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About
 

Air-Transport IT Services, Inc. (formerly debis - Services by DaimlerChrysler) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fraport Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide and is considered to be a world leader in providing turnkey integrated solutions to the transportation industry.

Air-Transport IT Services, Inc. is a single source provider and integrator of diversified information technology products and services to the air transportation and seaport industry, offering a full complement of operations, passenger processing and business management systems. From the ramp to revenue management, AirIT has more than 20 years experience providing our customers with a comprehensive portfolio of integrated technology solutions and services including system integration, software, hardware, network, installation, and 24x7 service, support and help desk.

Management Team

Betros Wakim, Chief Executive Officer & Chief Technology Officer
Mr. Betros Wakim was a co-founder of Air-Transport IT Services, Inc. in 1999 and now serves as its Chief Executive Officer. Prior to becoming CEO, Mr. Wakim served as the President, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President for AirIT and formerly the Air-Transport Division of debis IT- Services by DaimlerChrysler. In 2002, Mr. Wakim was instrumental in the AirIT acquisition and successful integration of Decision Support Technologies, Inc. (DST).

Mr. Wakim has over twenty (20) years of Automation, Software Development & Information Technology experience in the Air-Transport, Manufacturing and Communication industries. Mr. Wakim has also held positions with companies such as TAVA Technologies, Rockwell International, 3COM / US Robotics, and APV. His experience includes strategic planning, product development, and global integration projects for companies like Northwest Airlines, Coca- Cola, Nestle, 3COM/US Robotics, Baskin Robbins, and Nabisco. Mr. Wakim is responsible for providing strategic direction and product road map for all AirIT business units, including business systems, Operational systems and Passenger processing systems.

Mr. Wakim holds Bachelor's and Master's of Science Degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from The University of Memphis, a Master's Degree in Engineering Management from Northwestern University, and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management.

Chris Keller, President & Chief Operating Officer 
Chris Keller is the President and Chief Operating Officer for Air-Transport IT Services, Inc. Prior to becoming President, Mr. Keller served as the Executive Vice President and COO for AirIT.  Mr. Keller joined AirIT in 2001 with more than twenty (20) years of experience in operational, marketing and sales management.   Chris is responsible for the operations and sales and marketing activities for AirIT and has over fourteen (14) years experience in the air-transport industry providing operational, financial and passenger processing solutions and IT integration services.

Prior to entering the air-transport industry, Mr. Keller worked for ten (10) years at EchoStar Communications Corp. as a Divisional Vice President and was integrally involved in the product development and release of their direct broadcast satellite communications product, the DISH Network.

Mr. Keller holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from California State University at Sacramento.  He also has an Executive Certificate in Management and Leadership from the MIT - Sloan School of Management. 

T. Jeffrey Shull, Executive Vice President
Jeff Shull is the Executive Vice President of  Air- Transport IT Services, Inc. Mr. Shull is responsible for the management and development of new sales activities, strategic alliances, emerging technologies, and industry relations. Prior to joining AirIT, Mr. Shull was the Chief of Staff of the Philadelphia International Airport where he was responsible for the overall management and coordination of the Airport's Executive Staff, including four Deputy Directors. He also managed special projects for the Director of Aviation, including the airport's ambitious air service development initiative. He is a licensed Commercial Pilot and a graduate of the Florida Institute of Technology with a Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Management and Flight Technology. Prior to being appointed Chief of Staff, Mr. Shull was the Airport's Director of Security and Systems Technology (1995-2000), responsible for developing and implementing the airport's information technology and security systems strategy. He has held various other positions with the Airport since 1991. Prior to joining the Airport Staff, he worked in numerous capacities for Continental Airlines and US Airways.

Ray Vecchiarelli, Vice President of Operations

Ray Vecchiarelli is the Vice President of Operations for Air-Transport IT Services, Inc. With more than fifteen (15) years experience in Information Technologies, Mr. Vecchiarelli has held numerous I.T. roles within the government and other aviation and financial companies. He has been with AirIT since 2003 and has held a variety of positions including, Systems Engineer, Project Manager, and Director of Operations. In his current role at AirIT, he is responsible for the management and oversight of all phases of project delivery and support.

 

Mr. Vecchiarelli holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Columbia College as well as numerous professional certifications.

 

Mark Sapp, Senior Vice President of Business Development

Mark Sapp is the Senior Vice President of Business Development at Air-Transport IT Services, Inc. Mark has been in and around commercial aviation his entire life. The son of an airline A&P mechanic, he began his own professional career on the airline in 1972 including fifteen (15) years with Eastern, Braniff International and Midway Airlines.

 

Working with both airports and airlines, Mark's IT sales and consulting resume includes experience gained with RPA, Sabre Decision Technologies, IBM Global Services, SITA. He joined AirIT in 2003 where he served as the National Sales Director. 

 

Mark is a contributing member of the AAAE's Airport Ground Service Association, the Airport Consultants Council's IT Committee and ACI-NA's Business Information Technology Committee. 

 

James Robert Smith, Vice President of Operational Systems

Jim Smith is the Vice President of Operational Systems at Air-Transport IT Services, Inc.  Prior to this appointment, Mr. Smith served as the company’s Director of Operational Systems and was responsible for the development and implementation of airport Operational, Passenger Processing, and Messaging systems.  Mr. Smith joined AirIT's staff in 2002 with four years experience in the airport industry where he provided IT solutions and field support as an independent technical consultant.  Jim's work at AirIT began with networking and system integration projects geared towards facilitating airport enterprise solutions for the company's customers.  That responsibility has expanded over the years into the company's operational and passenger processing product suite developed under his direction.

 

Mr. Smith has more than twenty-five years experience in implementation, technical support and software development. Prior to coming to the airport industry, Mr. Smith worked 28 years in telecom where he held various technical, management and engineering positions for companies such as AT&T, Tellabs and Illinois Bell. During his time in telecom, Jim worked in product development of network support and next generation switching solutions and holds a US patent for network monitoring systems developed during his time at AT&T.

 

Erin Bockelman, Vice President of Business Systems

Erin Bockelman is the Vice President of Business Systems at Air-Transport IT Services, Inc. Ms. Bockelman previously served as AirIT's Director of Business Systems with responsibility for the development and support of the back offices systems for property and revenue management. Ms. Bockelman came to AirIT through the acquisition of Decision Support Technologies, Inc. (DST) in 2003 where she had been working as a developer on DST's PROPworks application. During her time with AirIT, her role has expanded to directing the development, implementation, and support of the business systems suite of software.

 

Ms. Bockelman has more than fifteen (15) years experience in software development and support; eleven (11) of which are in the air-transport industry focusing on revenue and payables management systems. She holds a Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Technology Management from the University of Maryland and a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science and Theatre from Ball State University.

 

Brad McAllister, Director, Marketing

Mr. McAllister was previously a key part of the editorial production of Cygnus Business Media’s Airport Business magazine and associated aviation properties. Mr. McAllister is a regular presenter at industry events on topics including trends in airport terminal design and facility development; airport digital communication and marketing strategy development; dynamic display solutions at the airport setting; and airport non-aeronautical revenue enhancement. He developed and managed the social media efforts for several aviation-related media properties during his time with Cygnus, and was instrumental in spearheading the launch of the AviationPros.com Web portal and the ongoing content management and delivery of multiple daily aviation e-newsletters.

 

Mr. McAllister holds a Bachelor’s degree in print journalism and English from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and participated in a global communications program in Dublin, Ireland in 2008. 

 

 

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