Brandon Fried was appointed to serve as the Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association in November 2005. Brandon has more than 25 years of experience in the air freight industry. He started his career as a sales representative in Los Angeles. He then moved to Washington, D.C. where he began, owned and operated the Washington office of a global freight forwarder specializing in time definite air cargo transportation.

In 2000, Brandon joined the Airforwarders Association and was elected as Chairperson in 2001, serving for two consecutive terms.  In August 2005 he sold his company interest and began consulting air cargo companies on business strategy and management practices until his appointment as Executive Director of the Airforwarders Association.

Brandon represents the Association on all security matters and was recently named by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to serve on the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) working group in counsel to the Transportation Security Administration.  Brandon has also been appointed by U.S. Department of Commerce Acting Secretary Rebecca Blank to serve on the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness.

A graduate of Syracuse University, Brandon holds a Masters in Business Administration and lives in Chevy Chase, MD, with his wife Kim and two children, Evan and Jordan.

Michael Hess - AfA President*
Vice President, Strategic Planning, Associated Global Systems Inc.
Hook Road, Township Square Bldg.
Sharon Hill, PA 19079
Office: (610) 534-8524
E-mail: mike.hess@agsystems.com
Term: 2010-2014

Michelle Halkerston - AfA Director

Robert Mauro - AfA Director
President, Team Worldwide
P.O. Box 668
Winnsboro, TX 75494
Office: (903) 342-3516
Email: robert.mauro@teamww.com
Term: 2013-2016

Michele Wilkinson - AfA Director
President, CEO & Founder, Tailwind International, Inc.
4600 Claire Chennault, Ste. 210
Addison, TX 75001
Office: (972) 380-4407
Email: michele@twintl.com
Term: 2013-2016 

The Airforwarders Association (AfA) serves as the voice of the airforwarding industry.  The association is an alliance of Indirect Air Carriers, Cargo Airlines, and affiliated businesses located throughout the global transportation community.  Airforwarders play a vital role in ensuring the continuous movement of commerce worldwide.

A wide variety of goods are shipped via air cargo – from organs for medical transplants to mail to live animals to manufactured goods such as clothing.  manufacturers rely heavily on air cargo shipments to ensure timely and secure delivery of goods, which is necessary to remain competitive in the global market.