Oct. 15, 2025
Many of business aviation’s best and brightest gathered for a Newsmakers Luncheon at the 2025 NBAA Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas to honor an iconic industry advocate and lift up the next generation of leaders.
NBAA Young Professional (YoPro) Council liaisons Ashley Granada and Elayna Hall took the stage to shine a spotlight on 40 of the industry’s up-and-coming leaders – the 2025 class of the Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40.
“Each nomination told a story of someone making a real impact in our industry. Those showing leadership, passion and dedication,” said Granada, NBAA senior marketing manager, adding that there were hundreds of nominees for the award.
“The future of business aviation is right here and it is bright,” added Hall, NBAA manager for professional development. “These young professionals truly embody NBAA’s core value of leading from any seat.”
Industry Icon Issues Advocacy Challenge
Later, NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen presented the association’s John P. “Jack” Doswell Award to Aviation Personnel International CEO Sheryl A. Barden, CAM.
“Sheryl is one of those rare people who doesn’t join organizations, she transforms them, and she certainly transformed our industry as well,” Bolen said. “She has changed the lives of thousands of people. Many individuals who are here in this room right now owe a large portion of their career in business aviation to Sheryl.”
During her heartfelt acceptance remarks, Barden expressed her deep love for the industry instilled by her mother, Jan Barden, who received the award in 1994. In 2010, her stepfather, Chuck McKinnon also received the award.
“I can say that to now add my name to that list is profoundly meaningful,” Barden told the packed room of attendees.
A former member of the NBAA Board of Directors, Barden chaired its Advisory Council and was among NBAA’s inaugural CAM Fellows. She is known for her advocacy on issues ranging from calls to not privatize the ATC system to addressing the workforce shortage. And during the 2008 financial crisis, she coached and counseled industry professionals who faced unplanned job loss.
“Advocacy really matters,” Barden said.
Her message for the 2025 Business Aviation Top 40 Under 40 recipients in the room was clear: “I challenge you too to be joiners, to find your voice and to speak up, to find mentors and to be a mentor and to build your network and to use that to advocate for our industry,” Barden said. “And if you do that, I promise you that you too will architect a career that takes you beyond your wildest expectations.”
Panel Offers Hints for Advocacy
Finally, a panel discussion during the lunch focused on how business aviation professionals can become effective advocates for the industry.
Hosted by Jamie Santiago-Muñoz, general manager for GalaxyFBO at Addison Airport (ADS) in Texas, the session featured Kolin Jones, founder and CEO at Amalfi Jets, who has become a prominent social media figure advocating for business aviation. Also on the panel was Steve Varsano, founder and CEO of The Jet Business who has become a well-known advocate for business aviation across multiple mainstream media platforms.
“When the media comes to talk to us, we guide them and help them see the light,” said Varsano. “Business aviation creates time, which nothing else can really do. It’s really the only thing that can increase the use of an executive’s time.”
“Business aviation allows the world to be more connected and for users to do more,” said Jones. “We use our platform to spread the message and to help push the industry forward.”
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