MIKE PURPURA

Illinois State Liaison

After his enlistment in the Navy, Mike earned a degree in Environmental Science and went on to start a brokerage in Eastern Oregon specializing in agricultural land and ranches. Hiring local pilots to ferry him and his clients around large ranch properties, proved to be expensive and complicated. He decided to buy a Cessna 170B and learn to fly. That was the beginning of many long friendships with interesting people and a completely different view of this great country.  Aviation changed his life and opened up many opportunities.

Mike is currently director of business development for Electric Conduit Construction and Midwestern Contractors. His responsibilities include customer acquisition and development, as well as marketing. His career in sales and marketing, has spanned commercial real estate, scientific publishing, oil and gas pipeline construction, and wireless infrastructure construction.

He has flown his 170B throughout the U.S. and as far North as Tuktoyuktuk, NWT Canada. He is a rated glider pilot, a board member of Windy City Soaring Association, and a member of AOPA, and the Illinois Pilots Association.

Mike lives in Glenview, IL with his wife Mari. They have four grown children.

630-936-3282
mpurpura@theraf.org