Meet the Sky Bird Team
Sky Bird wouldn’t be where we are today without the hard work and dedication of our staff.
Norm Knowles
Chief Executive Officer
Beginning in 2023, Norm Knowles was appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sky Bird Travel & Tours. For the past 19 years, he worked for cxLoyalty / Chase Travel, where he was responsible for many aspects of the business. He holds a degree in business from the University of Minnesota, where his wife, two children, and himself are originally from.
Arvin Shah
Chairman
Arvin Shah is the Chairman of Sky Bird Group, the largest travel wholesaler in the USA issuing more than 700 million USD in airline tickets from over 90 airline partners. Both Sky Bird Group and Arvin hold investments in a number of verticals, including real estate, and technology. He and his wife also support several charities, including the Jaya Rehabilitation Center in India.
Raj Patel
Chief Operating Officer
Raj Patel joined Sky Bird in 1981 and quickly rose through the ranks from part-time ticketing agent to Chief Operating Officer (COO) in 2017. Over the years, he has seen the company grow from 4 employees to 180 employees in North America. Raj holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Wayne State University in Michigan.
John Burbidge
Chief Financial Officer
As Chief Financial Officer (CFO), John Burbidge oversees Sky Bird’s entire financial operation. Having over 35 years with the company, John has seen and weathered drastic changes in both industry and travel technology. He has an MBA from Wayne State University in Michigan and enjoys baseball and spending time with his wife and daughter.
Neetu Singh
Marketing Director
Neetu Singh joined the Sky Bird team in 2017 as head of Sky Bird’s marketing department. She earned her undergraduate degree followed by an MBA from Walsh College in Michigan. Neetu enjoys using her knowledge of consumer behavior and marketing to answer client needs and enhance the user experience.
Michael Dunne
Business Development Director
Since 2015, Michael Dunne has led the Customer Service division and risen to Business Development Director. He often represents Sky Bird at industry events and webinars. Michael earned a BS at Northern Illinois University in Chicago, then decided science wasn’t for him and entered the travel industry, where he’s been for over 33 years.