With over 35 years of rich experience in the airline, air charter, and transportation industry, Michele Wilkinson has established herself as an accomplished operations executive. She has capably taken on challenging projects worldwide, such as manageing Bon Jovi’s Worldwide tour, transporting all his band and stage equipment by charter flights to over a dozen countries in a chartered cargo aircraft.

Her career trajectory includes ten years of experience at Braniff International, a major international airline based in Dallas, Texas, where she began in reservations, ticketing and sales. There, she climbed the ladder, eventually becoming the first female ramp and operations manager at DFW International Airport for Braniff.

Michele also gained substantial experience with The Flying Tiger Line, a multi billion dollar all cargo carrier who was later purchased by FedEx, where she honed her skills in sales, operations, and management. 

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Michele's versatility eventually led her to found Tailwind International, an air charter company, in 1989. Under her leadership, Tailwind arranged air charters for groups as diverse as UN peacekeepers, Arctic Winter Games participants, Lockheed Martin, and US Navy personnel.

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Tailwind and the US State Department worked together to charter a US 747 for the transportation of empty bladders into Libya for the removal of the WMD’s when during Gaddafi’s rule, he gave up his weapons of mass destruction. In 2011, Michele expanded the company's operations by purchasing a Part 135 certificated airline of Falcon 20 jets, operated both domestically and internationally.

 

Six years later, she founded Wine Flights VIP, an innovative endeavor merging her aviation background with the hospitality industry to provide high-end, exclusive experiences into unique and private vineyards. And Tailwind merged with Global Wings Express in 2016, after 27 successful years of operation.

 

A life member of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) and recipient of prestigious awards, Michele, with her unquenchable thirst for learning and problem-solving, continues to raise the bar in service and communication excellence. She has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to fostering talent and making a difference, leading by her motto: