The Aircraft Towing Systems Team

Aircraft Towing Systems is staffed by skilled and experienced aviation and business leaders with decades of aerospace experience and accomplishments.

STAN MALICKI

STAN MALICKI

PRESIDENT

Stan Malicki was born in Warsaw, Poland, in 1957. He escaped from communist Poland through the Berlin Wall into West Germany in 1976. Malicki worked for a while as a dishwasher in West Berlin before founding and running his first company, a printing factory, from 1978 to 1980. He then moved to the United States and stayed for nearly two years in Long Island, New York, where he attended different management courses and gained experience in modern management. Malicki returned to Germany in 1982 and took over the management of a plastics processing company, HYDRO-PLAST. He bought all shares of the company in 1988, and after the fall of communism in Poland in 1989, he moved the company to Poland. Hydro-Plast had a strong position on the European plastics market (heating-and-water supply sector) and Malicki's products sold well worldwide. He sold Hydro-Plast in 2007 and founded the ATS Laboratory JSC in Poland the following year. In 2016, Malicki established ATS World Wide LLC., in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in the U.S. and he is the majority shareholder. He holds a Master's Degree in Economics and Management from the Academy of Managing and Marketing in Warsaw, Poland.

VICTOR BIRD

VICTOR BIRD

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

Longtime Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission (OAC) Director Victor Bird, a recognized state and national aviation leader who retired in 2020 as a public servant, is now Aircraft Towing Systems World Wide’s Chief Operating Officer. An aerospace-policymaking and regional-funding airport expert, Bird is a nationally respected leader in aviation. Bird is the first and only Oklahoman to serve as chairman of the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO) in its 90-year history and is the only non-elected public official to receive the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association’s most prestigious award, the Hartranft Award. He was also honored with the General Thomas P. Stafford Award from Oklahoma’s aerospace industry for his outstanding contributions to the industry in 2009 and NASAO also presented him with its highest award, the Kenneth Rowe Ambassador of Aviation Award.

 

ABBIGAIL POGORZELSKI

ABBIGAIL POGORZELSKI

CHIEF OF OPERATIONS

Abbigail Pogorzelski manages the overall effectiveness of ATS' business operations, reports to the Chief Operations Officer and ensures the successful day-to-day operations of the business. She helped ATS' CEO to build and incorporate Aircraft Towing Systems World Wide LLC., in Oklahoma in 2016. Pogorzelski’s USAF career has taken her to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB), Vandenberg AFB and Tinker AFB, where she has led Foreign Military Sales programs, stood up a new directorate and led acquisition and sustainment programs for the B-52, KC-10 and KC-135 aircraft fleets in team lead and management positions. Her success has earned her multiple awards including Tanker Directorate Civilian of the Year in 2016 and the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center's Outstanding Program Management Acquisition Category I Award (Civilian Category) in 2019. Pogorzelski earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Florida International University and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Oklahoma. She also completed Air Command and Staff College from Air University through the USAF.

RONNIE WEST

RONNIE WEST

CHIEF TECHNICAL OFFICER

Ronnie West is responsible for creating and implementing ATS' technology strategies, identifying technologies to improve ATS' products and services and developing and managing ATS' maintenance budget. West also develops and maintains ATS' plans and schedules for installed equipment, develops maintenance training and procedures for airport personnel to operate and maintain installed equipment and advises management on cost-effective ways to perform maintenance and repairs. Additional duties include maintaining records and filing documents, invoices and instruction manuals for the airports using ATS equipment. West manages inventories of required maintenance tools, materials and parts and reports urgent maintenance and repair issues as they arise on installed equipment, diagnosing and developing mitigation plans for technical issues and equipment malfunctions. He also ensures that airport personnel follow prescribed safety procedures and regulations, as well as presents reports on new and existing technology status, goals and/or progress.

CIDADEL CONSTRUCTION

CIDADEL CONSTRUCTION

CONTRACTOR

Citadel Construction will handle the overall planning, coordination and control of any construction project from beginning to end. We are comprised of knowledgeable and skillful project managers, contractors, and craftsmen with the experience and know-how to handle your construction needs. Citadel Construction has been serving the commercial construction and renovation needs for over a decade. We are committed to excellence in all that we do and believe on-time delivery of the highest quality projects for the best value is only part of the equation. We create positive experiences and lasting relationships because our actions are guided by our core values of integrity, trust and teamwork. Citadel Construction LLC President Michael Shoemaker manages construction of the channel prototype for Aircraft Towing Systems. Located at the Ardmore Industrial Airpark in Ardmore, Oklahoma, Citadel Construction LLC specializes in pre-construction, general contracting, construction management and design build.

 

 

LINDY RITZ

LINDY RITZ

CONSULTANT

Lindy Ritz, former Director of the Mike Moroney Federal Aviation Administration Aeronautical Center, has joined the ATS team as a consultant. As president of the Ritz Group LLC., she performs a broad range of consulting and executive coaching services. Ritz is considered a universally recognized transformational leader with decades of experience in customer focused program development, visionary thinking, and strategic planning, as well as troubleshooting and collaboration across government, industry, and academia. She was appointed as a Commissioner with the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission in 2017. Ritz was named the Director of the Mike Moroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City in 1997. In 2008, Ritz served as the Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Regions and Center Operations in Washington, D.C., and as the Acting Vice President, Technical Training for the Air Traffic Organization. She is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and the FAA Senior Executive Candidate Development Program. She also completed graduate programs at the University of Michigan and the Kellogg School at Northwestern University. Ritz earned her Master’s Degree in Aviation and Space from Oklahoma State University in May 1999.

DATA3

DATA3

CONTRACTOR

For 20 years, Data3 has served Fortune 500 and other companies providing them with secure space in our data centers and developing enterprise class software solutions. DATA3 uses proprietary methodologies to develop software solutions that deliver reliable, consistent results for decades of enterprise level use. Our focus is to develop software that meets your business requirements and create efficiencies wherever possible.  Our goal is to deliver projects that are on time, on budget and beyond expectations. Data3 is writing the software for the Aircraft Towing Systems prototype.

ABERDEEN DYNAMICS

ABERDEEN DYNAMICS

CONTRACTOR

Aberdeen Dynamics are power forward, count on the motion and control experts. They know how to make things happen at their expansive, modern campus, where doing things right is simply part of the Aberdeen culture. High-spec challenges or demanding applications? Consider them engineered and delivered. They even support training, system commissioning and service, because success is their priority. Dedication runs deep among their people, where everyone takes 100% ownership in making your experience great. Whatever your challenge, we have the people, technology and capabilities to bring it all together. Aberdeen Dynamics helped create the hydraulic system used in the ATS prototype.

 

SEYMOUR ENGINEERING & CONSULTING GROUP

SEYMOUR ENGINEERING & CONSULTING GROUP

CONTRACTOR, STEPHEN SEYMOUR,, MSME, P.E.

Seymour Engineering and Consulting Group is a mechanical engineering firm that specializes in large equipment design, advanced analysis/simulation, new product development and project management. Our extensive design capabilities are able to cover nearly every design and project need. We have wide-ranging analysis capabilities that can be used for design validation, virtual testing, and to ensure efficient product development. SECG carries all software licensing costs, host PDM/data management systems, manage computation servers and handle network infrastructure and backups. The SECG team is exposed to a broad variety of industries, design approaches, and manufacturing methods, which allows us to both ensure your design is readily manufacturable and also bring a unique perspective to tough problems.

 

VINCE HOWIE

VINCE HOWIE

VICE PRESIDENT, CEO

Richard "Vince" Howie has more than 36 years of experience in the aerospace industry. His career has spanned government at the federal, state and local levels, including industry experience. In early 2016, Howie helped build and incorporate Aircraft Towing Systems World Wide LLC., in Oklahoma. He now serves as the Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the Oklahoma- and internationally based company. Howie leads activities designed to develop, promote and build ATS into a world-recognized leader in aircraft transport systems – one that revolutionizes the way aircraft move around airports. Howie also served from November 2013 until recently as the Director of Aerospace & Defense for the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. He was appointed to the Oklahoma Science & Industrial Development Authority, Oklahoma Strategic Military Planning Commission, Oklahoma Governor's Unmanned Aerospace Systems Council, and the Oklahoma F-35 Task Force and serves on the Oklahoma Careers Pathways Sub-Committee. Prior to his work at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Howie retired from the U.S. Air Force in April 2012 after 29 years of service. He is a former member of the Senior Executive Service (served as a civilian equivalent to a Bridger General in the U.S. Air Force). He holds a Master of Science degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University in Washington D.C., a Master of Arts degree in Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma. Howie studied as a National Securities Study Management Fellow at the Maxwell School of Business at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York, and received his Senior Professional Military Education from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces at the National Defense University in Washington D.C.

DEJUANA HOWIE

DEJUANA HOWIE

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Dejuana J. Howie is a dynamic senior leader with private sector and Department of Defense (DOD) experience. She also has in-depth knowledge of DOD Supply Chain management, Weapon System programs and Acquisition processes. Howie has served as ATS' CFO since June 2016. She is responsible for the company's financial documents, works with vendors and subcontractors and prepares and executes budgets. Howie also prepares documents to comply with Federal regulatory requirements and manages ATS’ monthly pay obligations. Past positions and employers include Midwest City Chamber of Commerce/Rose State College Program Manager for Tinker and the Primes, CFO for Chisholm Creek Baptist Church and Deputy Director for the 848 Supply Chain Management Group (GS-15), Air Force Global Logistics Sustainment Center (AFGLSC), Tinker Air Force Base (AFB) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Howie earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma (Magna Cum Laude) in Edmond, Oklahoma and a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

OSU NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CENTER

OSU NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT CENTER

CONTRACTOR, DR. ROBERT TAYLOR, DIRECTOR

The mission of the New Product Development Center is to provide engineering technical assistance, research and development support, and inventor assistance programming. We connect businesses, manufacturers, and inventors with university resources that foster the development of new technologies, strengthen economic resilience, and create impacts in the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma State University's New Product Development Center, led by OSU NPDC Director Robert Taylor, Ph.D. and his cross-departmental team, have been working with Aircraft Towing Systems World Wide LLC on the research, design and development of the ATS prototype since 2016.

CONWAY DATA, INC.

CONWAY DATA, INC.

CONTRACTOR - DAVID MARGOLIS, PUBLIC RELATIONS

David has over 17 years of experience in marketing and public relations and economic development. Since 2009 he has held the position of Principal, leading the PR and Marketing division of Conway Data, Inc., a full service organization focused on economic development, based out of Atlanta Georgia. Over the years he represented cities, states, and countries helping to raise awareness of their respective key industry sectors with the end goal to help attract corporate investments back to these locations, create jobs and grow their respective economies. Clients have included the Kingdom of Thailand, Malaysia, the States of Oklahoma, Louisiana, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Virginia, and the cities of Tampa, FL and Hampton Roads, VA. Prior to joining Conway, he was an Account Director with New York based DQ Marketing & Public Relations. David has five years of investment promotion experience as former Associate Director of ADERLY, the Economic Development Agency for the City of Lyon, France.

PRODUCTION MACHINE & TOOL (PMT)

PRODUCTION MACHINE & TOOL (PMT)

CONTRACTOR

PMT partners with companies to be a solution for their machining and manufacturing problems and needs. PMT can machine parts as large as a truck and as small as a button. They have the ability to handle customer projects from large to small sets us apart from the competition.The PMT mission is to make sure our clients never have to worry about their order. The prototype "pullcar and tow dolly" are built by Production Machine & Tool.

JVIATION, A WOOLPERT COMPANY

JVIATION, A WOOLPERT COMPANY

CONTRACTOR

Aircraft Towing Systems World Wide Inc. uses the expertise of contractors provided by Jviation Inc., a Woolpert Company. Headquartered in Denver, Jviation Inc. joined Woolpert in October 2020. The progressive airport planning, survey, architecture, engineering and construction management firm serves airports and state aeronautics departments, as well as airline and related aviation business partners from offices in six states. Jviation builds upon Woolpert’s existing aviation service offerings and expands its geographic footprint in the western U.S. Woolpert’s strategic consulting services, stand-alone or integrated, provide yet another forward-thinking method for clients to achieve their goals

POCLAIN HYDRAULICS

POCLAIN HYDRAULICS

CONTRACTOR

Poclain is a family company founded by Georges Bataille in France in 1927. Poclain produced excavators and was a leader on the French and world market thanks to a revolutionary hydraulic motor. Poclain offers 45 years of experience at all stages of your application’s lifetime, from design to after-sales, and guarantee the highest level of quality throughout our collaboration. Poclain Hydraulics worked with Aberdeen Dynamics on the creation of the four hydraulic motors that help run the Aircraft Towing System prototype. The company features an international team specializing in hydraulic power transmissions for all types of mobile machinery. Poclain Hydraulics is the world leader in hydrostatic transmissions based on its cam-lobe radial-piston motors offer. Its worldwide presence, combined with application expertise, Poclain Hydraulics offers efficient and reliable system solutions to a wide range of applications.

KFC ENGINEERING

KFC ENGINEERING

ALAN KIRKPATRICK, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING

Kirkpatrick Forest Curtis PC (KFC Engineering) is a premier structural engineering company dedicated to quality engineering serving private and public sector clients. KFC’s strength and serviceability in engineering is evident in the numerous projects that have been designed for healthcare facilities, warehouses, schools, office buildings, government buildings and storm shelters. With an experienced professional staff, all of which are registered Professional Engineers, KFC recognizes the value of commitment and superior service to building solid client relationships. Alan Kirkpatrick is a consulting mechanical design engineer for Aircraft Towing Systems. He is a mechanical design engineer with more than 20 years of experience in product design and development on widely variety of military and commercial projects. He also has extensive solid- works skills including surfacing, sheet metal and weldments, as well as molds and analysis.