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ALAN KLAPMEIER is a co-founder of Cirrus and has served as its Chairman since its inception in 1984.
Mr. Klapmeier serves on several industry boards, including the General Aviation Manufacturing Association (GAMA) Board of Directors (and serves as immediate Past Chairman of the Board), the AOPA Air Safety Foundation Board of Visitors, the Board of Directors of the Small Aircraft Manufacturers Association, and the Ripon College Board of Trustees.
Along with his brother Dale, the Klapmeiers’ have received the 2007 Dr. Godfrey L Cabot Award, the Experimental Aviation Association, (EAA) 2007 Freedom of Flight Award, Airport Journal 2006 "Living Legends" Aviation Entrepreneurs of the Year, EAA August Raspet, Air Safety Foundation 2005 Admiral de Florez Award, and 2004 Ernst and Young Entrepreneurs of the Year for Manufacturing.
Since founding Cirrus 24 years ago in a dairy barn in Baraboo, WI, the Klapmeiers have grown Cirrus Design into a global brand, with a formidable international sales and service network. Cirrus manufactures three models of aircraft, which includes the best selling aircraft for five consecutive years, the SR22. Cirrus employs about 850 people in two facilities. Grand Forks, ND is home to a- state- of- the art, composite lay-up and curing facility. Duluth, MN is home to Cirrus’ world head quarters and where bonding, final assembly and customer delivery of aircraft also take place.
Mr. Klapmeier holds degrees in Physics and Economics from Ripon College in Wisconsin. With over 5500 hours of flight time, Mr. Klapmeier has been a licensed pilot for more than 30 years.
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DALE KLAPMEIER co-founded Cirrus 24 years ago and currently holds the position of Vice Chairman. As Vice chairman, Mr. Klapmeier is responsible for overseeing product development and product strategy.
Mr. Klapmeier, along with brother Alan Klapmeier, have received the 2007 Dr. Godfrey L Cabot Award, the Experimental Aviation Association, (EAA) 2007 Freedom of Flight Award, Airport Journal 2006 "Living Legends" Aviation Entrepreneurs of the Year, EAA August Raspet, Air Safety Foundation 2005 Admiral de Florez Award, and 2004 Ernst and Young Entrepreneurs of the Year for Manufacturing.
Mr. Klapmeier is also involved in Experimental Aircraft Association’s Young Eagle Program and the Red Tail Project, which is restoring a Tuskeegee Airmen P51 Mustang.
Since founding Cirrus 24 years ago in a dairy barn in Baraboo, WI, the Klapmeiers have grown Cirrus Design into a global brand, with a formidable international sales and service network. Cirrus manufactures three models of aircraft, which includes the best selling aircraft for five consecutive years, the SR22. Cirrus employs about 850 people in two facilities. Grand Forks, ND is home to a- state- of- the art, composite lay-up and curing facility. Duluth, MN is home to Cirrus’ world head quarters and where bonding, final assembly and customer delivery of aircraft also take place.
Mr. Klapmeier holds degrees in business administration and economics from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. As a private pilot Mr. Klapmeier has logged more than 3,000 hours of flight time.
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BRENT WOUTERS is President and Chief Executive Officer of Cirrus Aircraft. He joined Cirrus Aircraft in April of 2002 as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and was elevated to President and Chief Operating Officer in early 2008.
Brent brings both broad and in-depth experiences in business and aviation that will help build upon Cirrus’ strong success. As part of his new role, he handles most of the day-to-day operations in Duluth, and helps set the overall strategy for the company. Furthermore, Brent spends much of his time involved in wider efforts to promote growth in the General Aviation industry and concentrates his time with the Cirrus customer community to learn how Cirrus can better serve current and future aircraft owners.
Prior to Cirrus, Brent was the Chief Financial Officer of International Payment Services, where he was instrumental in completing 11 acquisitions. Wouters was also previously an awardâwinning equity analyst, an information technology consultant. His background in the financial services industry includes corporate startups, corporate restructuring and turnaround, and equity research in engineering and technology.
He has also worked as an Aircraft Engineer and Flight Simulator Engineer at Delta Air Lines and has worked with Lockheed Martin in overseeing proprietary software design as a Technology Consultant for Andersen Consulting.
Wouters holds an M.B.A. from Georgia State University, an M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Iowa State University, and a B.A. in Math and Physics from Iowa’s Graceland University.
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PATRICK WADDICK is Executive Vice President of Operations leading an engineering team renowned for innovation in the general aviation industry. Patrick joined Cirrus Design Corporation in 1988 contributing to the early engineering efforts on the model VK30 composite pusher-configuration aircraft. Transitioning from VK30 Chief Engineer to ST50 Project Engineering Manager, Patrick led a joint Cirrus and Israeli design team through to early flight testing stages.
Patrick began his professional affiliations first with AIAA at the UW-Madison as a student chapter Vice President. In 2004, he was the recipient of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Hap Arnold Award for Excellence in Program Management. Patrick is also a member of the AOPA and EAA aviation organizations. An active FAA Private Pilot since 1988, he holds a single-engine instrument land rating.
Patrick was educated at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering Mechanics from the School of Engineering in 1989. During his degree program he completed a cooperative education internship with IBM Corporation in East Fishkill, New York.
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STEVE SERFLING is the Executive Vice President of Program Development and is responsible for Design Engineering, Advanced Development Group, Flight Test, and Program Management. Steve joined Cirrus after an extensive and varied career at Honeywell ranging from Senior Technical Writer to New Business Development Manager. He has been with Cirrus for 13 years and began his career as an Electrical and Avionics Engineer. Steve was instrumental in the detail, design and certification of the SR20 & SR22 programs. During his tenure, Steve has been involved in numerous initiatives and subsequently has been a part of many successful team efforts. In addition to the electrical and avionics leadership positions, he was Director of Certification, Director of Design, Director of Customer Service, and Executive Director and later Vice President of the Program Management Office. Steve joined the Advanced Development Group in July 2006 as Vice President of Programs and focused on growing the design team, overseeing the build and flight test development and scheduling.
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IAN BENTLEY is Vice President and Managing Director of International Sales and is responsible for mapping the future of Cirrus’ business outside of the United States.
He joined Cirrus Design in 1997 as Director of Sales Support developing the delivery process and training system that has become an important part of a Cirrus owner’s experience. He then expanded that role as Vice President, Customer Relations to include development of the Cirrus Authorized Service Center network, Training Center network and Air Safety (accident investigation). More recently, as Vice President of Products and Services he created the strategies that led to what we recognize as the modern SR20 and SR22.
Prior to Cirrus, Ian held a variety of technical, sales, marketing and management positions in entrepreneurial computer software companies. He holds a degree in mathematics from the London University.
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JON DAUPLAISE is Vice President of Domestic Sales and is responsible for the strategy and performance of the North American direct sales team and the expansion of Cirrus sales in the United States and Canada.
Jon joined Cirrus in December 2001 as a Corporate Pilot in our Flight Operations Department. Previously at Cirrus he has held roles as Corporate Flight Operations Manager, Regional Sales Manager-Northern Plains & Alaska, and most recently, Domestic Sales Director. Jon directed the development, startup and very substantial growth of the Cirrus Certified program.
Prior to joining Cirrus, Jon served twenty years in the Army and Army Reserve as an AH-64 Apache Helicopter Instructor Pilot/Aviation Officer. Jon is a Commercial/Instrument rated pilot, Helicopter pilot, and Certified Flight Instructor.
Jon graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Criminology. It was in college that Jon got his formal initiation and start into sales, selling life and personal insurance while still a student.
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TODD SIMMONS joined Cirrus as Vice President of Marketing in early 2008 and is responsible for the ongoing global development and growth of the Cirrus Aircraft brand.
Todd has more than 20 years experience in marketing, organizational development, and business leadership at both boutique firms and Fortune 500 companies. At Cirrus, Simmons is focusing the firm’s marketing resources and activities on new print and online media outreach; new direct and partner marketing initiatives; and expanded public relations. Emphasis is being placed on continuing to increase Cirrus participation outside the traditional GA-pilot space and incremental to the incumbent base.
Simmons held titles at Delta Air Lines and American Airlines including positions in marketing development, international marketing communications, and revenue management. He holds a Bachelor’s in Industrial and Systems Engineering from Georgia Tech and an MBA with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Todd is an avid pilot and prior to Cirrus served as President and CEO of Cub Crafters.
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