Leadership
Ralph A. Kaiser
President, CEO and Chairman of the Board
Ralph Kaiser has been President, CEO & Chairman of the Board of Universal Air Travel Plan, Inc. (UATP) since 2003. During that time he has launched and led UATP on several important growth initiatives resulting in network charge volume growth from US$ 7 billion in 2003 to over US$ 12 billion for 2011. Previous to his appointment as CEO, Kaiser played an instrumental role in numerous UATP business initiatives while serving as UATP General Counsel from 2000 to 2003.
Before joining UATP, Kaiser developed his international legal and business portfolio at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) and the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. (Ex-Im Bank) as an advisor to the senior management and Board for both organizations. He received his Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the Carey School of Business at Johns Hopkins University and a Juris Doctorate (JD) from Emory University School of Law. Kaiser also has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Millsaps College and attended both Regent’s College, Kings College of Law, University of London and the London School of Economics (SCUU).
Tom Cunningham
Vice President, Business Development
As vice president of Business Development, Tom Cunningham manages the research and development of new business opportunities as well as industry risk analysis for UATP member airlines. These projects require the Business Development team to work and coordinate closely with all UATP departments, member airlines and outside vendor parties. Cunningham received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Banking and Finance) and a Juris Doctor degree, both from the University of Arkansas. He has held previous positions as a Legislative Assistant to a United States Representative, an associate attorney and as a vice president of an internet-based sales company.
David Holmes
Vice President, Global Sales
David Holmes joined UATP in July of 2002 and currently serves as Vice President, Global Sales where he is responsible for the development and execution of the company’s sales strategies with prospective airline issuers and merchants. Holmes also oversees the management of UATP’s existing airline relationships and is tasked with growing the base of airline merchants who leverage UATP’s alternative payment connectivity and back-office reconciliation offerings. Prior to joining UATP, Holmes was with EchoStar Communication’s Dish Network division where he was responsible for business-to-business product sales in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan region.
Holmes holds a B.S. in Marketing from George Mason University and an M.B. A. from the University of Miami.
Jason Miller
Chief Financial Officer
Prior to joining UATP as Treasurer & Controller in June 2008, Jason was a Senior Manager with Marriott International’s Accounting Policy Group where his responsibility was focused on ensuring the Company’s compliance with SEC Reporting requirements. Prior to joining the Accounting Policy Group, Jason had experience with Marriott International’s Internal Audit Department where he was responsible for both International Property audits as well as corporate compliance testing including certain Sarbanes Oxley responsibilities. Prior to joining Marriott, he was a Manager with KPMG LLP where he focused on the audits of Federal Government clients. Jason started his career with Ernst & Young LLP where he focused on audits of Public Corporations, family owned businesses, healthcare organizations, and emerging technology companies. Jason holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is a CPA (DC).
Patricia Vercelli
General Counsel
Patricia Vercelli serves as General Counsel to UATP, and represents the company on commercial and legal affairs, international issues, and corporate governance matters relating to the organization’s board and shareholders. Prior to joining UATP, Vercelli worked as a lawyer in the Washington, DC offices of the Philadelphia law firm of Drinker, Biddle & Reath LLP. She received an LLM (Master of Laws) in International Law from Georgetown University Law Center, and a JD (Juris Doctor) from the American University. Patricia is a member of the US Supreme Court Bar, the American Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association and the Maryland Bar Association.
Gary Zannotti
Vice President, Operations & Services
As vice president of Operations, Gary Zannotti is responsible for managing the Operations division which includes an infrastructure team, a regional operations team, and training & compliance as well as UATP’s Settlement Service, ATCAN and the authorization system. In the airline industry since 1997, Zannotti has held various positions at American Airlines including Senior Financial Analyst and Marketing Development Manager. He received both an undergraduate degree and MBA from Oklahoma State University.
