Q&A with Jonah Adler – Jet Edge

Jonah Adler, Chief Revenue and Marketing Officer, Jet Edge

How long have you been at your current organization?

I have been on the Client Advisory Board of Jet Edge for 2 years, and active in my operating role for 1 year.

What are your responsibilities within your organization?

As CRO/CMO I am responsible for all of the company’s Sales and Marketing efforts. This includes driving strategy and management of all of our sales teams (jet sales, jet management, and charter), and our Marketing/PR/Community team. I also consider one of the most important parts of my role to support our Founder/CEO in helping him continue to execute his vision.

Describe a typical day or week in your role.

I typically spend about 70% of my time at our new HQ on the field at VNY. The remaining balance is split between visiting our customers worldwide, and recruiting amazing talent from both inside and outside aviation to join the Jet Edge team. My days are always pretty structured. Early morning meditation followed by exercise. First meetings/calls start around 08:30. Followed by spending as much time face to face with our team as possible. You can also find me in the hangar every day inspecting aircraft and making sure they look flawless and ready for charter. The true highlight of my day is connecting with my daughter who is 5, and is always very confused when other people are on “her” plane when we fly commercial!

What do you love most about your job?

The best part of my role is being able to see and touch the full lifecycle of our business. From the sale of an aircraft to a new owner, all the way through to seeing that owner enjoy their aircraft and generate the best charter revenue industry-wide to significantly offset their cost of ownership. Nothing gets my adrenaline pumping more than sending an owner the confirmation of a $1m charter.

Why did working in the Business Aviation industry interest you, and how did you get started?

I’ve been passionate about private aviation since the first day I flew private. I caught the bug. Our Founder and CEO Bill Papariella and I met through YPO (Young Presidents Organization), and have been great friends since the day we met 8 years ago. He’s the best sales guy I know, and he sold me on joining him to help continue to grow Jet Edge. I’ve always been attracted to fragmented markets with an opportunity for consolidation. It’s a very exciting time to be in the private aviation space.

Who or what has been your greatest professional influence?

I’ve been really blessed to have some amazing mentors that have built incredible companies and cultures from scratch. I’ll leave them nameless, but they taught me the value and meaning of discipline, hard work, and to always be a man of your word.  I am a big believer in doing what you say you’re going to do, and live by that code.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Thoughtful, disciplined, and relentless.

What one item would you never travel without on a long haul flight?

Sorry I need two: $6 pack of Mack’s earplugs and a silk eye mask

Finally, what is your hidden talent or hobby?

I memorize the phone numbers of people that I interact with regularly instead of saving their contact in my phone. It keeps my brain fresh.