Over the last 2 years, insiders at Zanite Acquisition have traded over $2,710,326 worth of Zanite Acquisition stock. Interestingly, years later (in 2016), the school named him as their distinguished alumni of the year. The following year, the charity included in its budget a goal of raising more than $1 million, and again asked the Riccis to help. Mr. Ricci, 61, and Ms. Ricci, 54, plan to leave the university a controlling stake in Directional Aviation Capital, a holding company Mr. Ricci founded in 2003 to manage businesses such as Flight Options and FlexJet he founded or bought. Mendoza Business is the biannual alumni magazine of the Mendoza College of Business. We are unable to fully display the content of this page. He earned his juris doctorate degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he was named distinguished alumnus of the year in 2016, honored for his leadership in the global aviation industry. Through aviation entrepreneur, Kenn Ricci, and his principal investment firm, Directional Aviation Capital, we proudly took our place within the $1 billion aviation portfolio a position we occupy alongside other private aviation leaders including Flight . They went into the public market, and they raised public capital, he said. Boost. John and Cynthia McCaffrey paid cash through a trust for a two-story estate with stunning views in Scottsdales Desert Mountain community. Kenneth Ricci is a 40-year aviation industry veteran who today is a Principal of Directional Aviation Capital which owns various aviation enterprises including Flexjet, Sentient Jet, PrivateFly, Tuvoli, Nextant Aerospace, Stonebriar Commercial Finance, Reva Air Ambulance, Corporate Wings, Simcom and Constant Aviation. In 2000, Ricci was honored as Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of Year. At the time of the announcement Ricci explained Zanite choose to align with Eve because of its simplistic design, Embraers track record of bringing new aircraft through certification to market, an already installed global support network and a presence in markets outside the U.S., that are positioned to be early adopters for urban air mobility UAM. Kenn Ricci, the principal of Directional Aviation (Flexjet, Sentient, PrivateFly, FXAIR, Nextant), is looking to make $100 million + deals focused around electric aviation, sustainable aviation . Mr. Ricci recruited the celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, a friend from his days working as a private airplane pilot, to cook for the 70 people who bought a seat at the dinner. 25101 Chagrin Boulevard, Suite 350 Tom Mauro is the founder of Albi Homes Ltd., a Calgary, Alberta-based luxury home builder. He was the personal pilot of Bill Clintonduring the 1992 presidential campaign. He graduated fromUniversity of Notre Dameand the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. That year also marked the entry into service of the Nextant 400XTi, the next generation of the worlds first remanufactured business jet, which had become a leading light jet solution in North America and Europe since receiving FAA and EASA certification just three years prior. Bill Ong Memorial Award for extraordinary achievement and extended meritorious service to the general aviation industry. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Zanite, Embraer and Eve will host a joint investor webcast and conference call to discuss the proposed business combination on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 8:00 am EST. The broker will utilize 17 Bombardier aircraft coming off fractional contracts. After getting certified to fly Dassault Falcon, Cessna Citation and Gulfstream jets, Kenn found work as a pilot. He also earned a law degree in 1986. He earned his juris doctorate degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, where he was named distinguished alumnus of the year in 2016, honored for his . It does not store any personal data. [28][29], In 2021, Ricci oversaw Directionals acquisition of two helicopter travel providers: U.K.-based Halo Aviation and U.S.-based Associated Aircraft Group, and by mid-2022, positioned those entities to serve as the foundation for a Flexjet helicopter division. Please make sure your computer, VPN, or They also wanted to make sure their children did not inherit too much. [5] In December 2001, the company combined operations with Raytheon Travel Air, a subsidiary of Raytheon Company, doubling the company's size. Later, he graduated the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [42] was named one of the most influential people in aviation by Aviation International News. When you show us that you know about us, that goes a long way, says Kenn Ricci, who has committed an unrestricted gift of $100 million to the University of Notre Dame. That was a pretty big event, Ricci says. Kenneth and Pamela Ricci purchased the home. Those efforts have been successful: At least six new treatments in which the charity has invested have been approved for use in patients with the disease. The Notre Dame commitment is another example of Mr. Riccis determination to put his money behind organizations he has gotten to know. [citation needed] and Nextant was selected as Aviation Week's 2015 winner of the Laureate for Business Aviation for introducing new technology to business aviation. So, obviously, he did a very good job.. [24] In April 2018, Sentient Jet relaunched its website and at the same time projected $300 million in jet card sales for 2018. In 1981 he bought Corporate Wings, an aircraft management business, and went on to acquire a stable of other aviation companies. He was the personal pilot ofBill Clintonduring the 1992 presidential campaign. You may then be asked to log in, create an account if you don't already have one, [35] He is a member of the Young Presidents' Organization. The event was a big success, raising $1.7 million, far above the charitys $1 million goal. Flight Options enjoyed significant early success, with its annual revenues growing from $35 million to $300 million in 17 months of operations. He is the principal of Directional Aviation Capital, which operates a family of private aviation companies, including. He graduated fromUniversity of Notre Dameand the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. How The de Havilland Dove Became a British Aviation Icon. network allows javascript and allows content to be delivered from v144.philanthropy.com and chronicle.blueconic.net. Mr. Ricci said he and his wife decided to structure the gift this way to avoid succession problems at his company and discourage the feuds families sometimes have when the founder of the family business dies. The charity doubled its fundraising goal that year, and came back to Mr. Ricci for a third time. [31] By December 2021, it was announced that Zanites acquisition partner would be Eve Air Mobility, a subsidiary of Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer working to bring to market the Eve electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle. They didnt know when to stop!. Do Not Sell. Researched by Ebony Day of The Arizona Republic and The Information Market. And in 1980, the economy wasnt doing too well and a young Kenn Ricci found himself laid off. Still, the family didnt start giving until Mr. Ricci examined whether the nonprofit had a clear strategy for funding research and drug development to cure the disease. As part of the first consolidation of its aviation companies, Directional Aviation combined the charter brokerage operations of its Flexjet, Flight Options and Sentient Jet companies under the Skyjet brand name, which it had acquired from Bombardier as part of the Flexjet transaction. Copyright 2023 University of Notre Dame | Mendoza College of Business Notre Dame, IN 46556. The 5,541-square-foot home has five bedrooms, five-and-a-halfbathrooms and overlooks the 14th hole of the Chiricahua golf course at Desert Mountain Golf Club. In 2014, Kenn was honored by the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for championing research and treatment of the disease, which effects 30,000 children and adults in the United States. Kenn Ricci - Resilience Capital Partners Fundraisers should not only take the time to learn about a donors biography but also convey an interest in knowing what that person cares about, apart from giving. In 2023, Kenn Riccis personal year number is 1. Mr. Ricci was impressed with an investment by a branch of the nonprofit, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Therapeutic, which put more than $75 million last year into Vertex Pharmaceuticals to help develop medicines for the disease. 5 Best Aviation Games You Can Download Today! Under the agreement, the children can choose to buy any of the businesses from Notre Dame (which will own 40 percent.). Kenn Ricci was born on September 3, 1956 (age 66) in United States. Mr. Ricci and his wife have given a $100 million unrestricted gift to Notre Dame. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Upon Riccis death, Notre Dame will receive beneficial rights to a limited partnership interest and become the partnerships successor general partner. Inside Kenn Ricci's Private Aviation Empire The down side is that the institution will have to manage and eventually liquidate the holding company. He is a celebrity entrepreneur. Mr. Ricci has three children: Elizabeth, vice president of client services at Corporate Wings; Kennedy, co-founder of Instagram marketing firm AdLove Media; and Austin, a student. Kenneth Ricci is a principal at Directional Aviation Capital, a Cleveland, Ohio-based company that owns several aviation enterprises including Flexjet, PrivateFly and Constant Aviation. They raised two-and-a-half times the money they ever raised, says the proud papa. This newly unveiled gift contributes to the Boldly Notre Dame campaign announced by the University in August. Kenn Ricci (ACCT '78) remembers like it was yesterday, how his baby son Austin would wave his arms feverishly and practically leap out of his high chair when it was time to eat. In 2015, Kenn received the Aviation Week Laureate Award, a benchmark of industry excellence, recognizing his work and development at Nextant Aerospace. Notre Dame to get $100 million from alumnus Kenneth Ricci - CNBC About . In 2017, Notre Dame and Kenn announced his $100M gift to the university. But for now, Austin, 12, swims, skis, plays basketball and is as avid a Notre Dame football fan as his dad. Carol and I are both very excited to be taking PrivateFly into this next phase of our story, Adam Twidell told Altitudes. He has received the Harvard Business School's Dively Entrepreneurship Award. [27], Ricci also has founded or been involved with the management of several other companies, including Nextant Aerospace, which he serves as chief executive officer. He is one of the most respected names in the industry, having received theLiving Legends of Aviation Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award. The company grew rapidly, with annual revenues increasing from $300,000 to approximately $3.4 million between 1981 and 1985. Oh, And By The Way, Guaranteed WiFi Is Coming", "BREAKING NEWS: Sentient Jet Launches Guaranteed WiFi Jet Card", "Sentient Jet debuts new website; Forecasts $300 million in 2018 jet card sales", https://privatejetcardcomparisons.com/2018/09/05/directional-aviation-buys-u-k-based-charter-broker-privatefly/, https://privatejetcardcomparisons.com/2020/07/29/flexjet-sentient-jet-parent-launches-new-on-demand-private-jet-charter-brand-fxair/, "The Economist, "Business Jets for an Austere Age," October 5, 2011", Directionals-Kenn Ricci Launches a SPAC Targeting Next Generation Aviation Acquisitions, Eve Urban Air Mobility Set to go Public Through Merger With Zanite, United has ordered 515 electric and supersonic aircraft with the first carrying passengers as soon as 2024 take a look at the carrier's fleet of the future, Notre Dame receives first-of-its-kind $100 million unrestricted commitment from entrepreneur Kenn Ricci, "Legacy Magazine, "Solving the Cystic Fibrosis Conundrum," Summer 2010", Notre Dame to get $100 million from alumnus in biggest unrestricted gift ever for university, Kenn Ricci, the University of Notre is the gift that keeps on giving and vice versa, Business Aviation Laureate: Nextant Aerospace, BizAv Game Changer, Directional Aviation principal Kenn Ricci gains elite status, "Flexjet Chairman Kenn Ricci Among Town & Country Magazine's Top 50 Philanthropists", Cleveland-Marshall welcomes new hall of fame class, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenn_Ricci&oldid=1150109162, Cleveland State University College of Law alumni, Articles with dead external links from August 2018, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 April 2023, at 10:24. The deal was valued at $615 million.[7]. Directional Aviation principal Kenn Ricci gains elite status [16] In total, Flexjet has confirmed orders for 207 new planes with options that could total up to 445 aircraft. To access the call please . Start with making them [potential donors] feel like there is zero expectation to give, says Mr. Ricci. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.