He is a celebrity entrepreneur. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. That same year, the turboprop Nextant G90XT achieved certification. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Birthplace United States. Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Cuban were also His acquaintances. After getting certified to fly Dassault Falcon, Cessna Citation and Gulfstream jets, Kenn found work as a pilot. . "I am deeply honored that the Living Legends of Aviation has elected me to membership in their class of 2019, joining men and women whose achievements in aviation I deeply admire," said Ricci. 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 . Notre Dame Global Day of Service to feature thousands of volunteers in 42 states and 20 countries, Alumni Association presents spring awards, Provost John McGreevy to deliver Graduate School Commencement address, Notre Dame alumna maps out her journey from Montana to South Bend and back, Office of Public Affairs and Communications, Notre Dame receives first-of-its-kind $100 million unrestricted commitment from entrepreneur Kenn Ricci. Birth Sign Virgo. His wife Pamela, daughter Elizabeth, sons Kennedy and Austin and his mother Mary support him in his journey. 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. Start with making them [potential donors] feel like there is zero expectation to give, says Mr. Ricci. 56K Followers, 80 Following, 1,277 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Kenn Ricci (@kennricci) Hes an astute businessman, entrepreneur in the aviation industry and experienced pilot. 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. Know what is important in a donors life. Offerings of securities in entities advised by Resilience Capital Partners are made only by Prospectus, Private Placement Memorandum, Offering Memorandum or Offering Circular distributed by persons authorized by Resilience Capital Partners. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Skyjet would concentrate solely on charter services, with other divisions continuing to offer fractional and membership programs. The two-story mansion has four bedrooms and six bathrooms. Recent uses of unrestricted gifts include financial aid, areas to further Notre Dames Catholic mission, programs that enhance student life and experiences and uses that strengthen academics by expanding research opportunities. 25101 Chagrin Boulevard, Suite 350 Kenn Ricci also upholds an unwavering commitment to championing fundraising and research to support the treatment, and development of a cure for Cystic Fibrosis, which today affects 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. Kenn Riccis pioneering vision has led him to create the Directional Aviation family of companies, which through his acumen and passion for aviation has become a multi-billion dollar world-leader in business aviation. In 1998, he revolutionized fractional aircraft ownership when he founded Flight Options. This site is for informational purposes only and is intended for potential portfolio companies and not investors. Kenn Ricci, a 1978 graduate of Notre Dame with a bachelors degree in accountancy, was a member of the marching band as an undergraduate and is a current member of the Board of Trustees. In 1998, he revolutionized fractional aircraft ownership when he founded Flight Options. Aviation entrepreneur who has founded numerous companies, including Corporate Wings, Flight Options and Nextant Aerospace. When Mr. Riccis youngest son was 6, he first said he wanted to give to Disney because he loved the movies; the couple then explained that wasnt what charity meant, and he eventually drafted a new concept. Kenneth and Pamela Ricci purchased the home. And in 1980, the economy wasnt doing too well and a young Kenn Ricci found himself laid off. Also during 2014, Flexjet prepared to exit the charter market. Insiders trading at Zanite Acquisition. Entrepreneur Birthday September 3, 1956. James and Renee Greenspon of Winnetka, Illinois paid cash through their trusts for a 4,855-square foot home with a pool in the Estates at Gainey Ranch community in Scottsdale. However, the firm has subsequently recovered. International Aviation HQ. Kenns distinguished business career has been characterized by visionary innovation, and we are tremendously fortunate that he brings that visionary leadership to help Notre Dame.. He is an airline transport pilot with extensive International experience and was Governor William Clintons pilot when he ran for President in 1992. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". In 2019, was inducted as a Living Legend of Aviation. They went into the public market, and they raised public capital, he said. He has received the Harvard Business School's Dively Entrepreneurship Award. In 2007 he founded Nextant Aerospace, specializing in the remanufacturing of business jets; and Constant Aviation, a leading and rapidly expanding MRO; followed two years later by the creation of Sojourn Aviation, an independent aircraft sales company. The deal could bring the university far more than $100 million if the value of Directional Aviation Capital grows sharply and the Riccis decide to increase the amount of the donation, said Mr. Ricci. The charity doubled its fundraising goal that year, and came back to Mr. Ricci for a third time. Ricci has spent more than 30 years developing innovative services in the aviation industry. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. "Like he was starving," says Ricci. Kenn Ricci was born on September 3, 1956 (age 66) in United States. What Was Barnstorming? [1][36][37], In 2017, Ricci donated $100 million to Notre Dame, the largest unrestricted gift in the university's history, using a Philanthropic Succession Partnership, a giving mechanism he pioneered. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Researched by Ebony Day of The Arizona Republic and The Information Market. Following the advice of "Use your time in college to find your . That same year, he co-founded N1 Engines in partnership with B&G Aviation. The firm provides turbine engines and engine parts. The property, known as Eagles Nest, sits on approximately seven acres and was completed in 2000 after a five-year preparation and construction process. [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. Kenn Ricci, the principal of Directional Aviation Capital, and his wife, Pamela, are big donors to the University of Notre Dame. Through his connections in Nextant Aerospace, Kenn met several of Hawker Beechcrafts salesmen, including VP of Sales, Bradd Hatt, and . The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Kenneth C. Ricci. He is someone who likes to serve humanity for a more significant cause. Cleveland, OH 44122. Kenn Ricci is a longtime aviation executive, principal of privately held Directional Aviation Capital, a company . 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. Interestingly, years later (in 2016), the school named him as their distinguished alumni of the year. Not being able to digest food is not a killer, Ricci says. But as soon as he would eat, he'd throw everything up. In September 2018, Directional Aviation announced it had acquired charter broker PrivateFly and would house it within OneSky LLC, which includes Flexjet, SentientJet, and Skyjet. The 4,853-square-foot new-construction house has five bedrooms and five-and-a-halfbathrooms. He was anAir Force ROTC cadet at Notre Dame. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. He is one of the most respected names in the industry, having received theLiving Legends of Aviation Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award. He was the personal pilot of Bill Clintonduring the 1992 presidential campaign. A mathematically gifted student, Kenn decided he wanted to become an accountant and enrolled at the University of Notre Dame to help make this happen. No information on this website should be constructed as a solicitation, offer, recommendation, representation of suitability or endorsement of any security or investment. But as soon as he would eat, he'd throw everything up. Throughout this time, Mr. Riccis wealth grew as he bought and sold aviation companies. Mr. Ricci had previously given to the university, including $5 million for the marching band and recreational sports, but it was his decades-long involvement as a Notre Dame alumnus and his close friendship with the university president and fellow 1978 graduate John Jenkins that reassured him the complicated gift of his companys assets would be handled well. 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. [5] In December 2001, the company combined operations with Raytheon Travel Air, a subsidiary of Raytheon Company, doubling the company's size. Fundraisers should realize the importance of fulfilling a need the donor may have to feel good about the world. He says he and his family tend to give to causes that have touched their lives. The History of Barnstorming Explained! Gifts as complex as the one the Riccis made have pros and cons, says Eileen Heisman, a planned-giving expert who leads the National Philanthropic Trust, a donor-advised fund. The Riccis desire to be an example to other donors extends to their children. He started his foundation, now worth $1.1 million in assets, 10 years ago. Kenneth is related to Jeff Alan Ricci and Brandon A Ricci as well as 2 additional people. Aviation entrepreneur who has founded numerous companies, including Corporate Wings, Flight Options and Nextant Aerospace. It also placed orders for up to 50 long-range aircraft from Gulfstream. Ricci also announced substantial investments in Flexjet's fleet during 2013, placing orders with Bombardier that, with options, could total $5.6 billion in new aircraft. Kenn Ricci. Kenn graduated from the University of Notre Dame and recently announced the first ever $100 million gift to the University. He is one of the most respected names in the industry, having received . He is a 28-year aviation veteran and among the industrys most dynamic leaders. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. We usually look for organizations that have a strategic view we agree with, not an immediate need, said Mr. Ricci, who got to know the nonprofits leaders and paid close attention to its financials. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Between the time he enrolled at Notre Dame in 1974 and graduated in 1978 with a degree in accounting, he had earned private and commercial pilots licenses and had become a flight instructor. Later, he graduated the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. Mr. Ricci, who says he is worth about $300 million, didnt start out wealthy. It said Q1 was its best quarter in more than 10 years in both sales and hours flown. 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. Ricci is a 35-year aviation industry veteran. Tom and Debra Mauro sold the home. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Kenn serves on the Business Advisory Ricci has been actively involved with Notre Dame for more than 25 years, serving on the Undergraduate Experience Advisory Council and Mendoza College of Business Advisory Council, in addition to serving on the Universitys Board of Trustees. He also has made other donations to Notre Dame, including a $5 million gift in 2016 to create an outdoor home for the Band of the Fighting Irish. Barry Nidiffer and Kathleen Phares used a trust to purchase a 7,334-square foot estate with Mediterranean-style garden landscaping in Paradise Valleys Sanctuary community. She writes about wealthy philanthropists, arts organizations, key trends and insights related to high-net-worth donors, and other topics. Turns out, he was starving, although it would take months to determine that young Austin had cystic fibrosis, causing . But for now, Austin, 12, swims, skis, plays basketball and is as avid a Notre Dame football fan as his dad. 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. The proposed merger would result in Flexjet becoming a publicly listed company, with Ricci serving as chairman. Both companies have individual strengths, so we are working carefully on a strategy to combine the best of both, continues Twidell. On January 19, 2018, the Living Legends of Aviation honored him by renaming its annual award for lifetime accomplishments in aviation entrepreneurship . Furthermore, through the Ricci Family Foundations support of the Able Flight program at the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, people with disabilities, many of them military veterans, have the ability to challenge themselves through flight training via a specially equipped Sky Arrow L600 sport plane, and access to aviation career training. We are unable to fully display the content of this page. The estate was designed by Arizona architect Lash McDaniel and features a custom eagle designed bronze electronic gate, polished marble flooring and walls of glass throughout the home that offer spectacular views of the Valley. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Kenn Ricci's Life Path Number is 6, The Life Path Number 6 is associated with a lot of love, affection, care, and humility. In 2014, the Northeast Ohio Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation honored Ricci for championing research and treatment of the disease, which today affects 30,000 children and adults in the U.S. Mr. Riccis youngest child, Austin, has cystic fibrosis. 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. The $100 million commitment will begin to be fulfilled through lifetime gifts by the Riccis and, ultimately, completed with proceeds from the sale of business assets held by a Ricci family limited partnership that owns interests in Directional Aviation Capital. Kenneth C. Ricci, known as "Kenn" to his friends, was born on September 3 1956 and grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. It gives him immense joy to help people. All of them were involved in crafting the gifts they gave, he said, and every one of them could explain to you why were giving to that and what it means to them., A version of this article appeared in the. Our goal was not only to support the Universitys mission but also to inspire more strategic philanthropic engagement between donors and nonprofit recipients, raise awareness of the value of unrestricted giving and encourage increased donations of unrestricted gifts regardless of the vehicle, said Mr. Ricci. MAKE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS PERSONAL. And news on the cystic fibrosis front is encouraging. To have unrestricted money that goes to the mission of the university, not my mission of Italian aviators from Ohio, is tremendously important and we wanted to highlight that.. 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. The Evolution Of An Industry Leader. In 2006, Ricci authored Management by Trust, which the New York Times Book Review called a landmark success formula for corporate America. Kenn founded Corporate Wings, an aircraft management, charter and fixed-base operation in 1980. [32], In May of 2022, Eve Air Mobility went public on the New York Stock Exchange following the company's merger with Zanite Acquisition Corp and has more than 2,000 orders for its aircraft from operators around the world. McDonnell Douglas DC-10: Your Ultimate Guide. The Notre Dame commitment is another example of Mr. Riccis determination to put his money behind organizations he has gotten to know. Ricci has described Austin as someone who is very focused and determinedin fact, relentlessabout something he wants to achieve. In 1974 he enrolled in the University of Notre Dame and enlisted in its Air Force ROTC program. 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. But he said no. Kenneth C. Ricci, known as Kenn to his friends, was born on September 3 1956 and grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio. 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. To make matters worse, their employment was almost entirely cyclical: when the economy was good, they were good, when it wasnt, neither were they. [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.