Our Team

Patrick Hammer

President / Director of Operations

Raised on a family farm in Wisconsin, Patrick was introduced to aviation at a young age on a neighbor’s airstrip in their field. He soloed for the first time at age 16 and received his commercial pilot rating two years later. Patrick was only 19 when he was hired to fly our single-engine aircraft. He was promoted quickly to several management positions within the company, taking the helm as President in 2015, and becoming a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Patrick was instrumental in the expansion into Embraer and Saab transport-category aircraft, and developed our collegiate sports passenger market.

Robert Sevier

Vice President / General Manager

With nine years of previous aviation management experience, Robert joined us in 1999 to establish an on-demand charter business to supplement the company’s scheduled cargo routes. After starting as Charter Department Manager, he was promoted to General Manager in 2005 and Vice President in 2015, as well as becoming a member of the company’s Board of Directors. Under his leadership, the company’s charter department grew rapidly, we secured authorization to operate international flights, and modernized our information technology.

Theresa Cook

Vice President / Accounting & Personnel

Theresa was hired as administrative assistant in 1989 as the company’s third employee, after gaining aviation experience at Van Dusen Airport Services in Milwaukee. Her responsibilities and financial oversight of the company grew tremendously as the company expanded. She has been instrumental in the development and growth of the company, managing several areas including accounting, Human Resources, employee benefits and payroll, as well as becoming a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Chad Aumueller

Vice President / Procurement

Chad started part-time with the company while he was in high school performing facility maintenance and line services. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2011, he came aboard full-time as Parts Manager to develop the parts department enhancing inventory control processes and sales. Since then he has transitioned to a role that oversees the parts, line, and facility departments, as well as becoming a member of the company’s Board of Directors.

Trevor Sipe

Chief Pilot

As an Illinois native, Trevor earned a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Flight Management from Southern Illinois University in 2010, and joined us the following year to fly our smallest aircraft. While continually upgrading aircraft through the years, becoming Check Airmen and finally Chief Pilot, he was passionate about helping young pilots achieve their personal and career goals. Trevor spends his spare time on his hobby farm in northern Illinois with his wife and kids.

Timothy Leech

Director of Maintenance

Tim’s aviation journey began at Southern Illinois University where he received a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Maintenance in 2008, and then joined our team. Starting as a second-shift mechanic, Tim worked up the ranks quickly and became our Director of Maintenance by age 27. As the business grew, he was essential in the development of Maintenance Control, including our Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program (CAMP) and Continuous Analysis and Surveillance System (CASS). In his free time he enjoys drag racing with his two sons.

Travis Brewer

Flight Operations Manager

Travis has been in aviation his entire career, starting his journey with two major airlines, first as a ramp agent before progressing to supervisor and later a corporate ramp instructor. He joined our ranks in 2012 as a Flight Coordinator and has since been promoted to Flight Operations Manager. His stewardship has allowed our on-demand cargo revenue to grow year over year.

Anthony Jones

Training Manager

Tony earned his master’s degree in Industrial Technology from Purdue University after receiving his bachelor’s degree in Aviation Technology. As FRE/ACE is one of the nation’s premier collegiate charter operators, it’s fitting that Tony connected with us as he was the first basketball student-athlete graduate of Purdue’s aviation program. He had an impressive career as both a commercial airline and military pilot, and was even hand-selected to fly a former President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Tasha Morgan

Human Resources / Recruitment

Tasha received her master’s degree in Exercise Science and was an athletic trainer and physical therapist before joining us. Aviation has always been dear to her as she holds a Private Pilot Certificate and is a licensed skydiving instructor. To enhance our employee HR experience, Tasha recently obtained her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification. As if that’s not enough, she is also a member of the National Ski Patrol and has completed a 50k trail race!

Marla Freeck

Accounting Manager

Marla (or more commonly known as Peppy, a childhood nickname that has stayed with her throughout her career) joined us in 1997 after receiving a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from UW Milwaukee. Starting as our Special Projects Coordinator primarily working within the accounting department, Peppy also utilized her talents on company artwork, vinyl aircraft graphics and custom Christmas cards before she was promoted to Accounting Manager. She enjoys utilizing her right-brain in her home art studio, and several local businesses have purchased her pieces.

Simon Kennedy

Accountant / Systems Manager

Simon started in 2017 as a Flight Coordinator, and after four years helping to drive our operations and sales numbers he transitioned to the accounting department. From there he advanced to become Systems Manager where he juggles IT functions such as our phone system and building access along with his daily accounting role.

Douglas Trytek

Chief Inspector

Doug graduated from Fox Valley Technical College in 2010 with an applied science degree in avionics, in addition to obtaining his A&P Certificate. Spending the first seven years of his career working for an aircraft manufacturer as well as FAA Repair Station, he joined our company in early 2018. Since then he progressed from aircraft mechanic to RII Inspector, and finally promoted to our Chief Inspector in 2021.

Chris Gebhard

Shop Foreman

Chris joined the team in 2021, coming to us with more than a decade of experience as a maintenance controller at another airline. Graduating from Milwaukee Area Technical College with his A&P Certificate in 2008, he also holds an FCC avionics certification and earned his Private Pilot license. Chris enjoys his free time with his wife, two kids and five boats.

Mary Jo Pucilowski

Records Specialist

Mary Jo was a maintenance clerk and planner for two different airlines spanning multiple decades before joining our forces in 2014. She has been expertly handling our aircraft maintenance records for our ever-growing fleet since then. Before her sprawling aviation career in the big city, she was raised in the Northwoods of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

David Mitchell

Facility/GSE Manager

Meet our “jack of all trades” and company prankster! Dave became our Facility Manager in 2010. Running an almost 100,000 sq. ft. corporate campus would be enough for most people but Dave holds three Journeyman cards in the trades, including tool and die, and machining. He is our go-to welder and machine operator for any project this airline has to tackle. In his free time, Dave is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hunting and fishing throughout North America.

Justin Pajewski

Parts Manager

Justin started in 2017 in our parts department bringing with him the expertise he developed overseeing parts and shipping with another part 135 Air Carrier as well as a part 145 FAA Repair Station. In 2021, he was promoted to Parts Manager where he looks after nearly 30,000 stocklines of aircraft parts, tools and equipment.

Spencer Volbrecht

Parts Clerk

Aristides Ayala

Line Manager

Nicknamed “Pito” by his grandfather at 6 months old, he joined us after gaining 21 years experience at an FAA Repair Station. This included 16 years as lead, while managing his aircraft auxiliary power unit team. As if he doesn’t have enough chaos here overseeing all aircraft positioning, fueling, cleaning, stocking and deicing as our Line Manager, Pito gets his fix being a father of six at home!

Jonathan Morgan

Captain / Company Instructor

After eleven years in the U.S. Air Force as a C-130 aircraft mechanic, Jon received his civilian A&P Certificate in 2007 and later obtained his IA Inspection Authority. His civilian aviation career began as a mechanic at Basler Turbo Conversions before becoming a pilot in their turbine-powered DC-3’s. He joined our company in 2017 as a Beech 99 captain, and has since worked up the ranks to become company instructor, Saab 2000 captain, and of course an occasional mechanic. Jon enjoys skydiving for extracurricular activities.