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Patrick Donaldson - Principal
Patrick Donaldson began his 20-year career in business development and marketing as a sales representative for Cryogenics by Shamrock in 1988, where he introduced a complex, new metal treatment process to the automotive industry. His rigorous sales process included cold calls; product introduction, education and integration; and proof-of-concept testing. Patrick's ability to get his foot in the door and translate complex processes in a mainstream manner gained the metallurgical process widespread acceptance in the automotive industry during his tenure.
As a sales representative for Lorrex, a start-up health products company, Patrick took his territory of five Western states an increase of 800% in the short span of 10 months. He did this by leading a series of targeted sales campaigns and grassroots marketing efforts to introduce the new company to wholesale distributors and retailers of medical supplies. At the end of the sales process, Patrick recognized the importance of a seamless product implementation, and provided project management to resolve his newly established clients' integration issues, thus ensuring customer loyalty. His successful regional strategy became the template for the company's national marketing and sales efforts.
In 1994 Patrick entered the U.S. Air Force and completed its most rigorous flight training program. For the next five years, he was instructor pilot, flight supervisor and project manager, respectively, with the primary assignment of training and leading combat-ready crew members in safe operation of the KC-135 global airlift and air refueling missions.
Deployed to Hawaii in 2000, Patrick was hand-selected to be director of standards, a position in which he researched, contracted and implemented new aircraft acquisitions, managed travel and events for senior military and diplomatic officials, and advised military leadership on all aspects of airlift operations. During this time Patrick was instrumental in helping raise a new quality assurance office, which participated in the purchase of $110 million in new aircraft, culminating in successful integration and 60% reduction in operating costs. He also worked closely with U.S. embassies and foreign governments to coordinate the logistical details involved with international travel.
After his departure from nine years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Patrick settled with his family in Phoenix, Ariz., and went to work for the Royal Bank of Canada, concentrating on business development for the Southwest United States territory. While there, he managed loan financing as well as acquisition and development.
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Dovetailing his experience in the military with his business acumen, in 2003 Patrick joined Swift Aviation Group as its director of sales support and demonstration flight operations. The mission for the seven-member sales team? To market and sell Embraer Legacys to a world market. His management and personal coordination of the development, sales engineering and support, travel, and event marketing and piloting of more than 50 demonstration flights in more than 20 countries resulted in the sale of 17 aircraft and the production of $300 million in gross revenue in 18 months.
In 2004 Patrick accepted an invitation to join a Colorado-based, very light jet (VLJ) manufacturer and distributor as regional sales manager for the Western United States, responsible for business development, marketing, negotiation, contracting and implementation. In his first year, Patrick increased sales for his division by 33% and led the company's domestic sales production, also gaining unique insight and entry into the fastest-growing segment in business aviation: VLJ.
In 2006, Patrick segued this knowledge by founding CG Aviation Enterprises, a new-concept aviation services company. The diverse skill sets of the firm's employee base range from business development, financing and maintenance to operations and tax strategy, leading it to acquire large clients in its first months of operation. For United Aviation in Kuwait, CG managed the acquisition of $23 million in aircraft assets, including aircraft evaluation, selection, negotiation, contracting and exportation to the Middle East. The company also consulted in a variety of business areas such as recommending an operations software system to manage flight operations, integrating the company's website with its reservation system, developing a pilot recruiting program and serving as the company's representative to the FAA. CG's consulting priorities to Swift Aviation Group in Phoenix, which are ongoing, include the direction of its worldwide business development and a sales strategy based on Patrick's detailed market analysis to create brand awareness.
His partnership in CG Aviation Enterprises led to the formation of Sextant Advisors LLC, where he and his business partners offer a menu of consulting services geared toward business-to-business clientele. Sextant Advisors are the aviation community's go-to professionals for depth and breadth in areas pertaining to business development, financing, government contracts, infrastructure, insurance, interim management transitioning, networking, project management and U.S. representation of foreign entities.
Patrick has a B.A. in Marketing Management from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn., and an M.A. in International Management from Whitworth College of International Commerce and Management in Spokane, Wash. He resides in Phoenix, Ariz., with his wife of 11 years, Shannon, and their four children Thomas (10), Katherine (7), Josephine (4) and Elizabeth (2).