Executive Team
Justin Lazzeri – CEO
Born and raised in Maryland, Justin graduated from the Daytona Beach, Florida campus of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Science. From 2002 until 2004, he spent time as a flight instructor and as a contract pilot for Skytech, Inc. flying various aircraft in support of Skytech’s Sales and Service departments. In 2005, Justin came onboard with Skytech full-time and assumed the role of Director of Marketing shortly thereafter. Justin is the Executive Editor and Writer for Skytech’s Owner & Pilot Advantage magazine and has contributed articles for several industry publications including the Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association and the Malibu Mirage Owners and Pilots Association. Since 2010, Justin has been integral in Skytech’s development and subsequent growth of both their Aircraft Management and Charter programs. In 2017, Justin assumed the title of Vice President of Aircraft Operations and was integral in the development of Skytech’s Aircraft Management and Charter Departments, which included the East Coast’s first 135 approved Pilatus PC-24, while continuing to lead the company’s Marketing initiatives. He holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multi-Engine and Instrument Ratings, as well as a Certified Flight Instructor Certificate. Justin lives in Maryland with his wife Dr. Annie Lazzeri, DVM, and their two children.
Dave Conover – Senior Executive Vice President & Sales Manager
Dave earned an FAA Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic Certificate from the Spartan School of Aeronautics in 1981. He entered the aviation field as an avionics installation technician for Dassault Falcon Jet and served in their Factory Service Center for two years prior to joining Skytech in 1982 as an avionics technician. Dave’s experience with the entire gamut of aircraft maintenance, including avionics, airframes, and power plants, allowed him to become Skytech’s Director of Maintenance in 1986. In Skytech’s role as the Pilatus Dealer for the Mid-Atlantic states, Dave concurrently served as the chief of technical support for all Pilatus aircraft in eight states and set-up North American Pilatus Parts to support North American Pilatus Dealers with spares support. Dave held that position until 1995 when he was promoted to Vice President of Service. His knowledge and support of major modifications for new aircraft elevated him to Vice President of Business Development in 1997. He later functioned as the lead salesperson for the Cessna Caravan in the Northeastern U.S. and led the world in Caravan sales in 2003 and North America in 2004. Dave spearheaded the development of Skytech’s Management Department as well as Skytech’s 135 Charter department. In 2017, Dave assumed the role of Skytech’s Executive Vice President overseeing all Aircraft Sales operations while also managing Skytech’s Carroll County, Maryland and Rock Hill, South Carolina FBO facilities. He is the Pilatus PC-12 and PC-24 sales representative in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Dave previously served as a technical advisor to the Malibu/Mirage Owners and Pilots Association as well as the Pilatus Owners and Pilots Association and is recognized as one of the leading authorities on the mechanical aspects of each aircraft. A regular contributor to several aviation publications, Dave holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate with an Instrument Rating. He has completed multiple aircraft manufacturers’ and avionics manufacturers’ training courses and has more than 4,000 hours as Pilot-In-Command. Dave hails from Cape May, New Jersey. He and his wife Rhonda are the parents of two adult children.
Rick Shepard – Executive Vice President, Operations
Rick joined Skytech during the company’s expansion to Rock Hill, South Carolina in 2001. He is an alumnus of Winthrop University (2003), earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, along with an Associates in Arts degree from York Technical College. From 2001-2006, Rick served in various roles within the Line Service and Parts departments, all along building valuable flight time and experience. Rick earned accreditation as an Advanced Line Service Supervisor through NATA and his continued experience in Operations positioned him to become Operations Manager of the Rock Hill, South Carolina location in 2006. In 2019, Shepard was named Vice President of Operations overseeing Line Service operations for both the Rock Hill, South Carolina and Westminster, Maryland FBO facilities. Along with his role in Operations, Rick served as the Piper Aircraft sales representative for a three-state area, a position he had since 2012. A Piper owner himself, he bought his first airplane at age 20. Shepard has written several featured articles for Skytech’s Owner and Pilot Advantage Magazine and has made contributions to various marketing efforts. Rick holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate with Multi-Engine and Instrument Ratings and has logged more than 3500 flight hours, with over 2500 hours in PA-46’s. Rick is a longtime resident of Rock Hill, South Carolina where he and his wife Katy are raising their two children.
Preston Estes – Vice President, Service
A native of Illinois, Preston’s aviation path started at Southern Illinois University where he received an A.A.S. Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology along with an A&P license in 1992. An IA was added in 1995. Preston has been a part of the Pilatus PC-12 program in one way or another since its inception in 1994 – including maintaining the first US delivered PC-12 while initially working at a Pilatus and Piper service center in Central Illinois. After achieving PC-12 FSE certification from the Pilatus factory in Switzerland, he became a Pilatus Tech Rep (FSE) for Pilatus Business Aircraft Ltd at their Broomfield, CO headquarters. A position he would hold from 1998-2001 while traveling the world in support of the PC-12. In 2001, Preston joined Skytech, Inc. as the Director of Maintenance at our Rock Hill, South Carolina facility. In 2017, he assumed his current position of Vice President of Service overseeing all aspects of Skytech’s maintenance at both the Rock Hill, South Carolina and Westminster, Maryland facilities. Preston and his wife Nicole live in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Their daughter, Tori, is carrying on the family Salukis tradition as a current student at Southern Illinois University.
John Foster – President and CEO, 1980 – 2022
Frank A. Stephenson – Founder and Chairman Emeritus, 1976 – 2012
Harold F. Graul, Jr. – Board Member Emeritus, 1991-2015