Team

Mark Payne

Partner

Mark Payne, a founder and partner of MENTE Group, LLC, has 20 years experience in the aviation industry spanning sales & marketing, operations and finance. Previously, he was a founder and partner at Leading Edge Aviation Solutions, LLC, a corporate aviation consulting and brokerage firm.

Prior to Leading Edge, Payne was a thirteen-year veteran of American Airlines, where he had held multiple leadership roles in both domestic and international arenas. Prior to American, he held a vice president's position at Rockwall International, Inc., an international trade corporation based in Dallas, TX. Mark speaks fluent Spanish, has lived in Mexico and Central America and has conducted business throughout Latin America.

Payne, a Dallas native, holds an MBA from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and a BA degree in Latin American Studies from the University of Texas.  Mark and his wife have one son and live in the Dallas area.  He is an avid endurance athlete having completed multiple Ironmans, ultra-marathons, marathons and cycling events.

Brian Proctor

Partner

Brian Proctor, a founder and Partner of Mente Group, LLC, and has been serving private aviation clients for 10 years.  Having been involved in over $3.5 billion in aircraft transactions and over $5 billion in aviation business planning, Brian's experience is sought by corporations and individuals, worldwide.  

After serving for six years in the US Army as an infantry Ranger and intelligence officer, Brian left the military to pursue a career in the private sector.  After working at Transamerica Corporation, Mr. Proctor served as consultant, COO and President of CAAP and later Leading Edge.

Brian serves on several industry boards and is involved with the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas.  He holds a BA degree in International Studies in Politics and Diplomacy from the University of Richmond and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Donald L. Hammer

Vice President

Don Hammer comes to Mente Group, LLC from his last position as Vice President – Technical Services for Leading Edge Aviation Solutions, LLC. Prior to Leading Edge he was Director of Maintenance for Dresser Industries, Inc., a Fortune 200 oil services company based in Dallas, Texas.

During his corporate aviation career, Don has held positions of Aircraft Mechanic, Flight Mechanic, Type Rated Flight Engineer, Quality Control Specialist, Maintenance Supervisor and Director of Maintenance.  Having been a part of one of the industry’s best flight departments for 23 years and consulting to corporate aviation for over 14 years, he has the knowledge and skills to advise clients on virtually any aviation-related matter.

As a consultant, Don has been involved with the completion processes of in excess of 150 private aircraft ranging in size from Citation to Boeing. He is also an IS-BAO certified auditor with a thorough knowledge of not only the US FARs, but also EU Ops, OTAR’s, and EASA regulations.  He not only provides worldwide IS-BAO audit services, but also “best industry practices” types of safety reviews and audits of management companies and flight departments and has been called on to serve as an Expert Witness in several aviation related cases.

Don has been selected by industry leaders to serve on several aviation boards.  These have included being a Customer Moderator for the Gulfstream IV session of the annual Gulfstream Workshop, being a member of the Cessna Citation X Advisory Board, and serving as a member of the Gulfstream V MSG-3 Maintenance Planning Committee.

He is a licensed A&P Technician and Private Pilot that enjoys flying light aircraft and gliders as often as he can.  He has built up a considerable amount of experience since entering the consulting field and, through Mente Group, continues to provide his special talents to corporate aviation. 

Brian Hammer

Vice President

Brian Hammer is a Vice President at Mente Group and has a broad-based background in technical aspects of aviation.  Prior to Mente, he was a technical consultant at Leading Edge Aviation Solutions, an aircraft brokerage and consulting firm. 

Brian’s aviation career includes serving as an Aircraft Technician in the United States Air Force working on the F-117 and F-16 fighter and more specifically in corporate avaition as a Maintenance Supervisor for Business Jet Solutions, where he oversaw 10 large-cabin business jets and 15 mid-cabin business jets. Brian is well-versed in Part 91 and 135 operations and has participated in hundreds of new and pre-owned business jet deliveries.  He is also Mente’s appraisal specialist performing certified appraisals and market value analyses for financial institutions and clients.

Brian received his B.S. in Business Management from the University of Phoenix in July 2004. He is a Texas native and lives with his wife and children in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex.

Lyndsey Aldridge

Director of Strategic Asset Management

Lyndsey Aldridge serves as the Director of Strategic Asset Management for MENTE Group.  Lyndsey is focused on providing clients with superior service and representation through the combination of market intelligence, industry relationships and regard for the complex aircraft ownership experience.

Prior to joining MENTE Group, Lyndsey served as Vice President of Finance for Leading Edge Aviation Solutions, LLC.  During her five years at Leading Edge, Lyndsey successfully worked her way from analyst and consultant to a VP role, gaining multiple perspectives of aircraft ownership and developing significant relationships within private aviation.  Lyndsey has been involved in over $1 billion in aviation business planning and offers big-picture, yet detail-oriented perspective.  Beyond private aviation, Lyndsey also brings experience from the banking and healthcare industries.

Lyndsey holds a BBA degree in Finance and Accounting and an MBA in Finance from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.  Lyndsey is originally from San Diego and is now living in the Dallas area with her husband and children.  

Chad Collins

Executive Sales Director

Chad Collins is an Executive Sales Director for Mente Group. Prior to Mente, Collins was a National Fleet Development Director at JetDirect/Sentient Flight Group.

Chad’s aviation background includes aircraft sales, aircraft management under FAR Part 91 & Part 135 and aviation asset management. His technical experience included SMS program creation and oversight of ARG/US Platinum certification under FAR 135. He is a member of NBAA, NAFA and previously a member in NARA.

In addition to aviation Chad has an extensive background in agriculture with farms and ranches in Texas and New Mexico. He is married with two children and resides in Aubrey, TX.

Kyle Foddrill

Executive Sales Director

Kyle Foddrill is an Executive Sales Director at Mente.  Kyle started his aviation career at Jack Prewitt & Associates in aircraft sales.  Foddrill is seasoned in domestic and international transactions and specializes in Gulfstream markets.  To date he has transacted in excess of $1 billion in aircraft value.

Prior to dedicating his career to aviation, Kyle played minor league professional hockey as a center and left wing.  His hockey career had him skating in New Orleans, Cleveland and Fort Worth.  Kyle is from Ann Arbor, MI, is married with two children and resides in the Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex.

James C. Lichlyter

Associate Consultant

James Lichlyter serves as an Associate Consultant for Mente Group and brings with him a wealth of technical experience gained over 30 years in the aviation industry.  As an accredited IS-BAO auditor since 2007, James partners with clients to assist them with IS-BAO registrations, be it Stage I, II or III. 

In addition to fluency with audit and registration protocols, James has developed IS-BAO compliant flight operations manuals for over forty operators of US, Bermuda, Cayman and Aruban registered aircraft. 

Prior to his work as an auditor, James spent 21 years in various maintenance  roles at a Part 125 operator, Aramco Associated Company.  Positions at Aramco included Line Flight Engineer, Flight Engineer Check Airman, Senior Flight Engineer and Maintenance Supervisor.  During Lichlyter’s tenure at Aramco, he was involved with Boeing and McDonnell Douglas equipment. 

Early in James’ career, he held maintenance technician positions, among others, with Stambaugh’s Air Service and Evergreen International Airlines.  In addition to IS-BAO accredited auditor, James holds a private pilot’s license and A&P certificate and graduated from Embry-Riddle as an Associate of Science in Professional Aeronautics.