Rich Bjelkevig
President & Director of Operations
Rich Bjelkevig is the founder and currently the President of Mountain Aviation. He has presided over the expansion and development of the company for these past 19 years. He currently also serves as the Director of Operations. He has 39 years of corporate aviation and airline experience to include FAR121 & 135 operations. He has been a Chief Flight Instructor, Check Airman, Chief Pilot and Director of Operations for 3 air charter companies and holds an ATP and type ratings in several corporate jets to include CE500, CE650, DA2000 and G400. His formal education and undergraduate studies include engineering and post graduate studies in aviation law. When not growing the business he founded, Rich enjoys golf, skiing, and playing with his grandchildren with his beautiful wife.
Nicole McLeod
Chief Financial Officer
Nicole has been with Mountain Aviation for seven years. Originally from Colorado, she spent her high school and middle school years near the Mission Mountains of Montana. Although Nicole is not an “aviator” by profession but she brings solid business discipline including a BA in Business Management and 15 years setting up accounting and financial systems for numerous small and mid-sized companies. Her specialty is improving efficiencies and controls to enable growth. Nicole loves being involved in so many areas of our business especially the “human factors” part of the her job as Director of HR. When not guiding our business to success Nicole enjoys the Colorado mountains snowboarding, playing disc golf, mountain biking, and spending time with her two young children and lucky husband.
Corey Mast
Director of Maintenance
Corey Mast has been with Mountain Aviation for 10 years and currently serves as our Director of Maintenance and served as the Maintenance Operations Manager for 4 years. He is responsible for planning, scheduling, and the performance of all Mountain Aviation aircraft maintenance operations. Additionally he directs line department operations and is responsible for maintaining Mountain Aviation hangars and facilities. Mr. Mast earned his A&P certificate and began a full time career in aviation after selling his privately owned business. He initially accepted a position with Mountain Aviation as a Quality Control Administrator, and was later promoted to Maintenance Operations Manager. He currently holds an Inspection Authorization, is RII and Airworthiness Release qualified, and is factory trained on several models of aircraft. He has a strong background in manual development and was instrumental in helping Mountain Aviation obtain FAA approval to operate aircraft under FAR 135.411(a)(2) rules. Corey also finds time to raise two great kids and sneak away for bike and motorcycle rides in the Colorado mountains where he grew up.
John Basile
Maintenance Operations Manager
John’s been with Mountain Aviation since 2010 originally serving in the capacity of Quality Control Manager. John started his aviation journey almost 30 year ago working for regional, low-cost, and legacy airlines in the Western US. John brings a solid and diversified background as airline mechanic, line-supervisor, and heavy-check manager. In addition John worked for a major maintenance tracking software provider which first introduced him to 135 maintenance management. John’s transition to Maintenance Operations Manager has allowed the Mountain Aviation maintenance team to benefit from John’s natural leadership abilities and years of experience delivering high quality aviation maintenance, on time and on budget. John and his wife of 32 years are blessed with 2 children and 4 grandchildren but he still finds time to ride his motorcycle in the mountains!
Janna Young
HR Generalist
Janna Young has been with Mountain Aviation since 2009. She came to Mountain Aviation with an MBA and a Bachelor of Business degree, both with concentration in Human Resource Management. Her HR experience has been in the healthcare and media industries. Although new to aviation when she started with MA, she has learned a lot about overseeing the personnel issues affecting aviation professionals. She thoroughly enjoys working in this industry and specifically MA because of the family-like culture and the close-knit group of employees that make it a great place to come everyday. Away from work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two young girls whether it’s hiking in the foothills, traveling, camping, or enjoying a Bronco game on a Sunday afternoon!
David Roberts
Flight Operations Manager
David Roberts brings over 10 years of business aviation experience to Mountain Aviation. Having previously completed his schooling to become and FAA Certified Air Traffic Controller, he soon realized his heart was in the fast paced world of Business Aviation. David acquired a wealth of knowledge and expertise through his experience with high ranking FBO’s and a highly successful charter company, Avjet Corporation. David’s love for the outdoors and adventure led to leave his hometown in Southern California to move to the beautiful state of Colorado. David joined us in 2009 as a Flight Coordinator and now manages Mountain Aviation’s Flight Operations Department. In his off time you will find him spending time with his wife, family and friends and enjoying all the Colorado has to offer.
Malachi O’Neill
Manager of Business Development
Malachi has been with Mountain Aviation for 6 years. He began his career at Mountain as a part-time Fuel Coordinator, moving into full-time Flight Coordinator and eventually as Flight Operations Manager before moving into his current role in Business Development. Malachi is a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), Aircraft Dispatcher, and Multi-Engine and Instrument-Rated Commercial Pilot. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Technology from Metropolitan State College of Denver with a Minor in Meteorology. He is very active in the aviation community and with the Colorado Aviation Business Association, including being the current interim Board Member of the Industry subcommittee. Malachi’s initial aviation experience came as a hang gliding pilot and instructor near the dunes at Kitty Hawk where the Wright brothers first flew. Malachi is a dynamic team and relationship builder with Employees, Colleagues, and Clients, which is one of the keys to our business development success. He intends to start working on his golf game, but in the meantime he’s an avid fly-fisherman and reader, and enjoys physical training. In the summers he is often water-skiing or on hiking, climbing, or multi-day white water rafting & kayak trips with his family. In the winter, Malachi telemark skis while his stunningly awesome wife and three kids shred on the snowboards.
Ron Cardwell
Chief Pilot
Ron Cardwell has been with Mountain Aviation for 5 years and currently serves as our Chief Pilot. His responsibilities include managing the pilot staff, interfacing with the FAA to ensure regulation compliance, and keeping the Flight Operations Department running smoothly. Prior to becoming Chief Pilot Ron spent 3 years as Turboprop Program Manager. He has flown many of Mountain’s aircraft including several models of King Air, Piaggio Avanti, Citation 500 series and Citation Excel. Ron has over 11 years of aviation experience and got his start in aviation as a flight instructor. From there he spent two years flying the Beech 1900 for a regional airline and then found Mountain Aviation. When Ron is not flying or in the office he enjoys skiing, hiking, road biking, competitive shooting and most of all spending time with his wife and their permanent and foster dogs.
Andrew Doremus
Business Development Manager, Aspen and Western Colorado
Andrew Doremus was born and raised in Aspen Colorado and has flown everything from a glider to a BAE-146 in and out of Aspen. As a pilot his experience ranges from 121 air carrier to being a Chief Pilot, Director of Operations and a Check Airmen for 135 Air Charter operations. Andrew also started the Rifle Jet Center and Flight Department and built them into a successful full service FBO with a multi aircraft Charter company. Currently he is leading our West Slope marketing development and a line pilot in the Cessna 500 series. Growing up in the mountains he is an avid outdoorsman, who also has a love for playing hockey. He and his wife Jeanne have five boys and spend as much time as possible enjoying the Rocky Mountains.
Julian Tonsmeire
Business Development
Julian transitioned into aviation after running a successful small mountain guiding business after completing undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado. With 10 years in aviation, he served as a Regional Airline Captain before joining Mountain in 2005. Julian has held a number of position at Mountain over the last 6 years including: Operations Manager and Pilot, providing him with a broad background in corporate aviation and aircraft management. Julian oversees Mountain’s talented Business Development team, specializing in sales and marketing, as well as serving a number of Mountain’s aircraft owners as their Corporate Responsibility Officer. Originally from Alaska, Julian loves to run, backcountry ski, climb, raft, kayak, and ride in the Colorado mountains with his wife and young children.