Employees Archives

To Technical Sales Manager

Pro Star Aviation, an innovative aerospace modification center, announced today that Keith Chagnon has been promoted to Technical Sales Manager. Keith started with Pro Star Aviation in 2007 as an Installation Technician, advancing to Avionics Installation Lead/Inspector in 2010. In the Technical Sales Manager role, he will support outside Sales Managers and interact with customers and vendors to provide avionics installation proposals.

Known for his technical and communication qualities, Keith was the right candidate within the company for this position. After more than a decade as our lead Installation Technician and Inspector, Keith had developed a wide range of technical knowledge. “Keith has consistently demonstrated dedication to his craft, and we are confident in his ability to deliver excellent customer service,” stated Jeff Shaw, Director of Sales & Marketing. “His expertise and enthusiasm make him an ideal candidate for the position.”

About Pro Star Aviation

Pro Star Aviation is a premier full-service Business and Special Missions aircraft service center. Located at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in NH, providing innovative solutions, quality craftsmanship, and best-in-class customer service while maintaining the highest level of integrity. https://www.prostaraviation.com/

An Integral Part of the Leadership Team for Over a Decade

(Londonderry, NH) December 22, 2022- Pro Star Aviation, an innovative aerospace modification center, with a great deal of pride and a bit of sadness that we announce Clark Gordon, Director of Sales & Marketing, is retiring on December 30th.

Clark began his career with Pro Star Aviation in 2010 as Director of Sales, where he has been a key contributor in leading the sales and marketing strategy efforts for the past twelve years. He led efforts to design and launch a new website, added social media marketing efforts, and contributed to increasing the customer base over the last decade.

“His dedication and commitment to our organization will be valued and remembered; we will miss Clark, but we are incredibly happy for him as he begins his well-deserved retirement,” stated Sean Peterson, General Manager.

“Serving the Business Aviation community and leading the Pro Star Aviation sales team has been exceptionally rewarding,” said Clark, “The dynamic changes in technology and aircraft modification I’ve seen in my four decades were incredible to experience. I will certainly miss seeing colleagues and friends at aviation events; I’ve had an extraordinary career.”

About Pro Star Aviation

(Londonderry, NH) December 8, 2022- Pro Star Aviation, an innovative aerospace modification center, announced today the promotion of Jeff Shaw to Director of Sales & Marketing.

Jeff has served as the Director of Business Development at Pro Star Aviation for over six years. He was responsible for Program Development and company direction to maintain an edge in the avionics and installation upgrade industry. Jeff will lead a team of three Regional Sales Managers, two Inside Sales Managers, and an Administrative Assistant in his new role. His primary function will be to lead the strategic efforts in growing Pro Star Aviation’s footprint in the Northeast.

Jeff’s career in aviation spans over 25 years, starting as an Ops Agent with the airlines. He’s served as an Avionics Technician and Chief Inspector and earned his BS in Aviation Management at Florida Tech and AS in Aviation Technology at NH Technical College. He holds an FAA Commercial Pilot-Instrument rating and A&P Certificate. “I’m enthusiastic about leading the sales team into 2023 and beyond. It’s an exciting time for the business aviation community with advanced technologies and an aging aircraft market; there’s significant room for growth,” stated Jeff.

About Pro Star Aviation

(Londonderry, NH) September 09, 2022 — Pro Star Aviation, an innovative aerospace modification center, announced today that Mark Ordung rejoined its team as the new Regional Sales Manager for the Mid Atlantic and New York Metropolitan territory. His responsibilities will include sales growth in his territory and partnering with business jet clients to meet their needs.

Mark is no stranger to Pro Star Aviation, having served as Lead Technician and Technical Sales Representative for over ten years. He has spent the last five years leading sales efforts of Satcom Direct and JSSI as a Regional Sales Manager. His extensive background in both the technical aspect and serving business jet customers made him the ideal fit.

“Mark is an incredible asset, and his technical knowledge adds depth to our sales team. Our customers want to know more than the price and time to install equipment, and he can provide a higher level of detail to help the customer overcome any hurdles,” stated Director of Marketing & Sales Clark Gordon. “We are enthusiastic about having Mark back on our team, providing an unsurpassed commitment to our customers.”

About Pro Star Aviation

Pro Star Aviation is a premier full-service Business and Special Missions aircraft service center. Located at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in NH, providing innovative solutions, quality craftsmanship, and best in class customer service while maintaining the highest level of integrity. https://www.prostaraviation.com/

Delivers Fifth Special Mission Cessna Caravan

(Londonderry, NH) October 4, 2022- Pro Star Aviation, an innovative special missions aerospace modification center, announced today, in partnership with CNC Technologies, that they have delivered the fifth high-tech special mission Cessna 208 Caravan that CNC delivered to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

CNC Technologies selected Pro Star Aviation to perform completion services and installation based on their past work experience on special mission platforms. The team integrated digital audio systems, tactical communications, EO/IR camera systems, video downlink, a gross weight increase STC, and additional equipment. “Working with CNC Technologies Our Special Missions team applied proven solutions that enabled an on time and on budget delivery. The technology and operational readiness this law enforcement platform provides is incredible. Our strategic partnership with CNC has enabled an unprecedented advance in capabilities and reliability to the operator,” said John Hill, Business Development Manager-Special Missions.

About Pro Star Aviation

Pro Star Aviation is a premier full-service Business and Special Missions aircraft service center. Located at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in NH, providing innovative solutions, quality craftsmanship, and best in class customer service while maintaining the highest level of integrity. https://www.prostaraviation.com/

Technician Positions Filled to Meet High Demand

(Londonderry, NH) August 11, 2022 — Pro Star Aviation, an innovative aerospace modification center, has increased its team of technicians to meet the high demand for business aviation maintenance and installations. New Maintenance Technicians; Sean Bresnahan, Joseph Daley, Danielle Vezina, a Structural Technician, Andrew Hixson, and Installation Technician Eric Lantigua.

Sean began his career in aviation as an Aircraft Structural Mechanic in the US Airforce. With twenty-two years of experience in various positions ranging from Mechanical Engineer to Business Development. He spent the last three years as a Maintenance Technician at American Airlines.

Danielle Vezina has twenty-five years of aviation maintenance expertise, most recently working on the Bombardier Challenger and Global aircraft. She has extensive experience on Gulfstream aircraft, served as an instructor at the National Aviation Academy, and was an Aircraft Maintenance Manager at Daniel Webster College Flight School.

Joseph served as an Air Force and Massachusetts Air National Guard A-10 Fighter Pilot for twenty-two years and recently completed the AMT program at the National Aviation Academy in Concord, MA.

Andy serves in the US Navy as an Aviation Structural Mechanic on a C130 based in Fort Dix, NJ. He achieved his Bachelor of Sciences in Business at Southern New Hampshire University and has over ten years of experience in aviation.

Eric has provided avionics installation and troubleshooting for the past five years. Recently he served as a Flight Line Readiness Technician for Boeing performing component installation, troubleshooting, and repair.

“The years of aviation experience and knowledge of our new hires combined with our existing technical team will strengthen the services we provide for our customers,” stated Sean Peterson, General Manager. “Business aviation is thriving; we are in a position to ensure we can manage growth and deliver aircraft on time to get customers back in the air.”

About Pro Star Aviation

Pro Star Aviation is a premier full-service Business and Special Missions aircraft service center. Located at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in NH, providing innovative solutions, quality craftsmanship, and best in class customer service while maintaining the highest level of integrity. https://www.prostaraviation.com/

Enhancing the Maintenance Team’s Structure

(Londonderry, NH) June 7, 2022 — Pro Star Aviation, an innovative aerospace modification center, announced today the promotion of Ed Monaghan III as the new Director of Maintenance. With significant growth, Pro Star Aviation made strategic changes to enhance the team’s structure.

Ed Monaghan III attended the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in OK and launched his Aircraft Maintenance career with American Eagle Airlines in Boston, MA. Ed joined the Pro Star team in 2005 as an Aircraft Maintenance technician, moving up to Chief Inspector. “I’m enthusiastic and honored to receive this promotion- new Director of Maintenance at Pro Star. This is an opportunity for our team to grow and maximize our capabilities to service business aviation in New England,” stated Ed Monaghan.

“We are continuously evaluating our employee’s successes with a commitment to their development and growth. Ed has been an integral part of our achievements, and his dedication to customer satisfaction is unwavering,” stated Sean Peterson, General Manager. “Ed’s role as the new Director of Maintenance will guide our team on a continued path of expansion and service.”

About Pro Star Aviation

Pro Star Aviation is a premier full-service Business and Special Missions aircraft service center. Located at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in NH, providing innovative solutions, quality craftsmanship, and best in class customer service while maintaining the highest level of integrity. https://www.prostaraviation.com/

Extracted from January 2019 publishing of Avionics News
Original Title: Sean Peterson of Pro Star Aviation | Aviation Aces
By Patricia Luebke

Sean Peterson grew up in Westfield, Massachusetts, in an aviation family. His father was in the Air Force and, upon leaving, worked on smaller general aviation airplanes and was an A&P instructor. In the early 1980s, Peterson’s father was hired by Canadair (now Bombardier).

“I remember going to work with him, around age 5 and getting exposure to corporate aviation,” he said. “That’s when the bug bit me. I had my first Challenger flight at age 6, and I remember it as awesome.”

Peterson attended a technical high school where he learned how to draft using AutoCAD software and how to generate G-code programming for CNC milling machines, a language in which people tell computerized machine tools how to make something. During his junior and senior years, he was selected (because of his high grades) for a co-op program with Berkshire Industries, a company that manufactured aircraft parts and ran a CNC machine.

“I would spend one week at school and the next week at the company,” Peterson said. “I earned a paycheck while learning cool stuff.”

From that experience, Peterson realized he didn’t want to stay in manufacturing as a career, but he did want to be involved with aircraft.

“My father got me work on the ground level as a mechanic’s helper at Bombardier when I was 18,” he said.

Peterson was scheduled to start A&P school within a few months, but the school suddenly closed, and Bombardier offered him full-time work.

“I had a humble approach that allowed me to get close to the A&Ps there,” he said. “Soon I was a modifications technician with a new program installing avionics systems.”

Thanks to his machining background, Peterson could fabricate instrument panels. At the same time, he became proficient in wiring and systems testing. Soon he was promoted to a position that was less installation and more avionics troubleshooting and inspections.

“I also did a lot of road trips to fix aircraft out in the field,” he added.

This also was a time for learning.

“During the time I was working as a tech, anytime I could get my hands on something else – doing structural repairs, fixing a fuel line – I would align myself with the person who had the experience and learn from him,” he explained.

Because of this self-education and experience, he applied for an A&P license and got it through work experience.

“An A&P signs you off to take the test,” he said. “It takes a bit longer, and you have to show you’ve done all the different aspects of maintenance.”

His next promotion was off the shop floor into an office position in methods and scheduling. He prepared large modifications packages along with all the planning, making sure avionics were compatible, parts were ordered, engineering drawings were done and more.

In short, Peterson said,

“I learned a lot about managing a large project.”

After 10 years with Bombardier, his next aviation position was with Embraer Aircraft Maintenance Services in Nashville, Tennessee, where he was hired as a scheduler/planner for the company’s E-Jet line. After a year, he was selected to be part of the Embraer team to implement the Enterprise Resource Planning software program company-wide, which gave him a lot of exposure to all aspects of the company.

“Every department used it, and we developed forms and reporting for each department and training curriculum to use,” he said. “We went live 11 months later, and everything went well.”

While this was happening, Embraer Executive Jets was starting MROs in Mesa, Arizona; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Bradley Airport in Connecticut.

“I was able to interact with Bob Davis who was staffing for the Phenom 100 entry into service, and I was offered a position doing the scheduling and planning for all three service centers,” he said.

As a result, he was transferred to Mesa. Because of time zone differences, customers could still get extended after-hours support.

In 2010, Embraer made the decision to revitalize its Bradley Airport facility, and Peterson was tapped for the job of operations manager. He was at Bradley from January 2011 to September 2018, when a business connection landed him a new position.

“I was looking at Pro Star to come up with an engineering package, went to its website, and noticed the company had an opening for a general manager position,” he explained.

That was in April 2018, and during the course of the next few months, he spoke with Kevin Harriman, Pro Star’s managing partner. In August, Peterson was offered the job.

Peterson has enjoyed the transition to Pro Star.

“Coming from the OEM world, I always wanted to work for a smaller company and make decisions quickly,” he said. “Pro Star has such a great reputation, and I felt in my gut coming to Pro Star was a career move I wanted to make.”

Relatively new at the job, Peterson is still trying to wrap his arms around the scope and the different aspects of the position. One item on his agenda is to get the company more up-to-speed with Quantum, the software that he used at Embraer. The choice to use Quantum was made before his arrival. Right now,

“We’re using it on a basic level, and because I’ve used it since 2007, I can implement Quantum to a higher level. It’s a powerful tool.”

He also is familiarizing himself with the financial side of Pro Star and is looking forward to being responsible for profits and losses in the near future. As for his life outside the office, Peterson has been married for 18 years to Sheri, a woman he has known since third grade. They have two boys: Seneca, 9, Sagean, 10, and a four-legged family member named Addie, a rescued yellow lab.

“Addie was a handful at first, but she’s turned out to be a great dog,” he said.

Peterson is proud of being a second-generation A&P and that he followed his father’s footsteps into business.

“My career choice has a lot to do with my father,” he concluded. “I just love airplanes. I always have, and I always will.”