Mrs. Baker is the owner of Baker School of Aeronautics. She was named the FAA Safety Counselor of the Year in 1999, serves on the National FAA AMT Awards Committee and was enshrined into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2009. The Baker School enrolls more than 1,100 AMT students annually from 125 countries worldwide. Mrs. Baker is a fervent advocate for the Aviation Maintenance Technician. Jennifer was enshrined in the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2009.
Mark retired as Senior Director of Aviation Services for Coca Cola Consolidated, Inc. in Charlotte, NC in April of 2022. He has over 46 years of experience in the aviation industry with 43 years in business aviation. He is a Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) and holds FAA Airframe & Powerplant certificates, Private Pilot and Aircraft Dispatcher certificates. He graduated from the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga summa cum laude with a degree in Business Administration/Accounting and is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He resides in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Mr. Derryberry is the retired manager of Ellington Airport in Lewisburg and the 1990 Tennessee Airport Manager of the Year. He is an ATP certificated pilot, A&P Maintenance Technician with Inspection Authorization; a Certified Flight Instructor in airplanes and helicopters; a graduate of David Lipscomb College and Church of Christ Minister. Mr. Derryberry is a retired Lt. Colonel and Chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol. He was enshrined in the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2023.
Scott is a resident of Summertown and is serving as a fourth term elected Lawrence County Commissioner. He majored in Business and Accounting at Columbia State Community College and MTSU. He retired from a 37+ year career as a Senior Progam/Territory Manager with the Federal Government. Scott and Patty have 3 grown children and 2 grandchildren. They are both active volunteers with several local charities, local school activities, community organizations & projects. Scott is a Private Pilot, with land and sea ratings, a licensed UAV pilot/operator, and has co-owned a Cessna 172 for the past 19 years.
Allen Howell is a founding shareholder and Board Member of Azure Flight Support and served as the CEO of Corporate Flight Management from 1997 through April 2015. The early years included cleaning & fueling aircraft, dispatch, sales, marketing, accounting and administrative positions. Allen was involved with the startup of a Commuter Part-121 Airline in the mid 90’s, as well as several other aviation and transportation businesses over the last 20 years. Allen is a graduate of Auburn University with a B.S. Degree in Business Administration with majors in both Marketing and Economics, and he holds a Commercial Multi-Engine Instrument Pilot License with Private Single Land and Sea ratings. He has been a featured contributor on several aviation blog sites such as Forbes Online Aviation column, “Wheels Up”, and serves on the Board of Directors for Murfreesboro’s Discovery Center (http://explorethedc.org).
Mr. Marrison graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in December 1969. He was employed by the Nashville Metropolitan Airport Authority in January 1970; became Manager of the Jackson Madison County Airport Authority in 1974; joined the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority in 1982 and became its President in 2001. Among his many honors and community activities, Marrison was named Tennessee’s Airport Manager of the Year in 1991; received the AAAE Distinguished Service Award in 2011 and The Tennessee Aeronautics Commission’s Career Contributions to Aviation Award in 2015. He was enshrined in the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2023.
Mr. Minter graduated from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Institute in 1961; has been a corporate pilot; served in top management at the worlds largest civilian flight training operation; served as Director of (Airports) Development & Operations at TDOT’s Bureau of Aeronautics, and for over 30 years represented AOPA in the Southeast managing state & local Governmental Affairs. He was honored by The Tennessee Aeronautics Commission for his “Career Contributions To Aviation” in Tennessee in 2002. Mr. Minter founded the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 1997 and was enshrined in 2012.
Jonathan Wickes is the Director of Baker's School of Aeronautics. He began his aviation career in the US Army as Ch-47 Mechanic and Flight Engineer. After the Army he continued to serve in the US Air Force and was a member of the 118th AW in Nashville where he retired with 27 years. He is an A&P Maintenance Technician, Graduate of Middle Tennessee State University and holds a B.S Aerospace-Aviation Management.
Bob Wilson is a Principle of The Kemmons Wilson Companies, founders of Holiday Inns and President of Wilson Air Centers, fixed base operators in Memphis, Houston, TX, Chattanooga and Charlotte, NC. He is a recipient of the Memphis Legends of Aviation Award and was inducted into the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006.
The son of Tennessee’s 42nd Governor, Buford Ellington, who was elected twice for two seperate terms. John Ellington graduated from MTSU and earned a Commercial Pilots License and flew during his early years at Smyrna flying Aero Commanders, and the venerable Lockheed Constellation. He flew for Delta Airlines beginning in the 1960s as jets were being introduced into commercial aviation. He became an instructor in 1966 with the acquisition of DC-9s even though he had never flown a jet. He became Chief Pilot at Delta Airlines, After his 38 year retirement from Delta, Ellington held the positions of vice president of flight operations and director of flight standards and training for American Trans Air. Ellington also served as Peachtree City-based World Airways' vice president of operations and deputy chief operating officer from June 1999 to September 2000. When he returned to live in Murfreesboro he managed the Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. He was enshrined in the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2006.
Ken Franks is a native Middle Tennessean. He was an Eagle Scout, earned the Order of The Arrow and attended MTSC (now MTSU). He joined the US Navy in 1963 where he flew Top Secret intelligence missions. Following his service he was employed by the FAA ATC Memphis (1968-1974). He transferred to BNA ATC as a Controller, then a programmer on the ATC Computer System. He was among the 11,000 controllers terminated by Presidental Order. Franks was later employed by the IRS in Nashville and the National Office as a Computer Programmer, where he met and married Gail in 1988. The Franks bought a Cessna 172 and bought 39 acres in Northwest Bedford County where they built T-Top Air Field and expanded it to 148 acres. T-Top is unselfishly shared with various groups and students to promote grass roots aviation. Ken began working the Tennessee Legislature in 2002 for a law limiting the liability of private airfield owners that passed in 2010. He was among 39 others who formed the Air Field Owners Association. Ken is a licensed Commercial pilot and Gail is a Private Pilot. They have owned several aircraft over the years and currently own and fly a Cessna 172. Ken and Gail were enshrined in the Tennessee Aviation Hall of Fame in 2017.