In March, 1977, after thirteen months of intensive training, LT(jg) Presson was designated a Naval Aviator. He thereafter received seven additional months' of specialized training on the A-7E Corsair II, the Navy's front line single-seat, single-engine, carrier-based attack aircraft. From 1977 through 1986, he flew the A-7 in all major operational areas of the world. In addition to a deployment with First Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), over the course of his career he flew from the following aircraft carriers: Lexington (CVT-16), Forrestal (CV-59), Saratoga (CV-60), America (CV-66), Kennedy (CV-67), Nimitz (CVN-68) and Vinson (CVN-70). In 1980, while aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68) as a pilot with Attack Squadron Eighty-Two (VA-82) and Carrier Air Wing Eight (CVW-8), he took part in Operation Eagle Claw, the daring but ultimately unsuccessful Iranian embassy hostage rescue attempt. To Geoffrey, flying high-performance, single-seat jet aircraft from aircraft carriers under routinely challenging conditions was an exciting and extremely rewarding way of life. To serve the country while doing so made it an honor and a priviledge.

A-7E CORSAIR II

IN FORMATION WITH ROYAL NEW ZEALAND AIR FORCE

TA-4K SKYHAWK

    CAPTAIN GEOFFREY PRESSON, NORTHWEST AIRLINES

    After over 2,600 hours and ten years of military jet aircraft pilot time and promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, Geoffrey Presson left the active duty Navy in 1986 and joined the U.S. Naval Reserves. After an additional fifteen years of reserve service, he subsequently retired from the Naval Reserve Forces at the rank of Commander on September 1, 2001. During the same period of time and beginning in 1987, Geoffrey flew as an Airline Transport Pilot with Northwest Airlines. He operated on both domestic and international routes, the international flying predominately being routes in the Pacific. He flew for Northwest for the next nineteen years and retired as a McDonnell Douglas DC-9 Captain in 2005. The time he spent as a pilot with Northwest Airlines provided additional experience in such important areas as risk management, leadership, teamwork, planning, procedural adherence and decision-making. 

 GEOFFREY PRESSON, FLORIDA LICENSED REAL ESTATE BROKER

    In mid-1986, Geoffrey Presson became active in the Lake County, Florida business community. Initially, he was the owner/manager of Ameri-quipt, Inc., a 10-person medical equipment company located in Leesburg. After divesting his ownership interest in that firm, he and his wife, Marie, built and operated the Foam Zone Car Wash, also in Leesburg. That business, profitable from day one, was sold in 1997. It is still in operation today.

    In 2005, shortly before his retirement from Northwest Airlines, Geoffrey Presson earned his Florida Real Estate Sales Associate license and began serving as a Licensed Real Estate Professional in the State of Florida. For his first three years in the real estate field, he worked at Barbara L. Johnson Realty, Inc. in Umatilla, Florida. As an integral part of this firm, he specialized in Residential Sales and quickly established a reputation as a thorough, detail-oriented real estate agent.  

    In mid-2008, Geoffrey further advanced his career by passing the examination for and being awarded his Florida Real Estate Broker license. In May, 2009, Geoffrey left Barbara L. Johnson Realty, Inc. and established his own full-service real estate firm, Silver Beach Realty, LLC, located in Umatilla, Florida. This new company is well positioned to serve the real estate needs of the north central portion of the state. Silver Beach Realty customers receive undivided attention to every detail of each real estate transaction. The firm's motto is: "Silver Beach Realty, LLC ..... You've Got A Friend In Umatilla!!"

    In February, 2011, after attending the required courses and completing the examinations, Geoffrey Presson received the coveted Graduate of Realtor Institute (GRI) designation.

    The challenges of current real estate market conditions notwithstanding, Geoffrey Presson continues to find the real estate profession extremely enjoyable and rewarding. To him, the best part of the business is the satisfaction that comes from helping buyers and sellers realize their goals and dreams.