(April 2026)
In 2022, the inaugural edition of “Connections” championed the unique way in which the company had formed two years prior as an “entrepreneurial family reunion”, thanks to many team members having already worked together for several decades.
The family reunion theme struck again with the recent hiring of Jeff Brooks, FPI’s new Director of Sales. Jeff first met FPI’s current team through his tenure at ARINC (under the umbrella of Rockwell Collins), after Collins had acquired FPI’s predecessor company, Air Routing International (ARI).
The net result of the many mergers and acquisitions from that season was that Jeff synced up over a decade ago with FPI’s current sales executives — Tiki Mameli (Sr. Sales Manager, South), Dianne Tarantino (Sr. Sales Manager, North), and Jim Davis (Sr. Sales Manager, West), and therefore it was a natural fit to bring Jeff back into the fold to support the growth that FPI is experiencing today.
Their initial connection point almost didn’t happen, however, had Jeff decided to continue on his original path as a Division-Three-golfer-turned-club-pro who frequented tours around the country for over six years.
Deciding the pro game wasn’t “meant to be forever,” Jeff instead set his sights on business development and sales thanks to wise advice from older gentlemen on the golf course.
After two years of selling copier equipment (for the rite of passage of physical door-knocking and being kicked out of offices), Jeff eventually pursued sales at ARINC (Annapolis), admittedly out of his comfort zone, thanks to wise advice from his wife.
Whether working with maintenance teams or directors, chief pilots, crew, schedulers, or other service teams, Jeff has been supporting the missions of business jet operators ever since. For aviation, Jeff has sold everything from trip support services to flight planning, from cabin connectivity to scheduling software… all relevant knowledge that gels perfectly within the realm of services that FPI offers to clients worldwide.
“Having technical knowledge is a given in this industry,” said Matt Pahl, COO of FPI. “Jeff brings something even more valuable: natural leadership. Add his prior experience working alongside our sales team, and he becomes a standout, all-around fit for the Sales Director role.”
Jeff points to his upbringing in a military family as the foundation of his leadership style — learning early how to quickly connect, earn trust, and bring people together in constantly shifting environments.
“In aviation, success depends on alignment, precision, and trust — values I’ve carried with me since growing up in a military family,” Jeff states. “I see that same mindset reflected across FPI’s team. It’s an honor to step into this role and help guide a group so deeply committed to mission-ready service.”
For now, Jeff will be focused on strategizing and organizing FPI’s growth endeavors already underway; however, he will also be taking a hands-on sales role in the field with new territories similar to the regions managed by Tiki, Dianne, and Jim.
“Adding Jeff’s energy to the team is a win-win for everyone,” states Dianne. “His presence will allow us to extend farther and provide FPI’s services to clientele previously unreached. Plus, it’s just fun to reconnect with an old colleague who brings a fresh outlook to the table.”
“Jeff is a joy to work with,” says Tiki. “He has a lot of wisdom for his years, and he’ll continue to go far in this industry. I’m glad he’s chosen to do so with us at FPI.”
Jim concurs, “Jeff is a rockstar, and supercharges the team. I speak for everyone in saying that we are looking forward to seeing where his leadership takes us internally and how it will elevate our clients.”
We hope you have a chance to meet Jeff in person at one of the many upcoming events on FPI’s schedule. But don’t worry, even if you happen to meet this former golf pro on the course at a BizAV golf outing, he’ll still make room for others (of all skills) to tee up and shine, which is exactly what great leaders do.
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To learn more about FPI, FPC, or regarding the Compliance, Operations, Regulatory, and other Special Services Network (SSN) teams, please contact our Operations staff here at Flight Pro International.
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