steven levesque

Nationally recognized thought leader in the transportation infrastructure industry, with 25+ years’ experience transforming broad-reaching goals into actionable, achievable steps. Committed to the highest ethical & safety standards in all operations.  Profit & Loss responsibility across all business segments.

Areas of Expertise Include: Decision-Making Authority • Corporate Strategy • Shareholder Communications • Revenue Acceleration • Market Penetration • Cost-Cutting • Key Account Management • Public Relations • Infrastructure Development

Alis IA Aviation LLC & Subsidiaries d/b/a Leading Edge Jet Center–Charleston, SC                         2019 - 2022

Leading Fixed Base Operator (FBO) chain differentiated by its high touch, high technology and sustainability focus

CEO

Led the founding and development of a regional FBO chain from startup to five operating locations.  Specific accomplishments include:

• Lead the initial acquisition activity and subsequent platform scaling which has created a new regional FBO platform. 
• Focus on driving profitable scale through the creation of efficient back office support for growing operating locations.
• Creating value through external acquisition, facility development and the unlocking of organic growth.

The NORDAM Group, LLC– Tulsa, OK                                                                                                 2018 - 2019

Global leader of highly engineered and differentiated composite aerospace manufacturing and repair

Interim Chief Financial Officer

Led the finance team through a successful Chapter 11 restructuring and recapitalization of the company (US and International subsidiaries) resulting in existing shareholders retaining control, paying off all creditors in full and minority investment from a premiere aerospace focused private equity firm within 9 months of hire.  Specific accomplishments include:

• Lead $480 million recapitalization and refinancing of both equity and debt. 
• Eliminated $25 million of indirect/overhead costs through the creation of an efficient shared services back office within 60 days of becoming interim CFO, increasing EBITDA 33% and driving significant shareholder value.

Global Aviation Infrastructure, LLC– Charleston, South Carolina                                                       2015 - Present

Operations management & advisory services for corporations, airport sponsors, private equity firms and financial institutions

Founder & Principal

Operational management and transaction advisory services.  Specific accomplishments include:

• Operational management:  Consulted on worldwide groundhandling operations, airport and aviation infrastructure development including Fixed Base Operations (FBO), Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) and Aircraft Charter & Management.
• Transaction advisory:  Lead buyout transactions and advised on over $250 million in value in the following areas:  Airframe MRO; Aviation Software, Engine MRO, 3rd Party Logistics and Ground Service Equipment (GSE).

Hawthorne FBO Holdings, LLC (Also Hawthorne Corporation)– Charleston, South Carolina            2008 - 2015

Leading provider of general aviation and airport management services.

President & CEO 

Spearhead strategic development; report directly to Board of Directors. Act as decision-making authority and public face of Hawthorne. Oversee expansion, market penetration, acquisitions, policies/ procedures, and operations. Negotiate C-level contracts and financing; secure all capital. Ensure regulatory compliance. Establish strong brand recognition in Flight Operations, MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul), Line Service, and aviation/ airport infrastructure management. Engage stakeholders and ensure optimal business relationships/ community standing. Streamline operations/ workflow, increasing profitability and efficiency.

• Led company from start-up to position as industry leader, with approximately $100 million annual revenue and 5 FBO locations and 5 additional aircraft management locations across North America.
• Established successful, high-volume locations; negotiated Letters of Intent for four additional locations.
• Reduced healthcare costs by 40% without adversely affecting coverage, and with no cost increase to employees.
• Quoted over 50 times as industry expert in 15 national/ regional news outlets and general aviation publications, including Newsday, MarketWatch, Yahoo! Finance, Aviation International News, Flying, Airport Business, Business & Commercial Aviation, Charleston Business Journal, and others.
• Regularly consulted with high-ranking government officials and staff to shape national aviation policy.
• Elected as CEO in 2010 in recognition of exceptional record as President, Hawthorne Corporation.

Piedmont Hawthorne Holdings, Inc.– Winston-Salem, North Carolina                                                     1998 to 2007

Prominent aviation company, operating 40 locations across the United States and Canada; $850 million/ average annual revenue.

Senior Vice President  (2003 - 2007)

Oversaw all corporate financial management, including business development, internal growth, and acquisition strategies. Liaised with equity sponsors/ investors. Reported directly to CEO. Recruited, trained, and mentored staff.

• Directed two large change of control transactions that returned 2.5 times and 4.3 times the equity capital invested
• Significantly increased internal rate of return to shareholders (over 60% on the second change of control).

Chief financial Officer (2000 – 2007)

Directed all strategic financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting. Led acquisition and divestiture strategies. Ensured regulatory compliance in all banking, investing, and financial operations. Assumed day-to-day custodianship of funds, 

securities, and assets. Assessed and managed risk, leverage opportunities, long-term financing, capital costs, and best financing tools for an $850 million revenue industry leading company.

• Guaranteed optimal capital structure, increasing security, leverage, and profitability.
• Directed comprehensive analysis of investments, including tax/ cash flow implications; strategy resulted in unprecedented gain in internal rate of return.

Vice President, Corporate Development (2000 – 2003)

Led large-scale expansion of Piedmont Hawthorne, ensuring smooth change management and sound strategic planning. Leveraged EBITDA of acquisitions by lowering cost structures.

• Pioneered establishment (via acquisition or development) of 25 distinct operations in six years.
• Executed concentric diversification strategy throughout company, ensuring competitiveness and market growth.

Director, Corporate Development (1998 – 2000)

Oversaw acquisitions from start to finish— including strategic planning, market analysis, negotiations, due diligence, and financial modeling. Created integrated, cross-functional teams. Successfully expanded company infrastructure, ensuring smooth transition management and minimal disruptions to workflow.

United States Navy/Navy Reserve (Retired) – Various                                                                    1989 to 2015 

Naval service branch of the United States government.

Commanding Officer, NCHB-13 – Gulfport, MS (2007 – 2008)

Led commissioned expeditionary unit that provided crucial logistical/ transportation support to combat, crisis actions, humanitarian, and peacetime missions across the globe. Coordinated detachments in Texas, Mississippi, and Missouri. Commanded staff of five active duty personnel and 250 reservists. Ran high-volume air cargo and maritime port operations.

• Directed unit-wide contribution of 2,600 personnel days (internationally) and 1,900 days (domestically) in command.
• Planned and provided key mission support for operations and campaigns in numerous countries, including Iraq, Antarctica, Australia, Bahrain, Hawaii, Korea, Japan, Guam, Guatemala, the United Arab Emirates, and Singapore.
• Awarded Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of outstanding service.

Staff Action Officer, United States Joint Forces Command- Norfolk, VA (2005-2006)

Served as Deputy Director, Reserve Operations J3/4 Logistics Operations Division. Oversaw Reserve Component operations in the Logistics Operations Division (LOD), leading the watch team in Combat Service Support (CSS) force sourcing, force projection and sustainment, and force tracking.  Supported Crisis Action Team Logistics (CAT06) in overseeing all assigned logistics forces in the USJFCOM area of responsibility or deploying to other AORs; assumed responsibility for Joint and Multinational integration, concept development and support for USJFCOM assets.  

The Citadel– Charleston, South Carolina

     Master of Business Administration (MBA)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill– Chapel Hill, North Carolina

     Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA)

Executive Education

     Command Leadership School, Naval War College - Newport, Rhode Island

     Kenan-Flagler Business School, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – Chapel Hill, North Carolina