Vice President for Corporate Relations and Government Affairs Lou Seno Retires
What began as a business relationship with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to help secure simulators and aircraft grew over the course of 25 years to include positions on the university’s Board of Trustees and ultimately a full-time role as Vice President for Corporate Relations and Government Affairs. Exemplifying a lifelong passion for aviation and unwavering support of quality higher education opportunities for all, Lou Seno retired on May 10. His impact on students, staff, faculty, alumni and the industry as a whole will be felt for years to come.
For more than two decades, Seno worked tirelessly to build key relationships with aviation and aerospace industry business leaders on behalf of Embry-Riddle. Personally, his passion for the university and its students resulted in generous and numerous scholarship funds ensuring student success.
“The strength of Lou’s connections throughout industry enabled the Board of Trustees to stay abreast of the latest trends. These genuine relationships also translated into rewarding career opportunities for our students and alumni,” said Embry-Riddle Interim President Dr. Karen A. Holbrook.
As one of aviation’s most influential and successful business leaders, Seno leveraged his expansive industry contacts and relationships accrued over nearly four decades to benefit students, staff, faculty and graduates of Embry-Riddle.
When he worked with Embry-Riddle almost 25 years ago as the National Sales Manager for McDonnell Douglas Finance Corporation’s General Aviation Division, it was to coordinate lease financing of two Frasca Model 242T flight simulators. With that, the relationship grew and Seno worked with the university again in the mid-1990s to secure the purchase of the largest-ever single order of Cessnas to replace the Daytona Beach and Prescott campus training fleets. His subsequent work with Embry-Riddle’s internal finance team resulted in a system that the university uses to this day facilitating the rotation of new, up-to-date equipment with minimal financial risk and cost to the institution.
In 2000, Seno was asked by then Embry-Riddle President Dr. George Ebbs to represent the general and business aviation segment on the President’s Advisory Board. Lou served on this board for seven years, and was then named to the Embry-Riddle’s Board of Trustees in early 2008. While a Trustee, Seno served on the Finance, Flight Safety and Development committees, chairing the Development committee in 2012 and 2013. At the end of 2013, he resigned the board to accept the full-time senior administration role of Vice President for Corporate Relations and Government Affairs at Embry-Riddle.
His most recent accomplishments include playing an instrumental role in raising research funding and Capitol Hill support for the Eagle Flight Research Center’s Turbine-Hybrid Propulsion Initiative. An accredited aircraft appraiser himself, Seno also coordinated an agreement with the American Society of Appraisers that will license the College of Business at Embry-Riddle’s Daytona Beach Campus to educate aircraft appraisal students all over the world for the next several years on an exclusive basis.
In addition to his many achievements at the university – including being named as an honorary alumnus in 2007 – Seno continues to influence and contribute to the aviation and aerospace business industry.
Previously president and CEO of Jet Support Services Inc. (JSSI), Seno remains chairman emeritus and special advisor to the company’s Board of Directors. Prior to becoming a founding shareholder of JSSI, Seno held top management positions with the business aircraft units of Boeing Capital Corp. and G.E. Capital Solutions (following Boeing’s acquisition of McDonnell Douglas in 1997).
He recently served on the boards of the National Aircraft Resale Association (NARA) and Duncan Aviation. He currently serves on the board of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) where he is a member of GAMA’s Communication Committee and was recently invited to join the ASTM F44 General Aviation Aircraft Rulemaking Committee.
It was in 2015, while attending his 61st consecutive EAA AirVenture Oshkosh annual convention and air show, that Seno was named to the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Board of Directors with the distinction of being the only member to represent an institution of higher education.
“Lou’s commitment to and involvement with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University over the past 25 years has assisted many of our students in pursuing their dreams and engaging in the aerospace industry,” said Kenneth Dufour, Embry-Riddle Board of Trustees member and Chair of the Student Life Committee
Seno’s commitment to supporting the future of aviation through higher education includes the Seno/Perry Endowed Scholarship in the College of Aviation for aviation technician students. This year Seno paid tribute to his father, in a joint 10-year effort with the owners of JSSI, establishing the Louis C. Seno Sr. Memorial Scholarship for incoming freshmen.
In 2013, along with his wife Christine, the Christine and Lou Seno Distinguished Professor of Aircraft Finance Chair in the College of Business was established. They also regularly support Embry-Riddle Athletics programs.
In a joint effort with the university, the Senos recently pledged a generous long-term scholarship to students from Western Michigan Aviation Academy who attend Embry-Riddle. The Senos wanted to create a special legacy and also donated Lou’s late father’s Corben Junior Ace aircraft to the tuition-free public charter high school located in Grand Rapids, Mich.
“Beyond being an incredibly generous connector of the business side of aviation to the university, Lou is a natural mentor and supporter of so many people. He knows everyone, and he makes everyone feel important – that’s the kind of person he is,” said Lisa Kollar, Interim Dean of Students for the Daytona Beach Campus.