Leadership
All Leadership
Jack Pelton
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer
Jack J. Pelton is chairman, president and chief executive officer for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced some 192,000 aircraft since its founding in 1927, including more than 6,000 Citations, making it the largest fleet of business jets in the world.
A native of California, Jack has more than three decades of aviation experience. He joined Cessna in November 2000 as senior vice president, Product Engineering and oversaw Cessna’s engineering and product development activities, including new aircraft development, design, experimental and production test flight, certifications and product improvements for all Cessna models. He was named president and chief executive officer in 2003 and chairman in 2005.
Before joining Cessna in 2000, Jack served as senior vice president, Engineering and Programs at Fairchild Dornier in Germany and was responsible for the 728JET aircraft family. Previously he held related executive positions of increasing responsibility during his 20 years at Boeing, formerly Douglas Aircraft.
Jack has a commercial pilot’s license with instrument, multi-engine and seaplane ratings. He also holds type ratings in several Citation business jets, including the Citation X, the world’s fastest civil aviation airplane, and a single pilot rating in the Citation Mustang. He is a single-engine aircraft owner and restores antique aircraft.
Jack’s leadership at Cessna and in the industry is well recognized. In 2008, he was bestowed one of the industry’s top accolades – the Aviation Week Laurel for Business and General Aviation. Also in 2008, Jack earned the Freedom of Flight award, the Experimental Aircraft Association’s highest honor. In 2007, he was the recipient of the Kansas Chamber of Commerce Ad Astra Award as the state’s most influential business leader.
Jack is a member of the board and past chairman of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), where he continues to serve as chairman of the Flight Operations Policy committee, and he serves on the Associate Member Advisory Board of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA). He also serves on the boards of directors of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum and the Corporate Angel Network.
Actively involved in numerous community non-profit organizations, Jack serves on the board of trustees of the Sedgwick County Zoological Society and the boards of directors of the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Kansas Chamber. He is chairman of EAA’s Gathering of Eagles and a member of the board and past president of Wichita Habitat for Humanity.
Ron Alberti
Senior Vice President, Integrated Supply Chain
Ron Alberti is senior vice president, Integrated Supply Chain for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced more than 192,000 aircraft since the company was founded in 1927, including the largest global fleet of more than 6,000 business jets.
Ron joined Cessna in 1986. He served as superintendent and later as manager, Components Manufacturing prior to being named manager, Citation X Business Jet Production Transition in 1993. In 1996, he was promoted to vice president, Manufacturing and in July 1999 promoted to senior vice president, Operations. In September of 2003, Ron was named senior vice president, Integrated Supply Chain. His responsibilities include strategic sourcing, quality, support services and all manufacturing operations in Wichita; Independence, Kan.; Columbus, Ga.; Chihuahua, Mexico; and Bend, Ore.
Ron is a native of York, Pa., and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois and a Master of Business Administration from York College of Pennsylvania. He is a multi-engine and instrument rated pilot and has earned Citation 500/525 type ratings.
Ron is active in local civic and charitable organizations. He has held positions on the boards of the Greater Wichita Sports Commission, the Wichita Child Guidance Center and the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas. He is past chairman of the Cessna Food Drive to benefit the Food Bank Warehouse of Kansas and the Cessna United Way campaign.
Ron and his wife of 35 years, Anne, reside in Wichita. Ron has two grown sons who are married with children. Andy is a graduate of the University of Kansas and is an area sales manager, CitationJet for Cessna. Mike has a Master of Business Administration from Wichita State University and is the Lean Manufacturing/Production supervisor for Triumph Group, Inc.
Dave Brant
Senior Vice President, Product Engineering
Dave Brant is senior vice president, Product Engineering for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced more than 192,000 aircraft since the company was founded in 1927, including the largest global fleet of more than 6,000 business jets.
Dave joined Cessna in 1974 and served in various engineering capacities in design and flight test until 1980. Dave served as chief, Flight Test for Piper Aircraft and various engineering and management positions at Learjet where he ultimately became vice president, Strategic Planning and New Business Development. Dave also served as senior vice president, Operations for Galaxy Aerospace before rejoining Cessna in 2001 as director, Airworthiness, Engineering Flight Test and Product Safety.
Dave was promoted to senior vice president, Product Engineering in January 2004. In this position, he is responsible for new aircraft, development, and certification, as well as engineering product support for all aircraft in production and in service.
Dave has his Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) and multi-engine license. He is rated in various Citations and has more than 2,800 hours of flight time.
Dave is a certified Textron Six Sigma Green Belt, has a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical technology from Arizona State University and holds a Master of Science in management from Friends University.
Mark Paolucci
Senior Vice President, Customer Service
Mark Paolucci is senior vice president, Customer Service for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced more than 192,000 aircraft since the company was founded in 1927, including the largest global fleet of more than 6,000 business jets.
Mark is responsible for the customer support activities of all Cessna aircraft in service. He oversees Citation Service Centers, Cessna and Citation Parts Distribution, customer service, field service and warranty administration.
Mark joined Cessna in January 1979 as a design engineer and has progressively moved through the organizational ranks to his current position. Most recently, he was responsible for worldwide sales of Citation business jets.
Mark earned a bachelor’s degree Central Missouri State University. He is a licensed pilot with multi-engine and instrument ratings. He is a certified Textron Six Sigma Green Belt.
Sue Ronshagen
Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Sue Ronshagen is the vice president and chief information officer for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced more than 192,000 aircraft since the company was founded in 1927, including the largest global fleet of more than 6,000 business jets.
Sue joined Cessna in 2004 as the new business information officer. She is responsible for all information technology supporting Cessna’s business, manufacturing and engineering needs. This includes, but is not limited to, alignment to business strategy, development of operational plans and IT program execution.
Prior to joining Cessna, Sue held numerous executive leadership positions at Honeywell-AlliedSignal, Textron Lycoming and Sikorsky Aircraft.
A trained Six Sigma Black Belt and certified Green Belt, Sue earned her bachelor’s degree in applied science from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Sue serves on the board of directors of Kansas Goodwill Easter Seals. She and her husband, John, have two children.
Michael Shonka
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Michael (Mike) J. Shonka is executive vice president and chief financial officer for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced more than 192,000 aircraft since the company was founded in 1927, including the largest global fleet of more than 6,000 business jets.
In addition to his role on the Cessna Senior Leadership Team, Mike is a member of the Textron Finance Council, a director of CitationShares and is a certified Textron Six Sigma Green Belt.
Mike began his career with Cessna in 1996 as senior vice president and chief financial officer. In July 1999, he was promoted to executive vice president and chief financial officer.
Prior to joining Cessna, Mike spent eight years as the chief financial officer at Fourth Financial Corporation, a regional bank holding company that is now part of Bank of America. He also served as the controller for a large bank holding company in Oklahoma (now JPMorgan Chase). Prior to his 20 years in banking, Mike worked with the Ernst & Young accounting firm in Kansas City, Mo., for five years. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Financial Executives Institute.
Mike received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Northern Colorado and his Master of Science in accounting from the University of Kansas. He is a graduate of four Textron leadership and development programs – the Textron/Wharton Global Leadership Forum at the University of Pennsylvania, the Textron Advanced Management Program conducted by the Harvard Business School, the Textron Growth Leadership Program at Ohio State University and the Textron/Wharton World Class Finance-Strategic Partnering Forum at the University of Pennsylvania. He also is a graduate of The Stonier Graduate School of Banking, an advanced banking education program sponsored by the American Bankers Association and Rutgers University.
Mike is a member of the Dean’s Leadership Council for the University of Northern Colorado, and he serves the University of Kansas as a member of its advisory board for the School of Business and its advisory council of the Division of Accounting and Information Systems. He has a private pilot’s license.
He and his wife, Nancy, have three grown children and two grandchildren.
Robert Stangarone
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Robert Stangarone is vice president, Corporate Communications for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced more than 192,000 aircraft since the company was founded in 1927, including the largest global fleet of more than 6,000 business jets.
Bob joined Cessna in July 2005. He is responsible for Cessna's internal and external communications, as well as community affairs. He also serves as chairman of Cessna’s Environmental Strategy Council.
Prior to joining Cessna, Bob held the same position with Rolls-Royce North America and Fairchild Dornier, and other senior communications positions with Litton and United Technologies' Sikorsky Aircraft and Pratt & Whitney units. He has also served as vice president, Marketing for Safire Aircraft and Liberty Aerospace.
Early in his career, he was managing editor of both Business & Commercial Aviation and Air Facts magazines and worked as a flight instructor, aerobatics instructor and charter pilot.
Bob is a commercial pilot with instrument and multi-engine ratings and is type rated in the Cessna CJ1+, CJ2+ and CJ3 business jets. He has more than 2,000 flight hours.
Bob has an associate degree from Nassau College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in natural sciences from Adelphi University (Dowling College). He has completed executive leadership programs at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia Darden School of Business and the University of Hartford. He is a certified Textron Six Sigma Green Belt. He currently serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Wichita Aero Club.
Tom Wakefield
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Tom Wakefield is vice president, general counsel and secretary and one of three directors on the Board of Directors for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft.
Tom joined Cessna in 1975 as its product integrity counsel. During his career, he has held numerous positions of increasing responsibility. He was promoted to his current position of vice president, general counsel and secretary in 1995 and became a director on the Board of Directors of Cessna in 2005.
Tom is Cessna's chief legal officer and oversees all litigation and legal matters for Cessna. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Friends University, and he received a Juris Doctor degree from Washburn University in 1972. He was admitted to the Kansas Bar as a licensed practicing attorney in 1973.
He has received an Outstanding Service Award from the Kansas Bar Association. He was a past chairman of the Aviation Defense Managers Council; a former Chairman of the Board of Directors and a current member of the Cessna Management Association; a current member of the Product liability section of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association; a director and secretary of the Pawnee and Wallace Industrial Districts; and a former Finance Chair, President and Director of the Harbor Isle Homeowners Association.
Tom is a certified Textron Six Sigma Green Belt. He and his wife, Janice, have two grown daughters.
Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced more than 192,000 aircraft since the company was founded in 1927, including the largest global fleet of more than 6,000 business jets.
Jim Walters
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
Jim Walters is senior vice president, Human Resources for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced more than 192,000 aircraft since the company was founded in 1927, including the largest global fleet of more than 6,000 business jets.
Prior to joining Cessna in 2001, Jim served as the director, Global Human Resources for John Deere Power Systems. In this role, he was responsible for all global human resource functions for units located in the United States, Mexico and France. He also held human resources leadership positions in China and Canada, bringing a global perspective to Cessna.
At Cessna, Jim is responsible for managing and directing all human resource functions including benefits, compensation and staffing, labor and employee relations, government relations, and the strategy, development and deployment groups.
Jim is a graduate from Niagara College in Ontario, Canada, in business administration and is a certified Textron Six Sigma Green Belt.
He serves as chair for the local Sedgwick County Technical Education and Training Authority. He also serves on the Kansas Chamber of Commerce board; Kansas Technical Training Initiative board, Wichita Area Technical College board of trustees; Wichita State University Business Advisory Council and the Kansas State Business Advisory Council.
Jim and his wife, Josephine, have two sons, Jordan and Taylor.
Roger Whyte
Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Roger Whyte is senior vice president, Sales and Marketing for Cessna Aircraft Company, the leading worldwide manufacturer of general aviation aircraft. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Cessna has produced more than 192,000 aircraft since the company was founded in 1927, including the largest global fleet of more than 6,000 business jets.
Roger joined Cessna in 1982. During his career, he has held numerous positions including regional sales manager; division sales manager, Europe, Middle East and Africa; director, International Sales - Citation; and vice president, Citation Worldwide Sales. He was promoted to his current position in January 1997. He is responsible for the worldwide sales and marketing of Cessna's entire product line: single-engine, Caravan and Citation.
A native of England, Roger graduated from the University of London with a degree in business. He holds an airline transport pilot’s license with instrument, multi-engine and Citation ratings. He is also a certified Textron Six Sigma Green Belt. He and his wife, Ingrid, have three grown children.
