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Rick Ross
President/Agent
1-800-896-5145
Direct: 719-494-1360
Cell: 719-330-9325
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Rick Ross is a 1992 graduate of Embry Riddle Aeronautical University with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science and holds a Commercial pilot license with Multi-engine and Instrument ratings as well as holds his Certified Flight Instructor license.
Upon graduation, Rick went directly into the aviation insurance industry as an underwriter and became the Southwest Regional Manager for Avemco Insurance Company in Forth Worth, TX. It was here that Rick was responsible for and managed Avemco’s second largest office with over $30,000,000 in premium.
After leaving Avemco in 1998, Rick went to work for Falcon Insurance Agency in Dallas and in 2000 started Leading Edge Insurance Agency.
Rick has extensive aviation underwriting experience and now has over 10 years experience now as an aviation insurance agent. A large percentage of Leading Edge’s book of business are clients that have been with Rick since his early days at Avemco and referrals from those clients. This is proof of the type of relationships we foster with our clients and the specialized personal attention they receive from us. It is this attitude and way of doing business that has built up a very loyal customer base that we have sustained for over ten 10 years.
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Karla Lehman
Vice President/Agent
1-800-896-5145
Direct: 931-232-9125
Cell: 615-519-5139
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Karla Lehman is a 1994 graduate of the University of North Dakota’s Center for Aerospace Sciences program and holds a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Studies with an emphasis in Human factors and Cockpit Resource Management. Karla is also a Licensed Commercial Instrument rated pilot and actively flies the company’s Piper Cherokee.
Upon graduation from UND in 1994, Karla immediately went to work for American Eagle, an aviation underwriting company in Dallas, TX. For two and a half years Karla worked as an underwriter in their light aircraft division and then moved up into their multi-engine and Industrial Aid department.
In August of 1996, Karla left American Eagle and went to work for Falcon Insurance Agency in Austin, TX. Here Karla was the agent responsible for handling the insurance needs of a majority of the 12,000 Cessna Pilots Association Members. In addition to managing the book of business she contributed monthly articles the membership magazine as related to different aspects of the aviation industry, from information on how the industry works, safety topics and ways to minimize risks. While this position was a great opportunity for Karla, she left Falcon in 2001 to pursue a position with Leading Edge that would enable her to better utilize her piloting skills as a compliment to her Insurance and Risk Management skills.
Karla is the Vice President of Leading Edge and manages our Hopkinsville, KY location as well as operates the company aircraft in order to visit and maintain relationships with current clients as well as to bring in new business.
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Tracy Lehman
Account Executive
1-800-896-5145
Direct: 931-232-9125
Cell: 931-627-4101
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Tracy Lehman joined Leading Edge in 2005, attending the National Business Aircraft Association (NBAA) and Helicopter Association International (HAI) annual tradeshows. His lifelong knowledge in the Aviation Industry combined with his innate ability to quickly pinpoint the needs of each client specifically and his outgoing and charismatic personality has led to Tracy becoming a Producer and Account Executive with outstanding capabilities. His energetic approach and enthusiasm for the industry are just a few of the characteristics that make Tracy the driving force of our agency. His care, personal interaction and the high level of service he provides to his clients are surpassed by none.
Tracy’s roots go back four generations on a Tobacco farm and prize winning quarter horse stables in rural Tennessee. He grew up flying all over the country with his parents, who are both active pilots, in various different aircraft owned over the years. Tracy and his wife Karla still live in rural Tennessee with their family, still work the farm and both actively fly the company Cherokee 180.
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Jeff Fleming
Account Executive
1-800-896-5145
Direct: 916-791-0821
Cell: 916-599-9989
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Jeff Fleming brings 30 years of experience to our agency. He was an underwriter for AVEMCO for 21 years, 17 of those as the Regional Manager of their Sacramento CA office. When AVEMCO decided to close their branch office system, Jeff worked for Falcon Insurance Agency as a Vice President of their office in the Sacramento area. During that time, he built over a $2,000,000 book of business. He has been working with Leading Edge for just over a year now.
Before the insurance business, Jeff attended Florida Institute of Technology in the 1970’s, graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Science in Air Commerce degree. While there, he was an active CFI in the school’s flight training program; he was the Program Director and General Manager of WFIT, the schools FM radio station during their first two years on the air and was a member of the professional aviation fraternity, Alpha Eta Rho. He was also the chief flight instructor at a small Cessna Pilot Center near Orlando, FL. He is a Commercial pilot with single engine, multi engine, Instrument ratings as well as a Certified Flight instructor-Airplane & Instrument and has logged over 3000 total hours.
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Joseph Campana
Vice President of Marketing
1-800-896-5145
Direct: 719-634-5620
Cell: 719-310-5036
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Joe Campana grew up in Fort Lauderdale, FL and attended culinary arts school at South Florida Community College. In 1993, Joe moved to Boston where he managed over 1,000 lines of food as a food broker for Mid-Atlantic Inc. Later, he managed several restaurants before owning his own ice cream and sub shop at the age of 23. While he lived in Boston, Joe ranked among the top 30 amateur billiards players in the nation. He also played on many professional tours.
Joe moved to Colorado in 1998 and has since worked and managed at a local restaurant. In addition, he created and owned an innovative, underground, award winning restaurant in Colorado Springs. Joe joined Leading Edge in 2008 as Marketing Manager. He has a passion for flying, and his experience, coupled with his knowledge of the industry and dedication to people, make him a strong asset to the Leading Edge team. He is an avid golfer and is currently pursuing his pilot’s license at Peak Aviation.
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Justin Miller
Account Executive
1-800-896-5145
Direct: 806-353-3375
Cell: 806-236-3076
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Justin has been flying planes since he was fourteen. When he was nineteen, he landed his first corporate pilot job. Through the years he's flown aircraft from Cessna Citations to Falcon 2000s to locations as far as Ireland, France, Costa Rica, and England. Currently he is Chief Pilot for Maxor National Pharmacies, www.maxor.com, where he manages and flys a Learjet 35A. Justin also is President and Founder of Ministry Wings Aviation,
www.ministryaviation.org, a nonprofit Christian ministry established to provide aviation travel to ministries and churches. Justin also is a General Lines Property and Casulty Insurance Producer for Leading Edge Insurance Agency. Justin also is attending Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and pursuing a Professional Aeronautics Degree with a minor in business. He has a wife, Carla and two beautiful children, Andrew and Savannah.
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Verlin Siefkes
Vice President of International Sales,
Aerial Applications, Aerial Fire Fighting
1-800-896-5145
Direct: 719-494-1360
Cell: 316-641-2773
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Verlin’s aviation experience started with 4 years in the U.S.M.C. He has since started and operated his own AG and Charter Company. He has Contracted Aircraft on Government Contracts, and has flown Special Operations for the U.S. Government and operated internationally. During that time he has accumulated 14,000 + hours flight time, with 25 years experience as an AG Aviation Pilot and 35 years as a Commercial pilot.
Education: B.S. in Business
Other: 4 years experience International Marketing in South America.
Verlin has been on the buying end of Insurance as owner and operator, understands your needs and requirements and will work with you to cover all your needs!
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