Paragon Aviation Group Holds 2026 Leadership Conference in Denver, Hosted by jetCenters of Colorado
Why It MattersThe event underscores how independent FBOs increasingly rely on network-level collaboration and shared training partnerships to compete against larger consolidated ground-handling operators.
What happened
Paragon Aviation Group held its 2026 Leadership Conference, themed "Mile High Leadership Experience," in Denver, Colorado, from September 22-24, hosted by jetCenters of Colorado. The three-day event brought together members of the Paragon Network, including FBO leaders, aviation partners, and industry experts, for educational sessions, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative discussions covering leadership, safety, operational excellence, customer experience, and the business aviation marketplace.
Crystal Kubeczka, President & CEO of Paragon Aviation Group, said, "Independent FBOs are navigating an increasingly competitive environment, and no single operation has all the answers," adding that "when our members get better, the entire Network becomes stronger." The conference included an industry leadership session led by Cat Wren and Jamie Muñoz on leadership, communication, accountability, and team building. Customer experience author David Avrin presented "Ridiculously Easy to Do Business With," exploring how organizations can reduce customer friction and build more enduring relationships. Industry representation also came from Polaris Aero, AERO Specialties, Business Aviation Group, SpillUSA, Holding Pattern Co., Global Ground Support, and AirPlx.
Paragon's annual Big Idea Competition concluded with Julie O'Brien named the 2026 winner for her concept, "Make Economic Development Work for YOU!" Paragon also presented its Special Partnership Recognition Award to Steve Bruneau and Polaris Aviation Solutions, recognizing five years of collaboration supporting safety education and training across the Paragon Network. Tony Buckley, President of jetCenters of Colorado, said bringing FBO professionals together to openly exchange ideas "strengthens not only the individual businesses represented, but the independent FBO community as a whole." Paragon Aviation Group is part of the Luxaviation Group, which operates a network of more than 110 FBO facilities worldwide.
Industry impact & what to watch
Gatherings like this one belong to a broader pattern in business aviation ground handling, where independently branded FBOs pool resources under a network umbrella to access training, safety programs, and vendor relationships that a single-location operator could not sustain alone. Awards such as the Big Idea Competition and the Special Partnership Recognition Award function as mechanisms for surfacing and formalizing ideas that individual members can then adopt across the wider network.
The segment's economics depend on this kind of shared infrastructure: network affiliation lets independent FBOs standardize safety training, customer experience practices, and vendor relationships while retaining local branding and ownership. Partnerships like the five-year collaboration between Paragon and Polaris Aviation Solutions illustrate how safety education gets delivered at network scale rather than facility by facility.
What happens next depends on whether ideas discussed at the conference, such as the winning economic-development concept, get implemented across member FBOs and whether the partnerships highlighted, including those with Polaris Aero, AERO Specialties, and Global Ground Support, expand in scope within the Paragon Network.
