Membership Information

Rob Balzano is Chief Executive Officer of Citation Jet Pilots Association and the CJP Safety and Education Foundation. A retired US Air Force Colonel and former F-16 pilot and instructor, Rob has more than 30 years of experience in a variety of military and civil aviation roles. He has over 5000 flight hours, including 200 combat hours in the Middle East, and has type ratings in the Boeing Business Jet / B737 and Gulfstream G100. He holds an ATP, and is CFI Instrument Multi & Single Engine rated, along with an FAA Part 107 (Commercial Drone Operator) rating. He is a graduate of the US Air Force Academy, earned a Master’s Degree in Management from Troy University, and completed executive education programs from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government and University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business. In 2006, he founded the Check-6 Foundation to provide aid, assistance, experiences, purpose, inspiration, and hope to children battling serious illnesses and military veterans in need. Rob continues to serve as the foundation's president.

Rob formerly served as National Program Manager with the U.S. Department of Defense National Guard Bureau, where he managed personnel, budget and assets including the F-16, F-15 and F-22 used for Aerospace Control Alert (ACA) missions performed by the U.S. Air National Guard. He also served as Senior Advisor and Interagency Policy Liaison at North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) - CONUS Region/1st AF/AFNORTH and as the Director of Risk Management /Aviation Safety Officer for over 1500 aircraft in the Air National Guard. Rob was also an instructor pilot on the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) and the Gulfstream G100 military VIP transport aircraft, where he was in command of missions flying the First Lady of the United States, congressional delegations, and military leaders around the world.

After his military career, Rob was the Director of Aviation for Micron Technology, a Fortune 200 company and global leader in the semiconductor industry. He is also a renowned guest speaker and executive consultant and an accredited NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM.) Rob is married to his kindergarten sweetheart, Lori-Ann, an elementary school teacher. They have two wonderful daughter’s Emily, an attorney in Boston and Katie, who will pursue a career as a Registered Nurse after graduating from NYU spring of 2024.

Vera comes to CJP with more than 20 yrs of federal civil service working with both the Air Force and the Army. She retired as a Staff Specialist to First Air Force Command Section General Officers at Tyndall AFB in Florida, where she earned multiple Civilian of the Year awards before transitioning to the private business sector In Office Management. Now serving as CJP’s Operations Manager, she oversees CJP’s organizational processes, ensuring seamless operations and strategic growth while enhancing work quality and productivity.

In addition to her corporate role, Vera is also an entrepreneur. She started a successful business as a mobile notary and notary signing agent. Outside of work, Vera and her husband, Jim, both originally from California, now call Florida home. They’re favorite past times are fishing and boating on their Albin trawler, spending quality time with family and friends, and doting on their beloved three Chihuahuas. A proud mom and grandma, Vera values the balance between professional success and personal fulfillment.

Liz Nixon serves as the Special Projects Manager at Citation Jet Pilot Association. She arrives with 10 years of experience in events and marketing. As a cum laude graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Liz earned a Journalism degree with a focus in Public Relations and a minor in Non-Profit. While at Holiday Inn Club Vacations, she led the initiative to bring back member events in 2018 after they were paused during the 2008 recession; of the first eight events Liz executed, six were completely sold out. At Energy One Federal Credit Union, Liz implemented the lunch-and-learn program for members of the credit union to learn the process of buying a home, applying for a loan, and managing credit. She brings extensive knowledge in event planning and marketing.

Liz is a proud mom of two young boys who loves taking them to Disney World any free moment she has. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching her beloved Sooners play on Saturdays, or listening to Taylor Swift's newest album. Her favorite location is any Mexican restaurant with a margarita and nachos.

Bill Alberts, Sr., coordinated his first aircraft owner convention in 1998 and currently manages the Citation Jet Pilots, TBMOPA, EJOPA and TTCF owners’ conventions.

Bill retired from the office furniture retail/wholesale/manufacturer’s representative business in 1994 after selling his company. He had 3 distribution centers in Pittsburgh, PA, Cincinnati, OH, and Nashville, TN, representing 9 office furniture lines in 6 states in addition to 7 retail outlets in the Pittsburgh area.

Bill flew a Malibu/Mirage for 7 years to assist in his business and has about 1,000 hours.

Bill Alberts Jr., started organizing aircraft owner events with his family in 1999 and currently manages the CJP, TBMOPA, EJOPA and TTCF owners’ conventions. He also organizes the CJP regional events. He has successful executed over 85 events in 40 different locations.

Bill has also been in the food and beverage industry for over 25 years and is currently the GM of Santa Fe Café located on Hilton Head Island, SC. He is also in the process of opening two new restaurant concepts that are a part of a 17,000 square-foot brewery that will feature indoor seating, an exterior beer garden and additional patio seating.

Bill and his wife Allison live in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with their two children, Presley and Liam, and spend their family time at the beach, pool or soccer field. They usually spend three or four months a year traveling across the country in their RV with Bill’s parents working the various events they organize together.

Christie joined Bill Alberts Consulting as a convention coordinator in April 2018 and currently assists in managing the Citation Jet Pilots, TBMOPA, EJOPA, and TTCF owner’s conventions.

Christie has 21 years of retail management experience with Belk Inc., where she held various positions over the years. During her last 10 years with Belk, Christie was a store manager for several locations throughout North Florida and South Carolina. Christie was the point person for the annual Southern Women’s Show for Belk in the Jacksonville, FL market for 13 years where she gained knowledge and experience in organizing and managing events.

In her spare time, Christie enjoys traveling and going on adventures, cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers, reading, biking and going to the beach.