Committees

The APEX committee structure is comprised of Board committees and member committees. Only APEX Board members are eligible for membership on Board committees. Any individual from an APEX member company may participate in a member committee. Committee members are appointed by the committee chairperson and approved by the APEX president.

Each APEX committee is comprised of industry volunteers with specialized expertise in each area of focus. Committee chairpersons and co-chairpersons are appointed each year by the current APEX president. Committee Board liaisons are members of the executive committee assigned to report committee activities and recommendations to the entire Board of Directors.

To serve the best interests of the industry, APEX committee members represent airlines and vendor companies in different regions of the globe.

If you are a member and interested in volunteering for any APEX committee, please contact the appropriate APEX headquarters staff or email board@apex.aero. 

Executive Committees

• Executive
   

  Chair: Chris Babb, Delta Air Lines
  Staff Liaison: Russ Lemieux

• Finance
   

  Chair: Linda Palmer, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Non-Theatrical
  Staff Liaison: Katie Goshgarian

• Nominating
   

  Chair: Linda Celestino, Oman Air
  Members: Lee Casey, Lumexis Corporation; Mark Horton, Paramount Pictures
  Staff Liaison: Katie Goshgarian
  
  Objectives
  • Improve awareness of required time commitments for Board service among potential candidates and their companies
  • Align nominating processes with strategic plan 

Member Committees

• Education
   

  Chair: Kevin Bremer, Boeing Commercial Airplanes
  Members: Kenneth Briggs, Thales Avionics Inc.; Lee Casey, Lumexis Corporation; Andy Grant, Emirates; Robbie Hyman, Row 44; Clare Josey, Rockwell Collins; Mary Rogozinski, Gogo LLC; Elliot Wagner, Discovery Communications, LLC
  Staff Liaison: Lauren Beneri
  
  Meets weekly.
  
  Objectives
  

  • Develop cutting-edge education and relevant industry knowledge
  • Define the passenger experience marketplace and the involved stakeholders and develop programs to serve those needs
  • Strengthen the perception of year-round member benefits rather than a single event organization
  • Offer more educational opportunities to members, including content targeted to key segments of the industry through conference, workshops, webinars, on-demand technologies and other means

• Events & Expo
   

  Chair: Dominic Green, Spafax
  Members: Jennifer Clark, American Airlines; Kate Groth, Post Modern Group, LLC; Linda Palmer, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Denise Rodriguez, US Airways; Cindy Taylor, CMI Media Management; Adlee Williams, Stellar Inflight
  Staff Liaison: Kirsten Arthur, CMP
  
  Meets monthly/as needed. 
   

  Objectives
  • Produce EXPO Program, including venues and organization of all social functions, menus and entertainment
  • Assure that all APEX events are supportive of APEX strategic goals and objectives and are meeting the needs of members and the marketplace
  • Improve airline participation in APEX events
  • Establish partnerships with related organizations to achieve established goals and objectives

• Governance
   

  Chair: Dominic Green, Spafax
  Members: Christine Ringger, Swiss international Air Lines Ltd.; Adlee Williams, Stellar Inflight
  Staff Liaison: Katie Goshgarian
  
  Meets as needed.
  
  Objectives
  • Broaden the membership of the Association to formally represent a broader group of activities covering the airline passenger experience beyond “entertainment”
  • Review governance processes and structure of the Board and committees.
  • Assure transparency to, and communication with, membership
  • Continue responsibility for reviewing and approving new member applications

• Marketing & Communications
   

  Chair: Linda Celestino, Oman Air
  Members: Chris Babb, Delta Air Lines; Patrick Brannelly, Emirates; Joe Carreira, Touch Inflight Solutions, Inc.; Adrian Lambert, IFE Services; Jon Norris, Ink; Jose Racowski, TAM Airlines; Matthias Walther, Panasonic Avionics Corporation
  Staff Liaisons: Ron Gumucio, Bonnie Sonnenschein
  
  Meets monthly.
  
  Objectives
  • Deliver relevant, quality and timely industry news and information
  • Develop APEX brand and property and safeguard the use of such property
  • Increase brand awareness to key industry influencers
  • Ensure editorial content and advertising is aligned with APEX mission and objectives 

• Membership
   

  Co-Chair: Luay Qunash, Royal Jordanian Airline
  Co-Chair: Alfy Veretto, Virgin America
  Regional Ambassadors (with region assignment): Loren Bolstridge (North America - East Coast), Delta Air Lines; Myriam Bracke (Africa), South African Airways; Joe Carreira (South and Central America), Touch Inflight Solutions, Inc.; Albert de Wet (Middle East), Etihad Airways; Joel Joslin (Australasia), Stellar Inflight; Dave Sampson (Europe), Mezzo; Luay Qunash (Europe), Royal Jordanian Airline; Alfy Veretto (North America - West Coast), Virgin America                                   
  Staff Liaison: Heather Wetzel
  
  Meets every 6 weeks.
  
  Objectives
  • Broaden the membership of the Association to formally represent a broader group of activities covering the airline passenger experience beyond “entertainment”
  • Increase airline membership
  • Define the passenger experience marketplace and the involved stakeholders and develop programs to serve those needs
  • Strengthen the perception of year-round member benefits rather than a single event organization

• Technology
   

  Chair: Ian Walberg, Airborne Interactive Ltd.
  Members: Michael Childers, The IMS Company; David Coiley, Inmarsat Ltd.; John Craig, Boeing Commercial Airplanes; Victor Hernandez, IFE Services; Leigh Mantle, Inflight Productions Ltd, UK; Erik Miller, American Airlines; Bryan Rusenko, Technicolor; Rich Salter, Lumexis Corporation
  Staff Liaison: Lauren Beneri
  
  Meets bi-monthly.
  
  Objectives
  • Develop cutting-edge education and relevant industry knowledge
  • Develop industry best practices
  • Working with the Education Committee, leverage technology to deliver content remotely and on demand
  • Serve the membership by creating a forum to share technical information and provide relevant industry knowledge

• Awards Task Force
   

  Chair: Linda Palmer, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Non-Theatrical
  Members: Chris Babb, Delta Air Lines; Dominic Green, Spafax
  Staff Liaison: Maria Ungaro
  
  Meets as needed.
  
  Objectives
  • Establish Passenger Choice Awards as the “Oscars” for airlines
  • Improve use of awards as a marketing tool for APEX
  • Recognize membership and industry leaders with Avion and honorary awards

• TV Market Task Force
   

  Chair: Leigh Mantle, Inflight Productions
  Members: Melanie de Leiros, Inflight Productions Ltd, UK; Emma Gunn, Spafax; Linda Palmer, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Katina Ward, Inflight Productions Ltd, UK
  Staff Liaison: Kirsten Arthur
  
  Meets bi-montly/as needed.
  
  Objectives
  • Maximize value of TV Market event
  • Marketing focus on TVMC as a must attend event
  • Define the marketplace and the involved stakeholders and develop programs to serve those needs