Meridian: Two coasts: one commitment to exceptional service

 - July 22, 2022 (All day)

People say that the east and west coasts of the U.S. are as different as can be. That might be true unless you’re lucky enough to travel through Meridian’s FBOs in Teterboro, New Jersey, and Hayward, California. They may be on opposite sides of the country, but you won’t notice any difference in the personalized, “treat you like family” service they deliver.

When my father and uncle started the Teterboro FBO in 1946, they focused on the needs of those early business aviation pilots,” states Kenneth Forester, Meridian’s CEO. “It was all new. We’ve grown up with business aviation. And while the people and aircraft have changed, we still treat every pilot and passenger as part of our family.”

The best in the west

Meridian began looking westward for growth in 2012. In addition to business opportunities, the Forester family traces its roots to California, so when the right opportunity to expand arose, the company went for it. Meridian’s family-first commitment also played a role in the company choosing to build its FBO at Hayward Executive Airport. As Forester explains, “Our daughter had gotten married and moved to Northern California. Naturally, we wanted to be close to her, so we were fortunate that we could locate our West Coast facility where we did.

We needed the right person to run it the right way,” Forester continues. “Fortunately, one of our most experienced employees, Carlos Rodriguez, volunteered to relocate from Teterboro and oversee the new facility. He’s been the perfect person for the job. From our tug drivers to our CSRs, everyone there fully appreciates what it means to deliver our unique level of customer service.”

Forester adds that while the past 75 years have been incredible, everyone at Meridian has their sights set on the future. The company is evolving to employ more sustainable practices, including the transition to sustainable aviation fuels at its FBOs.

We all want to make sure we leave a great legacy for our grandchildren,” Forester concludes.