We are a team of business aviation experts.
The team at VanAllen is comprised of individuals who have devoted their careers to all aspects of the business aviation industry. Collectively, they operate to provide unparalleled insights with integrity.
We are committed to the success of our clients and work to build strong, lasting relationships.
Jeff Agur
Chief Executive Officer
Colby McDowell
Managing Director
Don Henderson
Managing Director
Caycee Bradley
Managing Director
Jim Lichlyter
Director
Peter Zeeb
Consultant
Denise Cain
Business Services
Heather Monroe
Business Services
Pete Agur
Chairman and Founder
Jeff Agur
Chief Executive Officer
Jeff Agur
Chief Executive Officer
Along with his leadership role, Jeff Agur spearheads projects such as strategic fleet planning, aircraft selection and acquisitions. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, and completed his Masters of Business Administration (EMBA) at Georgia State University. Jeff served as the Chairman of the Board for the Georgia Business Aviation Association (GBAA), was the Chair of the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Access Committee, is currently a member of the NBAA’s Tax Committee, as well as a member of the National Aircraft Finance Association. Prior to joining VanAllen in 2003, Jeff had a successful career in engineering and manufacturing. His analytical, management, and problem-solving skills continue to be the foundation of his work with VanAllen’s clients. He is also a private pilot and guest speaker on many aviation-related topics across the country.
Colby McDowell
Managing Director
Colby McDowell
Managing Director
Colby McDowell is primarily responsible for strategic solutions consulting, aircraft selection, contract negotiation, and simplifying the process of aircraft acquisition projects. Prior to joining VanAllen in 2016, Colby held senior sales roles with fractional providers Flight Options and Citation Shares. Most recently, he was the Vice President of Business Development at FlightWorks, Inc. leading Corporate Charter Sales, Owner Services and Marketing departments. Colby completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation/Airway Management at Auburn University. He is a member of Georgia Business Aviation Association, Greater Washington Business Aviation Association, and National Business Aviation Association. Colby also serves on the National Air Transportation Association’s Aircraft Management working group.
Don Henderson
Managing Director
Don Henderson
Managing Director
Don Henderson is responsible for consulting activities ranging from the C-Suite to the hangar floor. As a practitioner, he spent 25 years with KeyCorp; his roles included Captain, Training Captain, Chief Pilot, and the Director of Aviation. He is a former Chairman of the NBAA Corporate Aviation Management Committee and NBAA’s Professional Development Program Approval Committee. He is currently a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Don holds an EMBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, is a former Certified IS-BAO auditor, and teaches interpersonal communication classes. He is also a certified administrator for the Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI), Hogan Development Survey (HDS), and the Motives, Values, Preferences Inventory (MVPI) assessments with advanced interpretation.
Caycee Bradley
Managing Director
Caycee Bradley
Managing Director
Caycee Bradley joined VanAllen in 2014 as Managing Director of Business Services. She is responsible for ensuring operations are conducted efficiently and effectively for our team and our clients. In addition, Caycee supports client projects by offering analytical and human resource expertise. Caycee is a Certified Birkman Consultant and provides insight for Aviation Leadership and team building. Caycee’s extensive background includes human resources, team building, and standard operating procedure design. She attended the University of Georgia for her undergraduate degree and received her Masters’ degree from Vanderbilt University.
Jim Lichlyter
Director
Jim Lichlyter
Director
Jim Lichlyter’s forty years of aviation experience allow him to assist Van Allen’s clients in a variety of ways from aviation department bridge management to aircraft technical support. Jim has worked in Part 125 as a VVIP Large Widebody Aircraft Director of Maintenance and in Part 91 as a Fortune 100 Director of Maintenance. He spent time developing Flight Operations and Maintenance Manuals and has held IS-BAO and ACSF Auditor Accreditations. Jim is a graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and was a founding member of the AW-139 Northeast Users Group and the Global Jet Services Customer Advisory Board. He holds a private pilot’s license, a Flight Engineer Turbojet Certificate and was a 20-year IA holder.
Peter Zeeb
Consultant
Peter Zeeb
Consultant
Peter Zeeb’s proven expertise allows him to lead a wide variety of managerial, technical, and operational projects for our clients. Prior to joining VanAllen, Peter managed the maintenance for both Fortune 100 and high net worth individuals’ fleets for 33 years. He served on Gulfstream’s Customer Advisory Board, as well as their Advanced Technology Committee. He has been a board member for both Dassault and Cessna maintenance committees, and is the former chairman of the AMT Society. Peter currently is the Chairman of the Honeywell Global Customer Committee. Among other accolades, Peter was awarded the AMT of the year for the Eastern Region of the FAA. Peter earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Maintenance Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach Florida, and holds both an I/A and A&P licenses.
Denise Cain
Business Services
Denise Cain
Business Services
Denise Cain joined VanAllen in 2024 as a member of the Business Services team. With an Associate of Applied Science degree in Business Management, Denise brings a broad range of expertise to her role, drawing from over 10 years of experience in customer service and more than 5 years in Human Resources. Her extensive experience is complemented by her SHRM-CP certification and active membership in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Heather Monroe
Business Services
Heather Monroe
Business Services
Heather Monroe is a valued member of the Business Services team at VanAllen, where she plays a crucial role in supporting our internal executive leadership team and ensuring the smooth operation of the office. With over 7 years of experience in administrative support, Heather is adept at managing complex schedules, coordinating high-level meetings, travel arrangements, and overseeing daily administrative functions. Outside of work, Heather continues her passion for helping by volunteering at her church and children’s school and pursuing creative hobbies. She enjoys RV trips around this beautiful country with her husband and three boys. She is committed to excellence in her role and looks forward to continuing to contribute to the success of VanAllen.
Pete Agur
Chairman and Founder
Pete Agur
Chairman and Founder
Pete Agur founded VanAllen in 1993, following a consulting career at Mescon Group. He found his love of aviation in 1968 as an Army aviator and safety officer during the Vietnam era. Pete’s industry involvement is extensive – served as the Flight Safety Foundation’s Corporate Advisory Committee as Vice-Chairman, a member of the National Business Aviation Association’s Corporate Aviation Management Committee and Corporate Aviation Safety Committee, and on the Business Aviation Advisory Board for The Robb Report. Pete was chairman of NBAA Convention local committee, was instrumental in the start of the Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference, and founded the NBAA Leadership Conference. His articles have been published or cited in several industry and business magazines including FORTUNE, The Wall Street Journal, Business Aviation Management Journal, AeroSafety World, Business Aviation Safety Journal, and Professional Pilot. Pete holds an MBA from Georgia State University and a BS in Aeronautical Sciences from Denver’s Metropolitan State College. In the fall of 2006, Pete received his Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) designation from the National Business Aviation Association. After retiring from consulting in 2017, Pete became the Expert in Residence at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. In 2018, Pete was honored by NBAA with the John P. “Jack” Doswell award for his history of service in business aviation.
VANALLEN OFFICE PETS
9 Tips When You Have a New Reporting Executive
Change is the only constant. This holds true in all areas of our lives. As an aviation leader, you will experience many changes: team changes, aircraft changes, regulatory changes, and company changes just to name a few. But a change in the executive responsible for aviation, or Reporting Executive, can have a significant impact on you and your team.
Aging Aircraft Considerations
When aircraft age becomes a consideration for you, there are several aircraft-specific factors that influence a sound replacement strategy.
Flight Attendant Usage
The application and use of Flight Attendants (FAs) or Cabin Safety Attendants (CSAs) is commonly debated in business aviation. VanAllen ‘s recent LinkedIn poll results highlighted the range of policies associated with flight attendant usage.
Aircraft Delivery Delays
VanAllen’s most recent poll showed that over 80% of respondents experienced a delay in their most recent new aircraft delivery. Many of those were in flux right up until the final delivery time. So while you may have negotiated the aircraft deal that made financial sense, did you properly consider the risks associated with delivery timing? Most new aircraft purchase agreements include excusable and non-excusable delay provisions that afford the manufacturer a large delivery window without penalty. Delays can create significant costs and frustrations to the buyer.
Pilot Staffing
In this VanAllen Insights article, CEO Jeff Agur outlines considerations for pilot staffing and the impact it has on aircraft availability and quality of work life. We polled our LinkedIn followers on how their departments are staffed, per aircraft and we share those results as well.
Strategic Fleet Plans Completed
Total Pre-Delivery Inspections
VanAllen Group is an outstanding resource for our flight department. Their team of experienced professionals is always available to provide us with a wide range of relevant business aviation developments, including the latest market trends. This type of information has greatly helped shape our decision making and allowed us to more efficiently manage our day to day flight operations.”