KP AVIATION at a Glance

Kim Schulze, Co-Founder and Principal at KP Aviation, has been instrumental in shaping the company’s trajectory since its inception. Under her leadership, KP Aviation has flourished, marked by a strategic vision and robust growth. She has assembled a formidable team capable of addressing the most intricate challenges in aviation, all while nurturing essential relationships with pivotal partners and suppliers.

Prior to her role at KP Aviation, Kim served as the controller at Pacific Turbine Support and honed her financial acumen as a financial analyst at the University of California San Diego’s Antiviral Research Center. Her expertise lies in cultivating a vibrant company culture at KP Aviation and spearheading innovative corporate initiatives, growth strategies, and partnerships, ensuring the company’s continued success.

• Established and fostered the growth of KP Aviation.
• Instrumental in cultivating essential partnerships.
• Drives KP Aviation’s corporate culture initiatives forward.
• Mother of two daughters and a son
• Favorite pass time is hanging out with her dog Willow and looking for latest industry innovations.

With over 20+ years of managerial expertise, Linn Shaw brings a wealth of experience to KP Aviation, with a notable focus on commercial aviation supply chain management, entity and financial formation, as well as customer and supplier relationships.  Shaw’s professional journey includes guiding private companies through the transition to public status and collaborating with private equity entities within privately held organizations. He boasts a proven track record in fortifying business strategy structures, cultivating proficient teams throughout the company, enhancing business intelligence, and nurturing crucial financial & lending relationships.

Shaw’s comprehensive business acumen, meticulous attention to detail, and robust business acumen background have earned him prestigious recognition, notably being honored with the Arizona CFO of the Year award. Taking the helm as Chief Executive Officer in January 2024, Shaw is primed to continue to steer KP Aviation towards continued success, through organic growth and strategy M&A activity.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Shaw finds joy in traveling with his family and harbors a passion for sports. He holds a BA in Finance from Wichita State University and furthered his education with an MBA specializing in International Business from the University of Arizona.

• Over two decades of financial management prowess.
• Specialized expertise in private equity and growth funding.
• ISTAT Foundation Board Member
• Volunteer to several Non-Profits & Youth Sport Organizations

Elisabeth has over 25 years of extensive finance and management experience, gained through roles of increasing responsibility across multiple aerospace business units, including Commercial, Defense, and Space. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer at KP Aviation.

Prior to this, Elisabeth drove financial excellence and leadership across multi-billion-dollar portfolios in senior roles at Honeywell, including VP CFO for Aerospace Integrated Supply Chain and CFO for the Airlines segment. She provided financial leadership to achieve factory and material productivity goals while ensuring strong compliance and controls.

Elisabeth resides in Scottsdale, Arizona, and enjoys spending her free time with her family, dogs, skiing, playing pickleball, and both coaching and playing soccer. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Arizona State University and is greenbelt certified.

Dave Crull joined KP Aviation in 2024 as the Head of Business Strategy and Transformation, now taking on the roll of Chief Investment Officer.  Mr. Crull will continue the focus of the development, evaluation, and execution of the company’s strategic growth initiatives.  He was previously with Aero Capital Solutions where he served as the Chief Financial Officer of the firm.  Prior to that, he was with AeroTurbine, Inc. where he held roles as Vice President, FP&A; General Manger, Airframe Materials Group; and ultimately Chief Financial Officer/Head of Commercial Operations.  Mr. Crull began his aviation career with multiple operational and financial roles in the Maintenance and Engineering departments of both Delta and American Airlines.

Mr. Crull holds an MBA in Corporate Finance from University of Dallas and a BS in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He is an FAA Airframe and Powerplant license holder and a former U.S. Marine. Mr. Crull resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife and family.

Brian Carlisle has 27 years of aviation experience starting in the South African Air Force. He was assigned to the development of the first locally produced attack helicopter in South Africa. After spending seven years serving the Air Force at 17 Squadron, he moved into the private aviation sector.

Carlisle joined KP Aviation in July of 2016, assigned as a Project Manager over the Spanish entity setup and airframe teardown events for the company in the European Union.

In 2000, he joined Safair Aircraft Maintenance and Leasing company where he moved from technician to crew chief to supervisor and into a management role over maintenance at all outstations and regional line stations. Carlisle played a fundamental role in the humanitarian relief programs with the United Nations (UN), International Crisis Rescue Centre (ICRC), World Wheelchair Foundation (WF) and the World Food Program (WFP) for many developing countries during his employment here.

In 2007, he moved into commercial aviation as Technical and Engineering Manager for Comair LTD, having oversight over the maintenance of the fleet where he delivered the first 737-800NG aircraft to the airline to start the low-cost airline “Kulula.com”. After this success he was assigned as Technical Project Manager over the delivery of six new 737-800NG’s from Boeing for both the British Airways & Kulula.com franchise for Comair in South Africa.

Carlisle currently holds the position of Executive Vice President of Projects & Technical and has managed over 30 aircraft teardown and aircraft deliveries for the past four years.

• Vast International Aviation Experience Including Aircraft Development
• Oversaw Delivery of First Boeing737-800NG to Comair
• Managed over 30 aircraft teardowns and deliveries over past four years

Ben Gifford is KP Aviation’s Vice President of Global Sales. During his decade long tenure, Gifford has had consistently increasing responsibilities attributed to his technical knowledge, strategic mind, data driven approach, and problem-solving ability. Multifaceted, Gifford has acquired a diverse sales background ranging from e-based client services to maintenance and repair and is currently tackling aftermarket material sales.

Gifford joined the team from Stratton Aviation where he served as Vice President of Major Accounts, promoted after less than a year as Sales Manager. Prior to Stratton Aviation, Gifford was a Key Account Manager at ITS and has also been a part of the teams at Pneu-Tech Aerospace, Inc. and PartsBase Inc. Before pursuing a career in aviation, Gifford earned his degree in Business & Managerial Economics from Fairfield University. A North-East native but Arizonian at heart, Gifford is an avid outdoorsmen who enjoys hunting, fishing, and hiking with his wife and kids.

• Diverse sales background including, but not limited to, e-based client services, maintenance and repair, and aftermarket material sales
• Expertise in Airframe, specifically Boeing and Airbus
• Avid outdoorsmen

Keith Watson has 40 years of aviation experience. He qualified as an Aircraft Mechanic and worked on Boeing aircraft. His further studies include a Diploma in Production Management, a BTech in Business Administration and Enhanced Leadership Development.

Keith worked for South African Airways for over 20 years. He started out in heavy maintenance with a focus on Boeing 747 modifications. He spent time in both aircraft maintenance planning, engine planning and documentation. He was integral in the implementation of their Engine Maintenance Production Control IT system. During his tenure, Keith was also a key account manager in the Technical Marketing – Customer and Support business unit.

He moved to Comair LTD airline in 2005 and Keith was ultimately appointed as Comair’s Executive Manager Engineering and Fleet. For a period, he was Comair’s appointed PRA to the South African Civil Aviation Authority. He led a team of Engineering Managers and support staff. In his executive role he was responsible for lease agreements and negotiations, acquisitions, and engine maintenance including MRO agreements. He was also responsible for contracted suppliers across their aircraft fleet which included engines, components, and landing gears. Outside of work Keith enjoys travelling and exploring places with his wife, spending time with his family, especially his three grandchildren. He is an avid spectator of various sports like cricket, soccer, and formula one racing, and relaxation for Keith is building Star Wars LEGO models.

Keith joined KP Aviation in 2021 as their Vice President of Contracts and Leasing.

• Extensive international aviation experience
• Achievements include the delivery and entry into service of numerous Boeing and Airbus aircraft for the SAA and Comair fleet respectively.
• Instrumental in the negotiation and signing of the Comair LTD and Lufthansa Technik Total Operations Management agreement which included LHT (LTMI) opening a line maintenance facility in South Africa.

Sean Miller is a dynamic business leader with a relentless drive for sales growth and exceptional bottom-line results. Armed with an MBA from Ohio University and over three decades of experience in the aviation industry, Sean has established himself as a prominent figure in sales leadership and business development.

Among his achievements is the tripling of revenue within a three-year period and doubling gross margin and EBIT percentage, underscoring his strategic acumen and ability to drive profitability. Sean has lead large commercial aircraft engine teams with responsibilities including business unit creation, strategy formulation, and innovation implementation, with a focus on driving sales growth, portfolio management, and customer satisfaction.

Prior to his current role, Sean held key leadership positions at prominent aviation companies such as MTU Maintenance Lease Services B.V. and GA Telesis Engine Services Oy (GATES). His international experience and multicultural leadership style have been instrumental in his success, leading multinational teams across diverse regions such as Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Sean truly enjoys his time with family. He is always happy to talk about his beautiful wife Melissa, their 4 children and 2 grandbabies, and her love for her Pomeranians (Peanut & Ozzie). Sean and his wife enjoy traveling, social and musical events, and are big sports fans (baseball, basketball, football, and hockey).

• Master of Business Administration from Ohio University, B.S. in Aeronautics/Aviation Management at Embry-Riddle
• Licensed A&P, FCC General Radio-Telephone, and Level 1 NDT Certified.
• Served in the United States Air Force specializing in avionics, radar, and infar-red weapons systems.
• Non-Destructive Testing / Nuclear & Metallurgy QA from AW Beattie Technical

Marcos Valdez joined KP Aviation in Summer 2024 as the Vice President of Systems Transformation. He is responsible for developing and building the Analytics and Technology/Information Technology functions at KPA. Throughout Marcos career, he has led various high-performing product, technology, process improvement and analytics/innovations teams across various companies. He thrives in fast-paced environments driving transformational change and growth, often centered at the nexus of product/technology, data/analytics, and operations/process. His career has spanned various industries and sectors, including healthcare, education, and consulting across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.

Marcos is a native of Arizona, though has spent upwards of a decade along the East Coast in DC, NY, and Boston. He enjoys the outdoors, skiing, traveling, and spending quality time with his wife, his boy, and dog.

Marcos has Mathematics and Economics degrees from Arizona State University and his MBA and Masters of Public Policy from Harvard Business School and Harvard Kennedy School.

Pat excels at crafting and executing business strategies, leading teams, and driving process improvements. With expertise in both domestic and global markets, Pat has led international teams in all aspects of operations and distribution, in addition to customer service and sales. We are excited to welcome Pat to KP Aviation, where his leadership will enhance our operations and support our mission of innovation and sustainability in the aerospace industry.

• Bachelors of Applied Science/Theological Studies from Andersonville Theological Seminary.
• USAF Veteran.
• Pat Coward has recently moved to the Mesa, Arizona valley with his wife, daughter and two dogs.

Over the past 14 years, Mario’s journey in the aviation industry has been filled with technical challenges and rewarding accomplishments. It all began with his tenure at Iberia MRO, where he dove into the intricacies of commercial aircraft as a Technical Consultant Engineer. This role allowed Mario to cultivate a deep understanding of aircraft systems and operations, laying the foundation for my career in aviation.

Mario has had the privilege of managing teams and leading projects, overseeing everything from aircraft transitions to managing aircraft records with precision and attention to detail. He leads the Technical Department with determination and expertise, with responsibilities encompass managing and supporting the technical aspects of Engine Leasing, Aircraft Transitions, and the acquisition and sale of aeronautical assets.

Outside of the office, Mario finds joy in the great outdoors. Whether it’s conquering peaks while hiking, exploring on his mountain bike, or carving through fresh powder on a snowboard. Most of all, he enjoys spending quality time with his family and beloved dogs in the mountains.

• Experience extends to collaborating with Operators, Lessors, CAMO, and MRO organizations, ensuring seamless operations and exceeding client expectations.
• Educational background: Iberia MRO, Industrial Engineer, with specialized courses in Aircraft Mechanics and Aero Turbines

Michael’s aviation experience extends to managing end-to-end project execution for engine teardown, while ensuring optimal performance, quality, and budgetary goals are met. He has extensive knowledge in CFM engines, GE programs, & leadership in project management for engine disassembly and repair initiatives.

With over two decades of experience, Michael has demonstrated a consistent ability to drive growth, enhance brand visibility, and optimize supply chain management in the aviation industry.

Travis Anukam, our Director of Product Line – Engine, has a diverse background and a passion for finance. Beginning his journey as a Sales Analyst at KP Aviation in 2018, Travis delved into the intricate world of aviation products within the Product Line department.

With over 5 years of hands-on experience in aviation, his expertise shines particularly in the CFM56 and CF6-80C2 product lines. His proficiency spans asset evaluations, teardown and inventory management, as well as sales support.

Beyond the aviation world, Travis also finds joy through traveling and hiking. With his strong professional drive, Travis always makes sure to spend time with friends and family.

• Bachelor of Science with a Finance major, Economics minor from the University of Nevada, Reno
• Relocated to Arizona with KPA in 2021.

As KPA’s Director of Product Line – Engines, Ray Marquess is a an experienced professional with a robust background in the aviation industry. With a keen understanding of the Regional Engine Market, Ray excels in establishing and nurturing partnerships, building rapport, and fostering lasting relationships.

One of Ray’s strengths lies in customer relations, where he leverages his knowledge of the Regional Engine Market to provide tailored solutions to customer challenges.

Ray is an experienced trainer, dedicated to elevating his team’s performance and accountability standards. He actively seeks out training opportunities to impart essential knowledge and skills, ensuring that his team remains at the forefront of industry trends and best practices.

• Originally from Belfast Ireland, currently residing in Charlotte, NC.
• Excelled knowledge in airframe & engine IPC software.

With over two decades of invaluable experience in the aviation industry, Carlos Miranda brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role as Director of Repairs at KP Aviation. Carlos’s extensive background encompasses a wide range of roles, including Product Line Manager, Director of Materials, and Business Development, underscoring his versatile skill set and deep understanding of the industry.

Carlos’s career has been defined by his unwavering commitment to excellence and his ability to cultivate strong relationships within the aviation community. His expansive network of industry connections has been instrumental in driving success and fostering collaboration across various sectors.

As Director of Repairs, Carlos’s focus extends to both engines and airframes, with a particular emphasis on USM (Used Serviceable Material) and repairs. His keen understanding of repair processes and his dedication to delivering exceptional results have positioned him as a trusted leader in the field.

With a robust background in aviation, Konrad has garnered extensive expertise in airframe management. He is a seasoned aviation supply chain and technology consultant with a variety of experience in inventory management, fleet operations, and material logistics. 

Konrad currently holds the position of Director of Product Line- Airframe, with 20+ years of airline experience.

With over a decade of sales experience, Gedas Paukste, our Director of Sales – Engine MROs brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table, particularly in the aviation aftermarket sector. Since 2016, he has honed his skills with a specific focus on airframe parts, gradually expanding his expertise to encompass engines USM.

Prior to joining KP Aviation, Gedas has made significant contributions to several well-known names in the industry, including FL Technics, Fly Dynamics, ITS, and Stratton Aviation. With a degree in International Business Management, he possesses a solid foundation in business strategy and global market dynamics, which leverages to drive growth and cultivate lasting relationships with clients and partners across the EMEA region.

Outside of work, Gedas enjoys a variety of hobbies, including walking his dog, hiking, fishing, and indulging in strategic games like chess and poker. As a proud Lithuanian, he also shares the national passion for basketball, further demonstrating his well-rounded nature and love for both work and leisure.

With his proven track record, industry expertise, and diverse skill set, Gedas is poised to lead KP Aviation’s expansion efforts in the EMEA region, forging new partnerships and driving business growth with unparalleled dedication and enthusiasm.

• IBM degree from Vilniaus Kolegija/University of Applied Sciences
• Dual language- Lithuanian & English
• 10+ years aviation experience

With a Physics Engineering Degree from ITU, Bilge has seamlessly integrated her educational background with her extensive aftermarket industry experience, making her a formidable force in the aviation landscape. She has brought her cultivated deep connections across the aviation industry, particularly in the EMEA region, where her passion for understanding cultural nuances and her customized approach to business development have earned her a reputation as a trusted partner and advisor.

Bilge has worked across various branches of aviation, from aircraft C checks to engine component repairs, demonstrating her versatility and expertise, great experience and knowledge at major aviation companies such as Chromalloy and GA Telesis.

Bilge’s journey in the aviation industry has been marked by her unwavering dedication, innovative thinking, and relentless pursuit of excellence. As the Director of Business Development, she brings a wealth of experience and a strategic vision to KP Aviation, poised to lead the company to new heights of success in the dynamic aviation landscape.

• Physics Engineering Degree from Istanbul Technical University.
• 15 years of diverse aviation experience
• Dual language – Turkish and English
• Mother of 2 kids, 2 dogs and a cat.
• Loves to travel and meet new people from different cultures.