Media Room

Having grown up on a cattle ranch in central Montana, Katie Pribyl didn’t have a lot of exposure to aviation. But after flying to Japan on a 4-H trip in high school, she decided she wanted a seat up front.

After graduating from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Arizona, Katie achieved her dream of becoming an airline pilot at the age of 21 when she flew the Canadair Regional Jet for United Express. Katie’s career took a turn when the airline went out of business after 9/11. Living in Washington, D.C., she decided to try something new and landed a job on Capitol Hill as the Director of Communications for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

In 2012, Katie joined the world’s largest aviation association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), as Vice President of Communications. Katie was promoted to Senior Vice President, Aviation Strategy and Programs in 2016 where she was responsible for it’s You Can Fly program and the Air Safety Institute.

She returned to Montana in 2019 to help manage her family’s 136-year-old cattle ranch and, in 2025, rejoined AOPA as Senior Vice President of Membership Strategy and Growth.

Katie serves on the boards of the Montana Land Reliance in Helena, Montana, and the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington. Katie has remained an active pilot. She logs most of her time in her 1956 Cessna SkyWagon which she lands at the airstrip she and her dad built on the ranch.

Mike Ginter serves as Senior Vice President of the AOPA Air Safety Institute, where he leads efforts to enhance general aviation safety through engaging content, data-driven analysis, and innovative safety initiatives. He assumed this role in 2024 after six years as AOPA’s Vice President of Airports and State Advocacy.

During his tenure in advocacy, Ginter played a key role in protecting general aviation airports, recruiting more than 1,000 volunteers into the AOPA Airport Support Network, and successfully resolving more than 700 airport-related issues for members. In early 2024, he led the planning and execution of the National Celebration of General Aviation Flyover in Washington, D.C., featuring 55 general aviation aircraft to highlight the history and utility of GA.

Before joining AOPA in 2018, Ginter had a distinguished 27-year career in the U.S. Navy, retiring with the rank of Captain. He amassed more than 5,300 flight hours, completed 555 carrier landings, undertook four deployments to the Persian Gulf, commanded a jet squadron, and served as operations officer for the USS John F. Kennedy. In 2003, he led the team that demonstrated the capabilities of the Lockheed S-3 Viking, and his squadron received the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award.

As an active general aviation pilot, Ginter earned his private pilot certificate at 18 and has continued flying throughout his career. He previously owned a T-6 Texan and currently flies a 1972 Beechcraft A36 Bonanza and a Cessna 172, which his wife, Donna, routinely flies.

Ginter’s leadership at the Air Safety Institute is focused on expanding ASI’s reach and impact, ensuring that pilots have the resources and training they need to operate safely in today’s airspace.

Jim Coon is the senior vice president for Government Affairs and Advocacy, where he is responsible for the implementation of AOPA’s political, legislative, and regulatory initiatives and policies before Congress, federal agencies, and state legislatures.

Prior to joining AOPA, Jim had over three decades of experience working with Congress and the aviation industry. He held the role of staff director for the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for several years and served as staff director on the Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee. During his 25-year tenure on Capitol Hill, he played a large role in crafting major transportation legislation and was recognized by Roll Call as one of the top five transportation staffers to know. Additionally, he is a board member of the Aero Club of Washington and serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of RTCA, an aviation standards setting organization. Jim also served in leadership roles for the National Air Transportation Association, the Boeing Company, and the Air Transport Association (now A4A).

Jim was appointed secretary general of the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) in 2020. IAOPA was founded in 1962 to facilitate the movement of general aviation aircraft internationally, and today the organization consists of 82 affiliates around the globe. Jim serves as only the sixth IAOPA secretary general in the organization’s 63-year history. In 1964, IAOPA was accepted as the sole general aviation observer to the International Civil Aviation Organization, a distinction the organization maintains to this day.

Jim received a degree in urban planning from Virginia Tech and served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army Reserves and Virginia Army National Guard. He joined AOPA in 2014 and is a student pilot. He and his wife have three children.

Kollin Stagnito is senior vice president of Publications. Stagnito brings a wealth of media knowledge to AOPA and is responsible for managing AOPA’s print and digital media products (including AOPA Pilot—the world’s largest aviation magazine, newsletters, podcasts, and YouTube video channel), and communications.

A native of Pennsylvania, Stagnito graduated from Brown University with a bachelor’s in business economics. He began flying during his senior year in college and within a year earned his private pilot certificate, purchased a Cessna 150, and became an AOPA member. He currently holds commercial pilot and remote pilot certificates, is an advanced and instrument ground instructor, and loves flying his 1953 Cessna 170B. He has logged over 1,600 hours of flight time and has flown more than 30 models of single engine aircraft.

Prior to joining the association in January 2019 as vice president of Publications, he was the CEO of Stagnito Business Information. Between 1991 and 2016, Stagnito, his father, and two brothers—with private equity backing—successfully started, grew, and sold two media companies serving the food and beverage industry: Stagnito Communications and Stagnito Business Information. During this time, he was progressively responsible for sales, marketing, content, audience development, events, research, operations, and mergers and acquisitions.

Elizabeth Tennyson is the Senior Vice President of AOPA Foundation and Programs. In this role, she leads AOPA’s philanthropic arm as well as the You Can Fly program. Elizabeth works with a team of dedicated professionals who focus on building and funding programs that grow the pilot population, improve safety, introduce young people to aviation, and make flying more accessible and affordable.

Tennyson first joined AOPA in 1998. Her past positions have included executive director of You Can Fly, managing editor of Flight Training magazine, executive editor of AOPA Pilot magazine, vice president of publications, vice president of eMedia, and senior director of communications. Tennyson was a television, radio, and Associated Press reporter in Los Angeles, Miami, and Raleigh, North Carolina before joining AOPA. She also served as editor-in-chief for a collection of legal and golf magazines.

Tennyson serves on the boards of the Aerospace Center for Excellence and the Aviation Accreditation Board International and is a member of the Board of Advisors for the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals.

Erica Saccoia joined AOPA in 2009 and currently serves as AOPA’s senior vice president of Finance and Accounting. Saccoia is responsible for the day-to-day management of a team of accountants and operational technicians as well as overseeing all fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities for the organization(s), including financial reporting, planning and budgeting, accounting, risk management, contract management, tax and regulatory compliance, auditing, and all other areas of financial analysis and activity. In addition, her department is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the organization’s internal financial and fiscal policies regarding all financial transactions.

A native of Woodbridge, Virginia, Saccoia graduated from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, with a Bachelor of Science in commerce with a concentration in accounting, and she obtained her certified public accountant license in May 1994.

Prior to joining AOPA, Saccoia was the accounting manager, Financial and Tax Reporting, at NPR for eight years. She started her career with Price Waterhouse as an auditor of the federal government and nonprofit organizations.

Saccoia’s prior experience at AOPA includes senior vice president of Finance and Accounting; vice president, controller; director of Accounting; and Accounting manager, where she was responsible primarily for financial reporting for the Air Safety Foundation and AOPA Foundation.