Jet East Announces Mike Smith as Embraer Product Director, Adding Extensive Industry Experience to the Organization

Solon, OH, June 20, 2023 – Jet East, a Gama Aviation Company, offering full-service capabilities and 24/7 mobile maintenance, is thrilled to announce the addition of Mike Smith to its team. As the newly appointed Embraer Product Director, Smith brings a wealth of aviation expertise and a proven record of success in the industry.

Smith’s career in aviation began in Stuart, FL when he joined a small structures shop building parts for Boeing. Driven by his internal drive for deeper knowledge and growth, Smith embarked on a new chapter in March 2012 when he joined Embraer’s production line in Melbourne, FL. Here, he played an integral role working on flight control cables and avionics software, catching the attention of the Quality Manager who recognized his exceptional potential. Encouraged to pursue further advancement, Smith diligently tracked his time and successfully obtained his Airframe and Powerplant license in January 2015, adding to his expertise and opening new doors of opportunity.

Smith later transitioned to the MRO Station of Embraer in Melbourne as an AOG Technician and then he assumed the leadership role over the Service Center for the entire Embraer fleet of aircraft. This role provided him with exposure to the business side of MRO, enhancing his skill set and broadening his understanding of the industry. Building on his successes, Smith eventually found himself at West Star in 2020 as the Embraer Team Supervisor. Eventually, Smith transitioned into the Project Manager role before joining the Jet East team.

Smith noted, “Embraer was my entry into business aviation. Since that time, my relationships with customers, Embraer, and my knowledge of aircraft have grown exponentially. I strive to learn and stay ahead of new developments and market trends to exceed customer expectations.”

Dan Podojil, COO Retail Operations at Jet East, commented, “We are fortunate to have someone with Mike’s background and knowledge on the team. The addition of Mike to our team offers a unique level of experience and support that our customers deserve.”

About Jet East
Jet East, A Gama Aviation Company, is one of the nation’s leading aviation maintenance providers. The company specializes in scheduled maintenance, on-demand mobile maintenance for unscheduled events, paint and interior completions and provides related services in the areas of structural repairs, composite work, and non-destructive testing (NDT).  With a deeply talented workforce, Jet East is available to meet customer maintenance needs with on-demand service and coast to coast coverage in the U.S and in certain international markets.  An expansive AOG Mobile Maintenance team operates with a 24/7 Dispatch Team and compliments the company’s maintenance hangars in North Carolina, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Texas, California, Illinois, and Nevada.