Brazil-Florida Business Award Honorees

Gary J. Spulak serves as President of Embraer Aircraft Holding, Inc. which is Embraer’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiary. In this role, he is responsible for the oversight of Embraer’s operating companies in the United States encompassing 1,400 employees and eight locations.

Spulak’s career with Embraer began at the time the company was just emerging as a player in the regional aviation industry. In 1983 as Vice President of Product Support and Information Technology he developed and directed the infrastructure to support the successful Bandeirante and Brasilia commercial aircraft in North America. In 1991 he was named Executive Vice President assuming additional responsibility for customer technical assistance, training and the administrative areas of the company including direct participation in efforts to develop and launch the ERJ 145 regional jet. 

In 1995 he assumed responsibility for supporting the industrial and financial operations of Embraer, developing financing alternatives, fund raising and investor relations. He was also responsible for customer sales finance and directed the creation of structures to support the ERJ 145 family regional jet sales to airlines in North America and Europe. 

Spulak began his professional career with Federated Department Stores developing cross division IT solutions. He later joined the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse Coopers as a management consultant specializing in manufacturing, retailing, distribution and real estate. 

He currently serves as board member for Enterprise Florida and on the Board of Governors for the Wings Club and the Aerospace Industry Association. He is a member of the Visiting Committee for the University of Miami’s College of Engineering, and serves on the Board of Advisors for the Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce Florida. He previously served on the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT) Board of Directors and as Vice Chairman of the Board for Space Florida. 

Born in New York City, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Miami, and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Barry University, where he was recognized in  2010 as a Distinguished Alumni. Spulak was the Honoree of the 2015 Brazil-Florida Business Award given by the Brazil-Florida Business Council, Inc. in Tampa, Florida.