Jetrader - Winter 2015 - 28

The ISTAT Quarterback
A tribute to Executive Director Ron Pietrzak's
contributions to the growth of ISTAT

After 10 years of distinguished service as the executive director of
ISTAT and the ISTAT Foundation and more than 37 years of association management (24 of those years at SmithBucklin, ISTAT's
professional management company), Ron Pietrzak announced this
year that he would be retiring. Under Ron's leadership, ISTAT has
grown substantially. Membership increased from 1,463 to 3,900.
ISTAT Europe leapt from 250 attendees in 2006 to more than 1,200
this past October. ISTAT Asia, the ISTAT Holiday Receptions and
the ISTAT Latin America Forum were only ideas that have come to
fruition, further expanding ISTAT's footprint. And ISTAT Americas,
the organization's flagship conference, saw attendance more
than double during his tenure with the 2015 event drawing over
1,700 aviation professionals from 39 countries. The entire ISTAT
community would like to thank Ron for his faithful and energetic
service to the organization over the past 10 years. The photos
and memories shared on the next pages illustrate his leadership
and commitment throughout the years.

I have been around long enough to remember when we
interviewed SmithBucklin, and Ron was brought to the initial
meeting as an example of an association executive director. We
decided to have ISTAT and the ISTAT Foundation managed by
SmithBucklin and were presented with several candidates for
executive director. Tom Heimsoth, John Vitale, Greg May and
I interviewed several candidates, but we kept coming back to
Ron, who we were told was not available. Ron was busy with
the wallcovering, ladder and steel associations he managed,
and he simply did not have time for us. I am so glad that we
fought for Ron, and eventually he became the ISTAT man! Ron's
dedication, professionalism, true interest in our mission and
the business of our members have enabled huge growth in our
membership and programs. We have grown from an organization
run from someone's kitchen table to a professional, audited
organization with best practices that have been led by Ron.
There is no way that a volunteer board could manage all of
the ISTAT programs and member services in a responsible way
without the systems and processes Ron has put in place, and
all of our members are the beneficiaries of Ron's work and
dedication. I am sure that in retirement, Ron will have the
best organized home in Chicago!
Michael Platt
Chief Executive Officer, Lease Corporation International

28 The official publication of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading

Jetrader - Winter 2015

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