Executive Team

Ted Vallas	Founder, Chairman of the Board Ted Vallas has been a businessman and entrepreneur in North County San Diego for over 60 years. He has developed and managed over 40 businesses ranging from the construction of golf courses around the world to building and running resorts. Ted was the co-founder and President of General Design and Instrumentation Company (Scanivalve), a wind tunnel and instrumentation company. In the 1970’s, Ted formed a regional airline called Air Resorts which ran for 17 years. They operated out of Lindbergh Airport serving Burbank, Phoenix, Tucson and other point-to-point destinations. Ted also provided charter service as well as support to a number of government programs. During this time, he formed the Super 580 Aircraft Company, which was created to reconfigure and increase the seating capacity of the Convair 580. Ted holds a B.A. degree from Balboa University and an MBA from Cal Western University.
John Selvaggio	President, Chief Executive Officer John Selvaggio began his airline career in the American Airlines Finance organization, attaining the position of Chief Accounting Officer (Assistant Controller - Corporate Accounting) at the age of 26. After spending 13 years in Finance, he moved into Airport Operations, Sales and Marketing, and then headed up the Strategic Planning organization, crafting the successful business plans that created several hubs, AA’s expansion into International markets, the merger with AirCal (and subsequent integration), and the creation of American Eagle. He spent six years as President of California-based Wings West (American Eagle), before joining post-bankruptcy Midway Airlines as President and CEO, where he created the bankruptcy-emergence business plan that moved the company from Chicago to Raleigh Durham in 1995. After selling Midway to a group of local investors in 1997, John joined US Airways where he managed the regional operations of ten carriers. Delta Airlines recruited John in 1999 for the role of Senior VP – Airport Customer Services, where he was responsible for creating Delta’s industry-leading airport technology, including the development of the check-in kiosks and the flat screen monitors at the gates, as well as a host of behind-the-scenes technologies. His most recognized and important accomplishment was as Founder, President and CEO of Song Airlines, Delta’s highly acclaimed low cost, high tech subsidiary that introduced several new concepts in Customer Service. After retiring early due to the Delta bankruptcy, Delta re-hired him in 2007 to be President and CEO of Comair, in order to re-build employee morale and operational performance. During his entire airline career, he has developed a reputation for taking innovative approaches to tackle the most challenging projects and completing them in record time, and under budget.
Steve Tracas	Chief Operating Officer Steve Tracas has extensive background within the travel industry, most recently as President and Chief Executive Officer of Vacation.com – North America’s Largest Vacation Selling Network – with member locations throughout the United States and Canada. Vacation.com, based in Alexandria, Virginia was owned by Amadeus, a travel technology company, with Steve reporting to their global headquarters in Madrid, Spain. Steve has experience in distribution, electronic commerce, online sales and aviation. Prior to Vacation.com, Steve served as President of Orbitz for Business, based in Chicago. Steve was responsible for overseeing all aspects of the business including strategy, business development, technology, marketing and sales. In 2004, Orbitz for Business received the Chicago Sun-Times Innovation Award. Before joining Orbitz, Steve served as Vice President for US Airways from 1997-2004 based in Crystal City, Virginia. While at US Airways, Steve led a team that developed usairways.com which was recognized by eMarketer and NPD New Media Services as the #1 airline Web site. Steve was also responsible for corporate and travel agency sales, airline distribution, electronic commerce and global Cargo operations. Previously, Steve held a number of leadership positions during his 19-year career with AMR Corporation including positions at American Airlines and the Sabre Group. He joined AMR in 1978 and held positions in San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, Los Angeles and Dallas, progressing to Managing Director Passenger Sales for American Airlines covering the Western United States. Steve also served as Managing Director for the Sabre Group from 1990 until 1995, responsible for travel agency technology sales and training within the Western United States and later oversaw Sabre’s National Account agency program. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Technology from Arizona State University in Tempe. His wife Stevi and their two daughters reside in Carlsbad, California.
Victor E. Ramirez	Corporate Secretary and Counsel Victor E. Ramirez is a retired California Superior Court Judge who served as a judge in San Diego County for twenty-three years during which he received numerous Judicial Honors and awards for his public service. Before his appointment to and following his retirement from the bench, Victor has been active in San Diego County taking part in many different business roles including Founder and organizing Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hidden Valley National Bank, a publicly traded corporation, President of the Marine-Iraq Legal Defense Fund, and member of the Board of Directors for other corporations. Since July 2011, Victor has served as in-house counsel and corporate secretary for California Pacific Airlines.
Dean Sinerius	Vice President, Technical Operations Dean has 35 years of experience in aircraft maintenance and maintenance management with FAA Airframe and Power Plant Certification. He began his career in the US Navy as a P-3 flight engineer and later joined Northwest Orient as an A&P mechanic for 6 years before being promoted to management. Dean spent 18 years with Northwest in various management positions before moving on to Champion Air as the Director of Technical Programs. Dean has also worked in management and leadership positions for GE Aircraft Engines, America West, Frontier and the Mesa Air Group. Most notable among his accomplishments are the creation, subsequent FAA approval and implementation of the Aircraft Maintenance Reliability Program and the maintenance tracking and planning computer systems (Trax and Omega) while working with Champion Air and The Mesa Air Group. Dean graduated from Inver Hills College in Minneapolis, MN, with a degree in Aviation Business Management.