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Fun in the sun for Stacie Rine

Sept. 13, 2011, Lakeland, Fla. - SUN ’n FUN President John R. “Lites” Leenhouts today announced that Stacie L. Rine has been named Director of Business Development for the SUN ’n FUN International Fly-In & Expo.


September 13, 2011  By Carey Fredericks

In making the announcement, Leenhouts said he was impressed not only with Rine’s strong business and communications background but also with her extensive flying experience in both military and general aviation environments.

“If I could have written a description for the type of person we were looking for to fill this position, it would describe Stacie Rine,” Leenhouts said.  “Not only is Stacie an experienced pilot, but she is also an experienced businessperson who owned and operated several successful businesses.  Add to this Stacie’s distinguished military career as a pilot, instructor, tactical action officer and air operations officer and she brings the total package to her new position here at SUN ’n FUN.  She is ideally suited to meet the challenges of what we’re trying to accomplish in the weeks and months ahead.”

Rine is a 1995 graduate of the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, with a Bachelor of Science degree in English curriculum.  She expects to receive her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of South Florida in 2013

Rine served in the Navy for 13 years, departing in 2008 after serving successively as Protocol Officer at the Naval Academy; P-3C Plane/Mission Commander, Functional Check Flight Pilot, Administration/Operations/Quality Assurance Division Officer at Barbers Point, Hawaii; Multi-Engine Advanced Instructor Pilot and Basic Officer Leadership Training Course Facilitator and Detachment Officer in Charge at Corpus Christi, Texas; Tactical Action Officer and Division Officer aboard the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy (CV-67) aircraft carrier deployed to the Arabian Gulf; and as Lt. Commander, Air Operations Officer at Mayport, Florida.  During her Navy career, she logged more than 1,000 hours as pilot in command.

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After retiring from the Navy, Rine owned and operated two Massage Heights franchises in Jacksonville, FL, that earned national franchisee recognition in several top performing categories and set several international records for sales success.  Immediately prior to joining the SUN ’n FUN staff, Rine also served as President of JM Snell Consulting, a Jacksonville, FL-based company she established to provide consulting services to other franchisees and small business owners who were struggling to successfully market and develop their locations. 

Rine currently holds a commercial pilots license in single and multi-engine instrument (land) and is type rated in the Lockheed L-188 “Electra.”  She is also an Instructor Pilot in the T-44 “Pegasus” (the military version of the Beech “King Air”).  Rine has logged a total of more than 2,000 hours in military and civilian aircraft.

“Flying – and the Navy – are in my blood,” Rine explained.  “My Dad obtained his private pilot’s license after serving in the Navy as a crew member of the Douglas A-3D ‘Skywarrior.’ My Mom worked for New York Airways with transport flights and then with passenger service for American Airlines.  I grew up hearing stories about my parents' early involvement in aviation and I loved to look at slides of the various airplanes they owned.  But it wasn’t until I visited SUN ’n FUN with my Dad back in 1983 that I discovered my own enthusiasm for flying.  Through the years, I have become passionate about aviation and plan to put that energy to work here at SUN ’n FUN!”

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