ANAHEIM, CALIF. – The presidents of the major aviation organizations in the United States came together for the Helicopter Association International (HAI) Heli-ExpoEdit February 24-27 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. Among the presidents in attendance for a “town hall” session was event host Matt Zuccaro of HAI, Ed Bolen of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), Mark Baker of the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association (AOPA), Jack Pelton of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), and Tom Hendricks of the National Air Transportation Association (NATA).
Noticeably absent was Henry Ogrodzinski, President and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), who passed away January 22, 2014, following a two-year battle with cancer.
Following a panel and audience question and answer session, Zuccaro closed the town hall session by calling attention to an empty chair on stage where some flowers were displayed in memory of Ogrodzinski.
At a special tribute to Ogrodzinski in Washington, D.C., May 14, Bolen spoke of the event, and stated how much he and his fellow association leaders will miss his friendship, counsel and unique ability as a strategist in dealing with industry concerns.
Prior to assuming the leadership role at NASAO in 1996, Ogrodzinski held a number of other senior management positions, within the Delco Electronics Division of General Motors, Experimental Aircraft Association, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, and United States Air & Trade Show. Ogrodzinski grew up in Milwaukee, Wis., and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus.