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Executive Terminal (FBO) Hayward Meridian Hayward

Avfuel Welcomes Meridian Hayward (KHWD) to Premier FBO Network

Avfuel Corporation and Meridian announce a new partnership between the leading independent supplier of aviation fuel and services, and one of the most recognized names in FBO services.

Beginning Jan. 4, Avfuel took over as the official branded fuel supplier of Meridian’s Hayward, California, location.

“We are honored the Meridian team entrusted Avfuel to help care for its team’s and customers’ needs,” Joel Hirst, Avfuel’s senior vice president of sales, said. “The addition of Meridian Hayward to the Avfuel Network provides another premier flying and fueling location in the heart of California, with access to top-tier FBO amenities and Avfuel’s dependable programs.”

“We are very excited to partner with Avfuel as our fuel supplier,” Carlos Rodriguez, Meridian Hayward general manager, said. “Avfuel is well-respected throughout the aviation industry for its reliability, innovative solutions and customer support. As part of its network, we look forward to raising the visibility of our brand while also growing our fuel sales volume. In addition, its focus on integrating sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into the supply chain will be an asset as we work to expand our own efforts in that area.”

Centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland, Meridian Hayward provides business and leisure travelers alike convenient access to the Bay Area’s most popular destinations. Situated on a general-aviation only airport, guests benefit from services that cater to the private aviation traveler, including 24-hour availability at an airport with no commercial airline traffic, and professionally-trained customer service and line service teams.

Meridian’s FBO terminal offers everything customers expect, and more, from a world-class facility. It features an elegant main lobby, full-service business center, a conference room with full A/V capabilities and seating for 12, professional concierge services, and a coffee bar, kitchen and catering area available for both passengers and crews. Pilots benefit from state-of-the-art amenities, including a pilot briefing area, pilot lounge, sleep room and shower. With rental cars and crew cars available on site, guests can quickly hit the road while their aircraft stay secure overnight with tie downs or hangar space.

Meridian’s expertly-trained line staff is on hand to provide a full suite of ramp services, including GPU, lavatory service, potable water service and quick turns. With IS-BAH Stage II accreditation and Safety 1st certification from the National Air Transportation Association (NATA), guests can be assured their aircraft, passengers and pilots are in adept hands from wheels down to wheels up.

As an Avfuel-branded location, Meridian Hayward’s customers will enjoy lucrative rewards with the industry’s preferred loyalty program, AVTRIP, and streamlined transactions through Avfuel Contract Fuel, which provides competitive fuel rates at more than 3,000 global locations. This is in addition to the back-end solutions a partnership with Avfuel provides, helping daily operations run as smoothly as possible.

Those headed to NBAA’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, are encouraged to visit the Meridian Hayward team in Avfuel’s aisles, booth #616, to learn more about the location’s offerings.

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Executive Terminal (FBO) Meridian Hayward Meridian Teterboro

Meridian Attains IS-BAH Stage II Registration
Hayward and Teterboro Both Achieve Next Level Safety Certification

Members of the Meridian Teterboro team display the recently earned IS-BAH Stage II certificate.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to announce that both its Hayward (HWD) and Teterboro (TEB) facilities have achieved IS-BAH Stage II certification. The International Standard for Business Aircraft Handling (IS-BAH) is an industry code of best practices developed by the international business aviation community for the benefit of its members. The IS-BAH registration process, which was initiated in 2014 by the International Business Aviation Council (IBAC), ensures handling systems, processes and practices meet rigorous safety and security standards. The standard is based on International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards and recommended practices in the preparation of handling business aircraft. Both FBOs have been Stage I registered since June 2020.

According to IBAC, the IS-BAH auditing process focuses on development of a safety management system (SMS) through a gradual process of advancing maturity. Stage I confirms that an organization has established an SMS infrastructure and that safety management activities are appropriately targeted. Stage II ensures that the safety risks are being effectively managed.

“When we decided to pursue the IS-BAH certification, we had always planned to progress from the initial stage to Stage II,” said Carlos Rodriguez, HWD General Manager. “For Stage I registration, we developed an entire SMS and Ground Handling Manuals. To move on to Stage II, Meridian had to demonstrate that our SMS is maturing and evolving with our company needs.” Although not a requirement, the company plans to pursue Stage III at some future point.

The Meridian Hayward team proudly displays their IS-BAH Stage II certificate.

Stage II certification required significant involvement from Meridian employees. A total of 21 interviews with team members at both Hayward and Teterboro were conducted during this process. “Our team demonstrated to the auditors that we are living our commitment to safety every day,” said Victor Rodriguez, Line Service Manager at Teterboro. “Their participation and support were an important element in helping Meridian achieve Stage II certification.”

As part of his responsibilities, Victor oversees the Safety and Training program at Teterboro. Carlos, who is also Victor’s brother, coordinates Hayward’s Safety and Training program. Both have been instrumental in managing the IS-BAH certification process for Meridian.

“IS-BAH Stage II registration is a significant accomplishment for Meridian as it goes beyond having an SMS in place,” added Carlos. “It demonstrates our commitment to a daily safety culture and shows our dedication to the highest standards in everything we do.”

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Executive Terminal (FBO) General Meridian Hayward Meridian Teterboro Uncategorized

Meridian Ranks Among Top FBOs in Industry Surveys – Hayward and Teterboro Both Receive Recognition for Outstanding Service

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, is pleased to again be recognized among the nation’s best Fixed Base Operators (FBO) in two of the industry’s leading surveys. In the Aviation International News (AIN) annual FBO survey, Meridian Teterboro was voted among the Top 5% of all FBOs in the Americas and was the only FBO from the Northeast region, which includes the NYC metro area, recognized in that category. Meridian’s West Coast FBO, Meridian Hayward, was ranked in the Top 10% for the first time, and was listed among the Top 3 FBOs in the San Francisco/Oakland area.

In the Professional Pilot (ProPilot) annual PRASE survey, Meridian was rated the #1 FBO at Teterboro Airport and ranked #13 among all US FBOs. Meridian was also voted the #7 Best Independent FBO in the country. Meridian is the only independently owned FBO at TEB, and has operated under the same family ownership since 1946.

Both surveys also recognize individual customer service performance, and Meridian is proud that several of our employees were honored. Victor Seda, Customer Service Manager at Meridian TEB, ranked #3 among the best Customers Service Representatives (CSR) in the ProPilot survey, while two other CSRs were acknowledged by AIN in the “Above and Beyond” category. Jenny Deitschman, Customer Service Supervisor at Meridian HWD, and Betsy Wines, VP of Customer Service at Meridian TEB, were both recognized for their dedication, commitment to excellence and always putting the customer first.

“Since Meridian Hayward opened its doors in 2016, our team has worked hard to provide the same level of outstanding service that customers have come to expect from Meridian,” said Carlos Rodriguez, Hayward’s General Manager. “We are honored that our customers appreciate our efforts and rate our FBO so highly.”

“It is rewarding that our continued commitment to be the best is recognized and appreciated by our customers,” said Steve Chandoha, Meridian President. “We are proud of our legacy of exceptional service and sincerely thank our customers for their support and confidence in us.”

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General Meridian Hayward Meridian Teterboro

Meridian FBOs Celebrate 75th Anniversary

Betsy Wines, Ken Forester, Susan Forester, and Steve Chandoha cut the cake to kick off the celebration of Meridian’s 75th Anniversary in Teterboro.

2020 was a tough year as COVID-19 upended the world and negatively impacted lives and businesses everywhere. Fortunately, 2021 is shaping up to be a much better year for Meridian. In April, the company received high marks in industry surveys for its outstanding customer service and world class amenities. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the company’s origins, begun by CEO Ken Forester’s father, Ken Sr. In July, the FBOs in Teterboro (TEB) and Hayward (HWD) took some time to reflect on the long history of the company and to have some much needed fun!
Meridian Hayward held its celebration on Friday, July 2. In addition to our employees, additional guests included family members, aircraft tenants, customers, airport staff, and of course, many of our aviation friends! The celebration included a BBQ, a cake, lots of food and beverages, balloons, music, and everything else you would find at a celebration. The day also included words of gratitude by GM Carlos Rodriguez to his professional and dedicated team, as well as a formal presentation of an award to CSR Jenny Deitschman by Ken Forester for earning a spot on the Above & Beyond list in this year’s AIN FBO Survey. Congratulations to Carlos, Jenny, and the entire Hayward team for doing such a great job and earning a well-deserved spot among the Top 20% of FBOs in the US!
Meridian Teterboro held its celebration a week later on Thursday, July 8. The Teterboro celebration covered all 3 shifts throughout the day, which included a BBQ, a cake, food and beverages, and lots of vintage photos from the over the decades. Many of the employees are still working here today, after 10+, 20+, and 30+ years of service! This is a real testament to the longevity of the company, thanks to its many loyal employees. The day also included recognition of an award received by AIN for ranking in the Top 10% of US FBOs. Ken Forester took a few moments to acknowledge all of the hard work and dedication by the Teterboro team for doing a great job day in and day out. Without such a dedicated team, we wouldn’t have the success that we do. He thanked everyone for their hard work and sacrifice during the pandemic.
To view the photo albums from both celebrations, click here.
We are already looking forward to the next 75 years!

Meridian Hayward is enjoying the celebration!

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Executive Terminal (FBO) General Meridian Hayward Meridian Teterboro

Meridian Receives High Marks in Industry Surveys – Hayward and Teterboro FBOs Honored as Company Celebrates 75th Anniversary

Meridian Teterboro was rated the #1 FBO in the New York City (NYC) metro area by the readers of Aviation International News (AIN) in its annual survey. Meridian was the only FBO at Teterboro Airport and the NYC metro area to be ranked in the top 10% of FBOs in the Americas. Meridian TEB was highly ranked for its pilot amenities and customer service as well. Professional Pilot’s (ProPilot) annual PRASE Survey also placed Meridian as the #1 FBO at Teterboro, and among the top ten FBOs in the US.
Meridian is unique in that it is the only FBO at TEB to operate under the same ownership since 1946. That legacy and experience has contributed to the success of its Hayward FBO, which was ranked among the top FBOs for the first time this year. AIN readers gave Meridian Hayward high marks, placing it in the top five FBOs in the West Region and one of the best FBOs in the greater San Francisco area. Additionally, the AIN survey recognizes those individual FBO employees who go “Above and Beyond”, and we are proud that HWD’s Jenny Deitschman, Customer Service Representative (CSR), was included on this year’s list.
“We are honored to be counted among the top FBOs on the West Coast,” said Carlos Rodriguez, Hayward’s General Manager. “Since our opening in 2016, our team has worked hard to provide outstanding service to each and every customer. I’m especially pleased to see Jenny recognized for her efforts as an outstanding CSR.” Jenny has been with Meridian Hayward since it opened for business.
Meridian was ranked as the 4th best independent FBO by ProPilot, and was the only FBO in the Northeast to be recognized in this category. The 2021 ranking is several spots ahead of last year, and we are proud that our continued commitment to striving to be the best resonated with customers.
“It’s very rewarding to know that our efforts are appreciated. We are honored to be recognized for our legacy of exceptional service,” said Ken Forester, Meridian’s CEO. “We sincerely thank our customers for their support and confidence in us. After 75 years, Meridian’s mission and focus are still the same-putting each customer first and delivering a truly personalized experience to everyone we serve.”

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Executive Terminal (FBO) General Marketing Meridian Hayward Meridian Teterboro

Meridian Announces Winner of Design Contest

Steven Bridgemohan (winner) and Michelle Coe (runner up) display the winning design of the company’s new email signature and business card.

Meridian recently held a company-wide contest among our employees to submit designs for new business cards and email signatures that reflect the company’s new vision. The winning entry was chosen for its crisp and clean design which mirrors our recently redesigned website and ties into the company’s revamped mission statement.
The winning concept was submitted by Steven Bridgemohan, a Technician in our Technology department. Another highly creative design was submitted by Michelle Coe, an Accounting Supervisor, who was our runner up. Both finalists earned cash prizes for their designs. Overall, there were 10 participants who submitted a total of 25 entries.
In late 2020, Meridian strategically realigned its business units to focus exclusively on our premier FBO business in Teterboro, NJ, and Hayward, CA. While our core mission has not changed, our company Mission Statement was updated to reflect our corporate identity and reinforce our unwavering commitment to our customers. We think the updated look of the new design exemplifies what we stand for.
We appreciate the talent of everyone on our team. We’re proud to see the engagement by our staff in the development of our vision, and pleased to announce that our new business cards and email signatures were created by one of our own employees!