Air Wisconsin

Air Wisconsin (AWAC) named Vince Portaro as vice president-customer service responsible for all customer service functions, including oversight of contract ground handling agreements with United (UAUA) and Northwest (NWACQ) airlines, as well as acting as primary liaison with US Airways (LCC) to monitor its ground handling. Portaro also will be responsible for the in-flight service group and station training programs.

Carolinks

Former Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta joined the advisory board of rail/barge intermodal carrier Carolinks.

Cessna

Tom Aniello returned to Cessna August 3 after serving as vice president and chief marketing officer for Pilatus. He succeeds retiring Phil Michel as vice president-marketing for the company. Aniello served in a number of sales engineering and marketing positions, including e-Business director for Cessna for eight years.

Embraer

Embraer named Frederico Fleury Curado to succeed Mauricio Botelho as president and CEO of the Brazilian aircraft manufacturer, effective next April. Botelho remains chair, a position he has held since March 31. As executive vice president of the airline market since 1998, Fleury Curado oversaw the consolidation of the ERJ 145 family, the launch and introduction of the Embraer 170/190 family as well as the establishment of operations in Singapore and China.

go!

Mesa (MESA) named C.D. Lauritsen chief operating officer of its new, low-fare Hawaiian operation go! In addition, Joe Bock was named chief marketing officer and Kenley Chambers as vice president of in-flight services. Mesa also appointed Allen McReynolds to vice president of technical services and purchasing for Mesa Air Group, and Ed Gomes as vice president of customer services for the company. Mark Bicker was promoted to director of dispatch and John Schmitz was named director of crew resources.

Lauritsen began his career as a pilot in 2000 and has held several supervisory positions, most recently serving as the regional chief pilot for Mesa's United Express operation in Chicago. Bock began as an intern in the airline's legal department before rising through the ranks to become staff counsel. Chambers has held several positions in the company's in-flight services department and began her Mesa career as a flight attendant.

McReynolds was a financial analyst for the maintenance division and has served as general manager of the Phoenix maintenance operation and regional director of maintenance. Gomes began as a ramp agent for WestAir and has held numerous customer service positions in his decade with Mesa. An 11-year veteran of Mesa, Bicker was manager of the internal evaluations program after serving as station operations agent and pilot. Schmitz joins Mesa after 16 years with Sabre Airline Solutions/David R. Bornemann Associations. He also has served in crew scheduling management with Atlantic Southeast Airlines and Henson/Piedmont.