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James K. Coyne
President
National Air Transportation Association
Born in Farmville, Virginia, and raised in suburban Philadelphia, James K. Coyne holds a B.S. degree from Yale and an M.B.A. from Harvard. During the 1970s, he was a faculty member at the Wharton School (University of Pa.) and the CEO of a family business in Philadelphia (Coyne Chemical Co.).
Like many businessmen of that era, he was angered by misguided federal policies, runaway spending, and the disastrous economic conditions that were hobbling the nation. Inspired by his colleagues in the Philadelphia business community, he decided in early 1980 to challenge the political status quo and run for public office. An admitted novice at the game of politics, he nevertheless ran one of the most creative and effective campaigns in the country and defeated an entrenched incumbent in November to win a seat in Congress from the northern suburbs of Philadelphia.
As one of the few members of the U.S. House of Representatives with a business and technology background, he was a forceful voice against government inefficiency, burdensome regulations, and high taxes, and worked with other like-minded, pro-business conservatives to pass important reforms during the early years of the ‘Reagan Revolution’ in Washington. His opponent used the redistricting process in Pennsylvania in 1982 to stack the deck against him, but as Jim Coyne’s short career in Congress came to an end that year, a door opened that provided new ways for him to fight for America’s private sector and promote strong and sensible national economic policies.
In January 1983, President Ronald Reagan asked Jim Coyne to join his staff as director of the White House Office of Private Sector Initiatives. For over two years, he led the administration’s efforts in support of pro-business, private sector solutions to many of our nation’s toughest challenges, in areas like education, transportation, health care, public safety, and computer literacy. After the White House, he served as president of the American Consulting Engineers Council, the American Tort Reform Association, and Americans to Limit Congressional Terms.
In 1994, the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) selected Jim Coyne as its president and CEO. While the board said at the time that they wanted someone with political, business, and association experience to lead NATA, it probably didn’t hurt that Jim Coyne and his wife had been enthusiastic pilots at that point for more than 20 years.
Now, with over 6000 hours in his log book, Jim Coyne has had a wonderful lifetime experiencing the benefits of business aviation. Flying has been an important facet of his professional and private life. Two small, piston airplanes helped him expand Coyne Chemical in the 1970s. During his term in Congress, he flew from Washington to Pennsylvania several times every month, basing his Beech Baron at Washington National Airport. In the White House, he helped Department of Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis deal with the consequences of the PATCO strike and encouraged such innovations as the Contract Tower Program.
As NATA president, Jim Coyne has visited close to a thousand FBOs and aviation service businesses across the country. He also regularly presents the viewpoint of our industry before congressional committees, the Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, and other federal agencies. He works closely with NATA members across the country, as well as our sister aviation associations in Washington. In recent years, he has worked to develop strong relationships with pro-business, pro-aviation governors and state legislators. Local aviation issues are equally important. Jim Coyne serves on an airport commission and regularly helps airport managers and commissioners understand the importance of their business and general aviation users and tenants. His efforts have led to the creation of aviation advocacy groups at airports across the country.
A lifelong aviation safety advocate, Jim Coyne serves on the Board of Governors of the Flight Safety Foundation and was the founder and first president of the Air Charter Safety Foundation. A frequent speaker on aviation issues, his professional goal is simple: promote aviation, especially since no one in government is willing to do so any more.
Jim Coyne holds an Air Transport Pilot certificate and regularly flies both turbine and piston aircraft. His wife, Holly, is also an instrument and multi-engine rated pilot. Their sons, Sandy and Michael, are private pilots. Their daughter, Kate, and four grandchildren have yet to complete their flight instruction. The Coynes live in McLean, Virginia. |
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Eric R. Byer
Vice President, Government & Industry Affairs
Eric Byer has had broad experience in government and public affairs. Currently he leads an experienced policy team at NATA that focuses on a wide array of legislative and regulatory issues affecting association members.
Prior to NATA, Byer was a senior government affairs coordinator at Smith, Bucklin and Associates. Previously Byer was Legislative/Staff Assistant to Congressman William F. Clinger, Jr. of Pennsylvania; he also worked for Congressman Dean Gallo of New Jersey. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from Gettysburg College in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Government from Johns Hopkins University. Byer resides with his wife, Zoe, and their children Dylan, Brody and Abigail, in Ashburn, Virginia. |
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Timothy J. Heck
Vice President, Financial Operations
Timothy J. Heck has dedicated his career to improving the financial management of non-profit and for-profit organizations to ensure informed business decisions are based on sound financial analysis. He has been successful affecting change by implementing best practices in the areas of operations, cash and treasury management, budgeting, process reengineering and strategic planning to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
Prior to joining NATA, Heck was the Comptroller for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy and held similar positions with other associations. Heck earned a Masters of Business Administration from George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, and Certificate of Public Accounting. Heck resides in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, Patti, and their children, Olivia and Timothy Jr.
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