma mater, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, where he earned his B.Eng.Mgt. in Computer Engineering and an honorary Doctorate of Science.

Stephen learned to fly in a Cessna 152 at Brampton, Ontario in 1987 and has more than 4000 flight hours. Stephen holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate with Multi-Engine Land and Single-Engine Sea ratings as well as a Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate. While he currently owns a 2007 Cessna T182T and a 2019 Cessna Citation CJ3+, he is always interested in what might come next!

Stephen has a particular interest in the evolving technologies in aviation, including those focused on enhancing safety. At CJP, he has been an active member of the FOQA team, working across the vendors and systems to contribute insight into this valuable set of tools

John Springthorpe, III was born in the small North Carolina town that was the inspiration for Mayberry of television fame. He served four years in the United States Army, working for the Army Security Agency. Following his military service, he worked as a defense contractor on assignments in Germany, Italy, Honduras, California, Texas, Virginia and two years in South Korea, where he earned his private pilot certificate.

In 1989, John joined his brother’s print and mail business, SouthData, and helped build it, becoming CEO when his brother retired in 2000. Continued growth positioned the company for a merger with OSG in 2014, with John filling the role of president of the combined companies where he focused on the technology and systems for the digital printing, mailing and payment processing business. He continued in that role until the sale to a private equity firm in 2017.

John is married to Karen who has mostly overcome her fear of flying as their travels have taken them throughout the world. They have one son, Jay, who lives in nearby Winston-Salem.

After retirement, John has devoted himself to flying travels and hiking. He and Karen flew to Australia in 2017, to Africa in 2018 and around the world in 2019. John and his son climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2018. Currently, he and Karen are focused on building a new home.

John joined CJP in 2014 when he purchased his first Citation, an M2. He subsequently traded that aircraft for a CJ3+ in 2017. He also owns a T-34A military trainer. John learned to fly in a Cessna 152. Over the years, he has owned a Cessna 172; a Piper Arrow III, Sport, Dakota, Saratoga, Seneca V and Meridian; a TBM 850; a Waco YMF; and a Pilatus PC-7.

John holds an ATP MEL certificate and a Commercial SEL certificate, along with CE-510S, CE-525S and N B25 SIC type ratings. He has 3,300 hours flying with more than 1,100 hours in Citations. John has flown his airplane in 76 countries and flown around the world both east-bound and west-bound.

Mitch Januszewski was raised in Chicago and has lived the last 28 years in southern Wisconsin. He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin. He recently retired from Regulatory Compliance Associates Inc., a leading pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device regulatory compliance consulting firm, after a 22 year term serving as CEO, President and Board Chairman. Prior to RCA, he was President of Oak Grove Technologies Inc, an FDA industry consulting firm which he sold to Quintiles in 2000, and previously worked at Sverdrup Engineering, and Baxter Healthcare.

He has served on the CJP Board, Executive Committee, Advocacy Committee and IT Committee.

Mitch has five children, of whom one is an instrument rated private pilot, and the remaining four avid passengers in the back of the CJ1+.

He holds an ATP-MEL certificate and a Commercial SEL certificate, and CE-500 and CE525S type ratings. He has been a pilot for over 45 years, and has owned a Cessna 150, 172, 172RG,180, Travel Air, Baron, Cessna 340A, C90 King Air, Citation II, CJ2, CJ3, and his current CJ1+.

He now split his time between his homes and Burlington, Wisconsin and Naples, Florida, spending as little wintertime in Wisconsin as possible. His frequent flying companion is his rescue hound Andy, who occasionally fills in as scent navigator.

He is an avid cyclist, snow skier, boater and scuba diver and a very mediocre golfer.

John Olsta owns and operates a trio of businesses serving the transportation industry. As their CEO, he leads with a focus on building lasting relationships through knowledge and service. With the corporate core values; Relational, Operational Excellence, Christ Centered, Knowledge and Service the group exists to solve problems for their customers and take care of their people. Together, the companies provide a unique combination of transportation equipment solutions and service to the bulk cargo tank industry. Operating throughout the USA, Latin America and the Caribbean they are one of the largest equipment, parts and service providers in the industry. Under John’s leadership the company(s) have grown from a regional trailer supplier to an international provider of transportation solutions.

Using his financial experiences to serve the community, John headed the finance team for Brazos Christian School for four years. He also fulfilled a three-year term on the finance committee for Central Baptist Church and currently serves on the board of Culture Care, an international arts movement. He is a member of the NBAA, AOPA, CJP and Vistage.

Although work is fun, John is an adventurer at heart. He holds finisher medals for an ultra & multiple marathons, summited Mt. Rainier and has spent more than 200 hours underwater scuba diving. He has rafted the rivers of the Rockies and skied its slopes. Ten plus years ago, John developed a new passion which keeps his feet off the ground. Now a licensed private, instrument rated pilot with commercial privileges John has logged hundreds of hours flying his Mustang across this great country.

A firm believer in teaching children character through sports, John has volunteered to help several sports teams. He served as coach for little league baseball, soccer, flag football and basketball.

Husband to Michelle and father to Anna and Jake, John strives to serve his family well and serve them first. Almost a native Texan, John has lived most his life in the Lone Star State and is a proud member of the Fightn’ Texas Aggie Class of ’96.

Mr. Abood is an investor. Mr. Abood was CEO (2019 - 2022) and a director (2016 - present) of EVO Transportation & Energy Services, Inc, a national trucking firm serving the USPS and other freight customers. Currently, he sits on the board of directors of Nelson Worldwide Holdings, a national architecture, engineering and interior design firm, Perception Capital Partners II, a special purpose acquisition company and SBH Funds, a mutual fund complex sponsored by CI Segall Bryant and Hamill. From 1994 to 2014, Mr. Abood was an owner and Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Dougherty Financial Group LLC, a financial services firm.

Mr. Abood is past Chair of the board of directors and is an executive committee member of Citation Jet Pilots, Inc. owner pilot association, Chair of the board of directors of the CJP Safety and Education Foundation, Inc., past Chair (2016 – 2018) of the Board and director (2012 – 2021) of MacPhail Center for Music, past Chair (2013 – 2021) and member (2011 – 2021) of the Archdiocesan Finance Council of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, past Chair of the Board (2014 – 2016) and governor (2001 – 2016) of the University of St. Thomas School of Law, past Chair of the Board (2008 – 2010) and director (2000 – 2010) of the Minnesota Children’s Museum and past President (2016) and Governor (2009 – 2012, 2015- 2018), The Minikahda Club.

Mr. Abood was raised in Lansing, Michigan, received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center, cum laude and his BBA from the University of Notre Dame, magna cum laude.

Mr. Abood has been flying since 1997 and holds commercial and private pilot certificates with single engine land, multi engine land and instrument ratings. He holds a type rating in the Cessna 525 series jets. He has qualified for and received the CJP Gold Standard Safety Award in each year of its existence. His six-airplane ownership history includes a Beechcraft Bonanza A36, Beechcraft Baron B58, Beechcraft King Air C90A, Cessna Citation CJ2, Cessna Citation CJ3 and a Cessna Citation CJ4. He has over 4200 hours, substantially all of which is single pilot cross country time.

Jonathan was raised in Washington D.C. and resides in the SF Bay Area, California with his wife Kristen. He holds a Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Civil and Geotechnical Engineering from UC Berkeley. Jonathan spent ten years with international engineering firms, founded a geotechnical and environmental engineering company in 2000, and has been active in the Bay Area’s rapidly evolving infrastructure, housing, commercial, and industrial sectors for over 30 years. He is a subject matter expert for the State Geotechnical Engineering Exam Development Unit, which sets professional engineering testing and licensing standards in California.

Always fascinated with flight, Jonathan built experience in Cirrus’s and a Cessna twin, and now enjoys the flight levels in a CJ2. Jonathan joined CJP in 2017 when jet ownership first came into focus. Given the opportunity to interact with the Presage Group, Flight Safety International and Textron in the Safe-To-Land initiative, Jonathan discovered the deep expertise and partnerships that make CJP such an important resource and voice for owner-flown jet operators.

Jonathan and Kristen enjoy exploring new destinations and visiting family in Nevada, Louisiana, Florida, Virginia and Connecticut. When not at FL450, Jonathan and Kristen can be found on a mountain trail with their rescue dog Luna, on a new culinary adventure, or participating at a live music event. Most of all, they enjoy the fantastic scenery and companionship flying a CJ2 makes possible.

Stuart began his career in commercial real estate in 1984 starting Bomasada with a vision to acquire, redevelop and manage existing multifamily and retail properties. After successfully implementing this strategy along with rapid economic growth, he began developing new multifamily projects. Today, Stuart oversees day-to-day operations for Bomasada, one of the premier privately-held multifamily real estate development / contracting firms in the southern United States. Since its inception, the Bomasada team has completed over $1.5 billion of transactional business in new developments, construction and acquisitions. He attended Texas A&M University, Class of ‘78 in Environmental Design. Stuart is an active and past member of numerous organizations and sits on several Boards as a Director. Most notable associations are: National Multi Housing Council, National Association of Homebuilders (NAHB), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Texas Association of Realtors, National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA), Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association(AOPA). He is the current President of the Herb Fred Medical Association, Board Member / Founding Director of the Cessna Jet Pilots Association (CJP), Founder and Director of SierraTrax and a current Board Member of the National Air and Space Museum, Washington D.C. Stuart is an avid aviator logging in excess of 9,000 hours total time with 5000 hours in jets. He has owned and operated numerous Citation Jet Aircraft including a Cj,CJ1,CJ2+,CJ3 and currently a CJ4.

Vice President and General Manager, Propulsion Systems, Northrop Grumman

Charlie Precourt joined Northrop Grumman in 2005 and currently serves as the Vice President and General Manager for the company’s Propulsion Systems Division, which provides rocket propulsion systems and technologies to DoD, NASA, and commercial users. He leads a workforce of 3,000 employees in engineering, manufacturing operations and program management with a portfolio including NASA’s Space Launch System and Orion Launch Abort System, the US Navy Trident D5 and USAF Ground Based Strategic Deterrent and Minuteman Missile systems, as well as Satellite Launcher boost propulsion for United Launch Alliance’s Delta, Atlas and Vulcan launch vehicles. Precourt joined Northrop Grumman following a distinguished 15-year career with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) where he was as an Astronaut and a program manager in the Senior Executive Service. He also served twenty-three years in the US Air Force, retiring as a Colonel.

Precourt entered USAF active duty upon commissioning from the US Air Force Academy in 1977. He completed US Air Force Pilot Training in 1978 and served as an instructor pilot at Reese Air Force Base in Texas. From 1981 to 1984 he was an F-15 pilot and flight commander at Bitburg Air Base in Germany. He then attended the USAF Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB and served as a test pilot on the F-15E developmental test program and later as an instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School.

At NASA Precourt was qualified as an astronaut in 1991, and is a veteran of four Space Shuttle missions. He completed his first mission in 1993 on Columbia and then was the pilot of Atlantis for the first Shuttle docking with the Mir Space Station in 1995. He later commanded two additional docking missions to the Mir Space Station on Atlantis and Discovery. Precourt was also Director of Operations for NASA at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia. From 1998 through 2002, Precourt was Chief of the Astronaut Corps, responsible for the selection, training and mission certification of all Space Shuttle and International Space Station crews. Charlie was then appointed Deputy Program Manager for the International Space Station, responsible for the day-to-day management of ISS operations, on orbit assembly and the interfaces with NASA contractors and the ISS International Partners. Prior to leaving NASA in 2005, Precourt was the Program Manager for the Crew Exploration Vehicle, known today as Orion, under NASA’s Space Exploration initiative.

Precourt serves as the vice chairman of the board of directors of the Experimental Aircraft Association and is a member of the board of directors of the National Business Aviation Association. He has accumulated over 11,000 hours of flight experience in 90 different aircraft types. Among the aircraft he has flown are the F-15, F-4, F-16, A-7, the WWII Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, the Mig-21, L-39, the U-2, several versions of the Cessna Citation, the C-141 and KC-135, the Gulfstream GII, numerous light aircraft and gliders. He built an experimental VariEze and today flies a Citation CJ1+. He holds commercial, instrument and CFI ratings. A native of Hudson, Massachusetts, Charlie received a Bachelor of Science degree in aeronautical engineering from the United States Air Force Academy in 1977. While at the United States Air Force Academy, Precourt also attended the French Air Force Academy in 1976 as part of an exchange program. He earned a Master of Science degree in engineering management from Golden Gate University in 1988, and a Master of Arts degree in national security affairs and strategic studies from the United States Naval War College in 1990, and completed executive coursework in business administration at Wharton in 2012 and 2013.

Endre grew up in Norway and currently resides in Las Vegas with his wife Stephanie. Both he and Stephanie are aviation enthusiasts and fly professionally and for personal travel and adventure. When Endre was young, his dream was to join the Norwegian Air Force and fly F16s. Fortunately that did not work out and Endre went on to get a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering in Norway and a Master of Business Administration from UC Berkeley. He spent his career with McKinsey & Co., a management consulting firm, working to help Global 1000 companies perform better. He worked exclusively in the global tech, media and telecommunications industries for 30 years before changing to a “flexible career”. Now he serves on company boards, works as a coach for senior executives and mentors young entrepreneurs.

And in the last 20 years, he has realized his boyhood dream of becoming a pilot. He holds an ATP certificate and is also a CFI. He is an avid aviation enthusiast with multiple airplanes. Currently he owns a Citation 560, an L39 Albatros (Czech Military Trainer) and a Twin Comanche. He also flies a Global Express professionally from time to time. He is also a flight instructor and both he and Stephanie give scholarship training in their Twin Comanche to candidates from organizations like Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals, Women in Aviation and National Gay Pilot Association. Also, Endre is a certified Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic and enjoys working on his airplanes and some quiet hangar time petting his beloved planes. At CJP, he is a champion for the “Legacy” aircrafts (the incredibly capable and amazingly affordable planes that keep on flying). Both he and Stepanie enjoy the amazing group of people, the fabulous safety education and the wealth of knowledge on the forums.

When not working, Stephanie and Endre enjoy traveling, visiting friends and family and good dining and entertainment. They are always on the go and always looking for fun destinations and airshows for their collection of fun planes.

Alex Dichter is a Senior Partner at McKinsey and Company and leads the Firm’s global Airline and Travel Practice. Over the past 25 years, Alex has worked with over fifty airlines, General Aviation OEMs, FBOs, Fractional Operators, MROs, and large charter operators to help them improve performance across a range of dimensions. Alex has been flying for over 40 years, with experience as a Flight Instructor, an Airline Pilot and Check Airman, a Bush pilot in Africa, and, most recently, a Contract Captain/Mentor Pilot, and Co-Owner/Manager of a 1992 Citation V. Alex stays current in all versions of the CE500 and C525 series and maintains single pilot qualifications in each. As he prepares for retirement from McKinsey in February of 2025, Alex is taking on a few Board roles (Chairman of Hurtigruten Expeditions, and an Aviation role, to be announced), and looks forward to flying more, and participating more in CJP.

Mr. Sperley is a Vice President at Textron Aviation ^TM, Inc., where he has leadership responsibility for both new and pre-owned aircraft sales in the northern U.S. and Canada. Steve began his Textron career in 2005 at Textron Financial, where he held various positions of increasing responsibility.

Steve learned to fly from his grandfather and currently holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate with experience in all recent production Citation’s. Additionally, he holds a Masters of Business Administration degree from Portland State University.

Steve currently resides in Oregon with his wife Myra, two young daughters, and two permanently adolescent dogs. Together they enjoy snow sports, hiking, horses, and fly-fishing.

Jeff Umscheid currently holds the position of vice president, Product Support at Textron Aviation. In this role, he has the privilege of leading a strong team responsible for all 1CALL and product support operations and teams within the organization.

Previously, Jeff served as the director, Fleet Programs responsible for leading the team supporting the companies large fleet customers like NetJets, FedEx, and Wheels UP.

Jeff’s career at Textron Aviation began in 1998 when he joined Cessna in the Product Engineering group where he held several leadership roles over the years. Jeff is a graduate from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and also holds a master’s degree in Global Leadership and Management from Friends University. He is a certified Six Sigman Black Belt and Green Belt.

Eventually, he had the privilege of leading the Engineering Tech Pubs, was the Business Leader for the Caravan and piston products and was responsible for the Authorized Service Facilities prior to Fleet Programs.

Outside of his professional commitments, Jeff is actively involved in his community. He has led numerous team builds for Habitat for Humanity and is a Big Brothers Big Sisters Team Captain. He also enjoys fishing and hiking.

Creighton Scarpone joined Garmin in 2013 and has held several positions within aviation sales and marketing and aviation engineering business development. He previously served as manager, aviation aftermarket sales, where he was responsible for Garmin’s aftermarket aviation sales activity in North and South America. Creighton currently leads Garmin’s global air transport/commercial business pursuits as well as Garmin’s aftermarket business aviation activities. He was appointed to his current role in August, 2017.

Prior to joining Garmin, Creighton held various trading positions at the Chicago Board of Trade, with a focus on interest rate derivative products. Creighton has also served in various capacities in his father’s wealth management firm and continues to maintain his securities licenses. Creighton graduated with a bachelor’s in Economics and Finance from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point where he also captained the men’s varsity hockey team. Creighton has amassed over 2,000 flight hours, is a private pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings and is CE-525S type rated. He is partners with his family in a Cessna CitationJet and is also a CJP owner-member. Creighton resides in Overland Park, Kansas with his wife Michelle, daughter Elise and their dogs Scout and Maddie.

Andrew Broom joined NBAA in July 2021 as senior vice president, strategy, marketing and innovation.

His responsibilities include leading the association’s strategic and innovative initiatives to broaden and enhance the NBAA brand, expanding the member/customer base and generating significant revenue from current and future products and services. This includes developing strategic alliance opportunities, creating business opportunities for the association relevant to business aviation and providing innovative strategy perspectives to enhance existing programs, products and services. Broom is responsible for creating the strategic direction and ensuring the successful execution for NBAA’s marketing, membership and sponsorship programs.

Prior to joining NBAA, Broom served as CEO of the Citation Jet Pilots Association (CJP). Under his leadership, the organization nearly doubled its membership while almost tripling its industry partnerships, expanding its portfolio of member benefits, strengthening its safety and advocacy initiatives and enhancing its annual convention and regional events.

Prior to his work at CJP, Broom held leadership positions several with general aviation companies and associations. He led worldwide marketing and communications efforts for Honda Aircraft Company from 2012 – 2016, during the launch of the HondaJet, and also served as vice president of communications and outreach at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).

Previously, he held positions with Hawker Beechcraft, Eclipse Aviation and the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

Broom earned a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical science and an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He also completed flight training through certified flight instructor, instrument instructor.