A Leader in the Development of Public/Private Airport Partnerships

Executive Team


Brett Smith
Chief Executive Officer
Mark Reichin
Chief Operating Officer
Thomas Amano
Director of Operations
Brett founded Propeller Airports LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Propeller Investments, to leverage airport privatization in the U.S. Airport sector. Prior to Propeller, from 1999 to 2006, he co-founded and served as Chairman & CEO of ei3 Corporation, where he was responsible for all corporate finance, strategic direction, licensing and partnership activities. From 1996 to 1998, he was Director of Business Development at Presstek, Inc. where he was an integral part of the restructuring team for their equipment subsidiary. Prior to that he held positions in areas of business development and analysis with Asia Times newspaper and Susquehanna Investment Group.

Brett has served on the Board of Directors for ICAD, a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: ICAD) and on the boards of various organizations including The United Ways Children with Learning Disabilities Foundation, Human Rights Watch's NY Committee as well as The Landmark School. Currently, Brett is a member of the Board of the Association of Washington Business, The State of Washington's oldest & largest statewide business association and serves as a Trustee for the Dublin School. Brett is a licensed private pilot and currently lives in Seattle with his family. Brett holds a B.A in Political Science from Emory University.
Mr. Reichin joined Propeller Investments in 2009 as Chief Commercial Officer after co-founding and acting as CEO of Alerion, a family office focused on aircraft management. Prior to assuming the senior leadership role at Alerion, Mark served as Senior Vice President of PrivatAir, one of the world's leading aviation services companies. Mark was responsible for record revenue growth and development of the company's next generation dispatch and customer service operations. Earlier he was a member of a private equity firm that focused on M&A transactions in the airline, aviation and aerospace industry sectors. As Chief Executive Officer of Internet.com, Mark led the pioneering Internet software and services company that was responsible for bringing fortune 500 companies, that included national print media, the international healthcare information industry and the launch of Comdex to the internet.

Mark's business expertise has focused on international business development and global M&A transactions. He brings substantial experience in international marketing as well as expertise in commercial real estate development. His Global aviation management experience includes Director of Operations for the establishment of air carrier operations in both FAA and EASA regulatory environments.

A licensed pilot since the age of 17 with IFR and multi-engine ratings, he has accumulated more than 12,000 hours of flight time. Mark serves on both corporate and non-profit boards. He is also an active member of National Business Aircraft Association, The Wings Club, National Air Transportation Association and the Aero Clubs of New England, Washington and Atlanta. Mark attended the University of Massachusetts and Northeastern University.
Thomas joined propeller in August 2018 as Director of Operations and Security. He is a quality-driven military veteran with more than 28 years of leadership experience. He has a vast knowledge of aviation operations, program management, emergency management and process improvement. In 2022, he assumed the role as Vice President of Terminal Operations.

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He received Black, Green and Lean Six Sigma certificates from Villanova University. He is a current member of the American Association of Airport Executives, Northwest Chapter of Airport Executives Association and Military Officers Association of America.
Jessica Kilgore
Director of Communications
Jodi Smith
Director of Human Resources
Jessica began her career in the aviation industry in 2011 as a charter member of the Salute America Air Show. During her four years with the non-profit organization, she held various roles aiding in the growth of marketing, communications and hospitality for the event.

In 2013, Jessica began working with Propeller Airports and joined the company full time as the Director of Communications the following year. Jessica graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Public Relations.
Jodi has over 20 years of experience in human resources, marketing, teaching and education administration. Having joined Propeller in March 2015, she brings her wide range of talents and experience to our company providing administrative support, people management and program management expertise. In March 2018, she assumed the role of Director of Human Resources. Previously, Jodi taught as a head teacher at a private day school in Manhattan, NY.

Jodi is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources and Human Development. After attaining her BS, Jodi earned a Master of Arts in Education at Boston University.
Ana Paula Villa
Director of Finance
Jack Rossi
Vice President & General Counsel
Ana joined Propeller Airports in October 2016 as the Director of Finance. Prior to joining Propeller, Ana was the CFO of Qranio, a Brazilian mobile learning platform focused on customized training solutions for the B2B and B2C markets. Previously, Ana worked in residential mortgage-backed lending at Interaudi Bank, a private bank based in New York City and Miami.

Ana holds a B.S. in Management from Boston College and a M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.
Jack joined Propeller as its chief legal officer in 2021, after over fifteen years with major U.S. airlines.

He brings extensive experience in aviation regulatory law and a broad spectrum of aviation-related business transactions including real property leasing and acquisition, design and construction, project finance, retail and food concessions, and environmental matters.

Jack most recently served as Associate General Counsel at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. He was principal regulatory attorney for the airlines, and lead lawyer for real estate and airport affairs. Before joining Alaska, Jack served in various roles in the Legal Department of JetBlue Airways.

Jack received his B.A. from Fordham University and his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. He has been a member of the bar in New York and Massachusetts since 2008, and Washington since 2018.

He presently serves as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve, where he provides part-time legal assistance to soldiers and their families.

An active member of the aviation bar, Jack currently serves on the Governing Committee of the ABA Forum on Air & Space Law.

Brett Smith

Brett founded Propeller Investments LLC. Prior to PI, from 1999 to 2006, he co-founded and served as Chairman & CEO of ei3 Corporation. Brett was responsible for all corporate finance, strategic direction, licensing and partnership activities. From 1996 to 1998, he was Director of Business Development at Presstek, Inc. where he was part of the restructuring team for their equipment Subsidiary. Prior to that he held positions in areas of business development and analysis with Asia Times newspaper and Susquehanna Investment Group.

Brett has served on the Board of Directors for ICAD, a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: ICAD) and on the boards of various organizations including The United Ways Children with Learning Disabilities Foundation, Human Rights Watch's NY Committee as well as The Landmark School. Currently, Brett is a member of the Board of the Association of Washington Business, The State of Washington's oldest & largest statewide business association and serves as a Trustee for the Dublin School. Brett is a licensed private pilot and currently lives in Seattle with his family. Brett holds a B.A in Political Science from Emory University.


Mark Reichin

Mr. Reichin joined Propeller Investments in 2009 as Chief Commercial Officer after co-founding and acting as CEO of Alerion, a family office focused on aircraft management. Prior to assuming the senior leadership role at Alerion, Mark served as Senior Vice President of PrivatAir, one of the world's leading aviation services companies. Mark was responsible for record revenue growth and development of the company's next generation dispatch and customer service operations. Earlier he was a member of a private equity firm that focused on M&A transactions in the airline, aviation and aerospace industry sectors. As Chief Executive Officer of Internet.com, Mark led the pioneering Internet software and services company that was responsible for bringing fortune 500 companies, that included national print media, the international healthcare information industry and the launch of Comdex to the internet.

Mark's business expertise has focused on international business development and global M&A transactions. He brings substantial experience in international marketing as well as expertise in commercial real estate development. His Global aviation management experience includes Director of Operations for the establishment of air carrier operations in both FAA and EASA regulatory environments.

A licensed pilot since the age of 17 with IFR and multi-engine ratings, he has accumulated more than 12,000 hours of flight time. Mark serves on both corporate and non-profit boards. He is also an active member of National Business Aircraft Association, The Wings Club, National Air Transportation Association and the Aero Clubs of New England, Washington and Atlanta. Mark attended the University of Massachusetts and Northeastern University.


Thomas Amano

Thomas joined propeller in August 2018 as Director of Operations and Security. He is a quality-driven military veteran with more than 28 years of leadership experience. He has a vast knowledge of aviation operations, program management, emergency management and process improvement. In 2022, he assumed the role as Vice President of Terminal Operations.

Thomas holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He received Black, Green and Lean Six Sigma certificates from Villanova University. He is a current member of the American Association of Airport Executives, Northwest Chapter of Airport Executives Association and Military Officers Association of America.


Ana Paula Villa

Ana joined Propeller Airports in October 2016 as the Director of Finance. Prior to joining Propeller, Ana was the CFO of Qranio, a Brazilian mobile learning platform focused on customized training solutions for the B2B and B2C markets. Previously, Ana worked in residential mortgage-backed lending at Interaudi Bank, a private bank based in New York City and Miami.

Ana holds a B.S. in Management from Boston College and a M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.


Jessica Kilgore

Jessica began her career in the aviation industry in 2011 as a charter member of the Salute America Air Show. During her four years with the non-profit organization, she held various roles aiding in the growth of marketing, communications and hospitality for the event.

In 2013, Jessica began working with Propeller Airports and joined the company full time as the Director of Communications the following year. Jessica graduated Magna Cum Laude from Kennesaw State University with a Bachelor of Science in Communication and Public Relations.

jessica@propellerairports.com


Jodi Smith

Jodi has over 20 years of experience in human resources, marketing, teaching and education administration. Having joined Propeller in Month 2015, she brings her wide range of talents and experience to our company providing administrative support, people management and program management expertise. In March 2018, she assumed the role of Director of Human Resources. Previously, Jodi taught as a head teacher at a private day school in Manhattan, NY.

Jodi is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources and Human Development. After attaining her BS, Jodi earned a Master of Arts in Education at Boston University.

jodi@propellerairports.com


Jack Rossi

Jack joined Propeller as its chief legal officer in 2021, after over fifteen years with major U.S. airlines.

He brings extensive experience in aviation regulatory law and a broad spectrum of aviation-related business transactions including real property leasing and acquisition, design and construction, project finance, retail and food concessions, and environmental matters.

Jack most recently served as Associate General Counsel at Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. He was principal regulatory attorney for the airlines, and lead lawyer for real estate and airport affairs. Before joining Alaska, Jack served in various roles in the Legal Department of JetBlue Airways.

Jack received his B.A. from Fordham University and his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. He has been a member of the bar in New York and Massachusetts since 2008, and Washington since 2018.

He presently serves as an officer in the Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve, where he provides part-time legal assistance to soldiers and their families.

An active member of the aviation bar, Jack currently serves on the Governing Committee of the ABA Forum on Air & Space Law.

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