Debra Higgins
Miami Lakes,FL
Summary
Successful sales leader with proven accomplishments in driving growth and increasing profits. Articulate and driven leader with high energy and engaging personality. Hardworking team builder motivational in maximizing personnel performance and surpassing business objectives.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Business Development/Charter Sales/GM
Alerion Aviation
09.2023 - Current
- Negotiated, prepared, and signed contracts with clients.
- Established, initiated and optimized business development strategies based on company targets, product specifications, market data, and budget factors.
- Established and maintained highly effective relationships with clients and industry partners to drive growth.
- Led change and transformation across business areas to deliver benefits and align company resources.
- Negotiated client contracts and agreements to cultivate profitable business transactions.
President & Founder
Aero Education Academy
03.2017 - Current
- Company Overview: Headquartered in Florida; serving clients nationally
- Founded academy and developed 16-hour training curriculum covering charter sales and flight coordination in the private jet industry
- In-house training for charter brokerage companies
- Implement flight department training for 135 operators as well as group training for individuals entering the field
- Provide the next generation of industry professionals with mentoring, networking and job placement
- Headquartered in Florida; serving clients nationally
Vice President of Charter Sales
Speedbird/Heliteam
09.2021 - 07.2023
- Manage the day-to-day process and booking of our fleet of aircraft of a growing flight department
- Create processes and workflow structures for a team of several sales representatives
- Consistently grow profit margins with matching one-ways with a floating fleet of aircraft
- Instrumental in growing the revenue from $250,000 a month to $1 million within 4 weeks when hired and consistent growth in fleet and GPM
- Conduct monthly analytics and management reports for aircraft owners
- Serve on call 24/7 for the team and owner services
- Generate $3 million+ annually by using customer base of retail business
- Work proactively in very fluid situations
- Provide outstanding customer service skills
President, Owner & Partner
Airstream Jets
11.2016 - 09.2021
- Company Overview: Teterboro, NJ
- Established a new regional office and grew profit margins by over $3 million annually
- Created and oversaw processes, workflow and operations for flight department
- Teterboro, NJ
Vice President of Sales
Key Air
07.2011 - 10.2016
- Company Overview: Oxford, CT
- Oxford, CT
- Developed short and long-term sales strategies to gain market share, uncover new sales opportunities and increase revenue.
- Crafted overall account sales strategies and coordinated activities of sales executives to achieve revenue goals.
- Initiated in-depth account assessments with sales and management teams to evaluate sales potential.
- Researched sales opportunities and possible leads to exceed sales goals and increase profits.
Education
Associate of Arts - Photojournalism
Center For The Media Arts
Manhattan, NY07-1988
Skills
- Sales training and leadership
- Sales leadership and training
- Organizational development
- Networking
- Pipeline development
- Service delivery optimization
- Key account management
- Partnership development
- Innovation management
- Corporate communications
- Lead generation
- Proposal writing
Timeline
Director of Business Development/Charter Sales/GM
Alerion Aviation
09.2023 - Current
Vice President of Charter Sales
Speedbird/Heliteam
09.2021 - 07.2023
President & Founder
Aero Education Academy
03.2017 - Current
President, Owner & Partner
Airstream Jets
11.2016 - 09.2021
Vice President of Sales
Key Air
07.2011 - 10.2016
Associate of Arts - Photojournalism
Center For The Media Arts
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