LEE’S SUMMIT, MO., January 18, 2011 — The Aircraft Electronics Association has appointed Geoff Hill director of communications and editor of Avionics News, AEA President Paula Derks announced today.
Hill joins the AEA staff at its world headquarters in Lee’s Summit, Mo., and will manage the organization’s in-house communications department. Hill also will oversee the publishing of the association’s monthly magazine, Avionics News.
“We are pleased to welcome Geoff to AEA as our newest member of the team,” Derks said. “He brings fresh energy with strategic and focused leadership abilities that will serve us well in the future.”
Hill brings a unique blend of public relations, marketing and sales experience to AEA. He managed the communications, media relations and marketing efforts for the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) intercollegiate athletics department for nine years after serving as public relations assistant for the Kansas City Royals baseball organization. He produced a variety of media guides and publications that earned conference, district and national recognition for outstanding quality during his tenure at UMKC.
Most recently, Hill spent the past seven years in private business as director of sales for Paradise Park Inc., a family entertainment center in Lee’s Summit, Mo. During his tenure, Paradise Park was named the Small Business of the Year by the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce and won the Fast Track Award from the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, recognized as one of the fastest growing businesses in the state. Paradise Park also was honored with the 2004 Golden Token Award as the best new or renovated family entertainment center in the world, chosen from more than 20,000 facilities across the globe.
An engaged leader in the local community, Hill currently serves as vice chair for community development for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The AEA is a longstanding member of its local chamber of commerce, an organization that was named the Missouri Chamber of the Year in 2008.
Hill earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration from the University of Missouri and a master’s degree from Ohio University.
“I am honored and privileged to serve the proud members of AEA and join such an outstanding staff,” Hill said. “I look forward to serving members of the international aviation press, and I hope to have the opportunity to meet many of these individuals at the AEA International Convention & Trade Show in Reno, Nev., this March.”
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Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in more than 40 countries, including approved maintenance organizations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of aircraft electronics systems in general aviation aircraft. The AEA membership also includes manufacturers of aircraft electronics equipment, instrument repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, engineers and educational institutions.