Jesse Smith, CPA, CA
President, Pilot, PRM
Trained as an accountant at MNP LLP, Ken’s son Jesse joined the team at Upper Valley Aviation Ltd. in 2007. Jesse is a CPA, CA and has worked with his father, Ken in the industry since he was a boy. Jesse is also a pilot. After attending college, Jesse went back to work for UVA for the summer as a paint prepper as he had done in the past but decided to seek out further eductation and went on MNP to earn his designation as a Chartered Professional Accountant. Jesse is looking after more of the day-to-day as Ken moves to taking on purely a sales and over-seeing role in the company.
Ken Smith
Founder, Sales, Director, Pilot
With more than 10,000 hours piloting small aircraft and 30 years in the aviation industry, Ken knows all the nuances that transform a good plane into a great plane. Founder and President, Ken remains at the helm of Upper Valley Aviation Ltd. and is actively involved in operations and sales.
Jess Alfonso
Director
Jess Alfonso holds two MBAs, one in Business and one in Finance. He speaks English and Spanish. Jess partnered with Ken Smith in the late 1990s and has been instrumental in helping facilitate growth and success at UVA.
Mike Martin
PMP Professional, Project Manager, AME(M1), AME(S), Pilot, QA Manager
Mike has been at UVA for over seven years now. He has his Project Management Professional designation, is a pilot and holds both his AME M1 and Structures ratings. Mike has been trained in SMS management and QA Management. Mike took on the role as QA manager in 2019 and handles our QA functions and processes most paperwork related to work orders and maintenance releases.
John Golding
Paint Manager
John has been painting since 1996. John continuously looks for ways to raise the bar on quality, and personally oversees all work in the paint shop.
Nathan Saretzky
Quality Assurance Coordinator, Training Manager, AME(M1)
Nathan started his career as a structures apprentice with a diploma from UFV, working for various AMO’s in B.C. until he graduated from BCIT with a diploma from the AME M program. Spending the remainder of his apprenticeship working for AMO’s throughout Alberta and B.C.
Nathan is now in the Quality Assurance position. He is a licenced AME M1 with a specialization in Piper, Cessna, and Diamond Aircraft as well as Sheet metal structures.
