Al Conklin & Bill de Decker Scholarship Awarded At NBAA 2015
NBAA 2015 – Las Vegas, Nevada -- Conklin & de Decker, (Booth #N2921) in association with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) announced that the eighth annual Al Conklin and Bill de Decker Business Aviation Management Scholarship winner is Leonard Nalbone. This scholarship is being awarded at the 2015 NBAA Business Aviation Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, on November 17th -19th.
Leonard is a senior at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is majoring in Aviation Business Administration. With a 4.0 grade point average, Leonard is a commercial fixed-wing licensed pilot as well as an airframe and power plant mechanic and plans to pursue his MBA at Cornell University – Johnson School of Buffalo. Leonard served as an enlisted helicopter mechanic with the New York Army National Guard in Albany, New York prior to being trained as a pilot. Devoted to pursuing a career in aviation, Leonard was exposed to general aviation at an early age and recently spent several years working as partner and general manager for Jamestown Aviation Company LLC, a successful FBO in Jamestown, New York.
“Leonard’s concerted efforts made toward his education and advanced career in aviation is impressive, and we are proud to play a part in supporting his passion for the industry,” commented Bill de Decker, chairman and co-founder of Conklin & de Decker. “On behalf of the entire staff at Conklin & de Decker, we congratulate Leonard Nalbone and wish him all the best as he pursues his future career in business aviation.”
The scholarship was initially created to honor the memory of Al Conklin, a U.S. Air Force veteran and business aviation leader for more than 60 years. Last year, the scholarship was renamed to also recognize Bill de Decker for his contributions to business aviation, for which he was honored with NBAA’s John P. “Jack” Doswell Award in 2014. Conklin’s career took him to business aviation where he sold aircraft for several companies before meeting Bill de Decker and creating the first Aircraft Cost Evaluator program. Then in 1984 they founded what became Conklin & de Decker. Each year NBAA Charities and Conklin & de Decker annually award $5,000 to an undergraduate student who is officially enrolled in an aviation management program at a University Aviation Association (UAA) member school.
About Conklin & de Decker
Conklin & de Decker, celebrating more than 30 years in business, is a leader in aviation research, consulting and education with offices in Massachusetts, Texas and Arizona. The mission of Conklin & de Decker is to enable the general aviation industry to make more informed decisions when dealing with the purchase, operation and disposition of aircraft by furnishing objective and impartial information. Founded in 1984, Conklin & de Decker focuses on fixed- and rotary- wing aircraft operating cost, performance and specification databases, maintenance management software, financial management, fleet planning, market research, aviation tax issues, and financial, tax and management seminars. Conklin & de Decker consults with numerous individuals, corporations and government agencies worldwide. More information on their products and services, copies of articles published, and a unique “Members Only” section can be found on their website, www.conklindd.com.
About NBAA
Founded in 1947 and based in Washington, DC, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) is the leading organization for companies that rely on general aviation aircraft to help make their businesses more efficient, productive and successful. The Association represents more than 10,000 companies and provides more than 100 products and services to the business aviation community, including the NBAA Annual Meeting & Convention, the world's largest civil aviation trade show. Learn more about NBAA at www.nbaa.org.
