I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude for the services that you and your team have provided to our company for two decades now! Your professionalism and experience have helped Sterling become a well-rounded organization with safety as a top priority. Our flight department went from a 2-airplane operation to a 15-airplane operation. Very quickly. As our mission has changed over the years, your continual involvement in Sterling's safety culture has been greatly appreciated, and we can't thank you enough for all the help over the years. We continue to look forward to building on this great friendship we share.

I first met Az in the late 1980s when he was a check airman at FSI. As a young pilot, I was a bit intimidated—he typed me in both the G1159 and CL60—but what stood out was his unwavering commitment to aviation safety. Years later, as Aviation Manager at Apache Corp, I reached out to his company, AvSource, when we began pursuing IS-BAO certification. My goal wasn’t just compliance—it was to build the safest flight department possible. With Az’s guidance, we evolved from a “can-do” operation into a “can-do-it-safely” culture. Not everyone was on board at first—some questioned the value, others felt threatened. But by the time we achieved Stage III, there was no doubt: the process was not only worthwhile—it was essential. By the time I retired, the focus on safety was embedded in everything we did. Az played a key role in that transformation. If I were still leading the department, I’d continue bringing in AvSource for periodic mini-audits to maintain momentum. I’ve recommended Az to several operators and remain grateful for his deep dedication to improving every department he touches.