With every holiday season comes the Center for Hope and Safety’s Annual Gift Drive. This year marked the 25th anniversary since the inception of this important event. Meridian, along with other Teterboro Airport-based tenants, gathered together to donate new toys, games, clothes, shoes, gift cards, and other gifts for those in need.
On Monday, December 17, Meridian drove a van filled with boxes containing a variety of donated gifts over to the AvPorts Administrative Building. The Center for Hope and Safety was very appreciative of the airport’s combined effort and commitment to the community. Meridian employees generously donated toys, food items, kitchen appliances, electronics, and apparel.
Center for Hope and Safety’s mission is to assist women and children who are victims of domestic violence, including emotional, economic, sexual and physical abuse. The agency provides emergency and transitional housing, emotional support, and a diversified continuum of services focused on safety, empowerment, and self-sufficiency. Through community partnerships, Center for Hope and Safety raises awareness, provides services, and educates community members about domestic violence.
Meridian is proud to participate in such an impactful campaign that delivers holiday cheer to local families. Together, we can all make a difference by continuing the tradition of helping these families by providing them with much-needed donations for a warm and loving holiday. Remember, the greatest gift of all is giving!
For more information about Center for Hope and Safety, please visit their website at http://www.hopeandsafetynj.org/
Thank you to everyone who donated!
Tag: Teterboro airport
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, proudly sent a team of 8 runners to the 20th Annual Teterboro 5K. This year, the “must-run” summer event attracted nearly 1,000 participants as well as hundreds of volunteers and spectators. The USTFA-sanctioned course offers athletes a unique experience of being able to run on one of the busiest general aviation runways in the country. With the New York Skyline and dozens of private aircraft in the background, runners we’re tasked with a flat course that consisted of 5 turns, 2 water breaks, and mile clocks. While the course itself may not seem challenging to a seasoned runner, the summer heat reflecting from the sun-drenched tarmac is often the biggest challenge.
Team Meridian had an impressive performance this year and ended up placing 3rd overall in the team results! These results are calculated by using the top 3 running times from each team. Our final team score was 1.21.26 and our average finish time was 27.08.94. Below are the full results of all of our team members:
| Peter Tomaszewski | 23:45.63* | (96th Overall) |
| Justin Schiraldi | 26:14.32* | (168th Overall) |
| Rachel Pennington | 31:26.87* | (300th Overall) |
| Kanhai Nelson | 32:20.35 | (318th Overall) |
| George Remache | 33:02.79 | (327th Overall) |
| Samir Varela | 33:04.42 | (328th Overall) |
| Maggie O’Connell | 36.43.53 | (328th Overall) |
| Dennis O’Connell | 43:59.73 | (423rd Overall) |
For more information on the race and its results visit: https://birdeasepro.com/TeterboroAirport5k
The event itself is organized by and for Bergen County’s United Way and all proceeds benefit their “Compassion Fund”. The fund provides emergency financial assistance to families struggling to meet basic needs, including rent, utilities, medical, child care, and other foreseen emergencies that threaten the family’s stability and well-being. Since the dawn of this 20-year tradition, the Teterboro 5K has raised an astounding $750K for families in need. A special thanks to all who sponsored, supported, and participated in this important and timely philanthropic mission.
To learn more about Bergen County United Way, please go to: http://www.bergenunitedway.org
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company headquartered at Teterboro Airport, is pleased to announce that it has expanded its footprint with the acquisition of the former AIG hangar at the south end of the airport. The impeccably maintained facility sits on approximately two acres and includes a 22,000 sq. ft. hangar as well as 11,500 sq. ft. of office and support space.
Officially known as Meridian Hangar 107, the building is a welcome addition to the Meridian campus, providing the extra space and resources needed to support its bustling fuel, maintenance, and charter operations. Currently, Meridian’s main facility is located at 485 Industrial Avenue, which includes a 40,000 sq. ft. hangar and a 30,000 sq. ft. terminal.
The company is also constructing a brand new 40,000 sq. ft. hangar with 10,000 sq. ft. of office and support space at the airport. The project is being built up the street at 125 Industrial Avenue and is replacing an outdated 20,000 sq. ft. hangar that was built in 1956. The new facility is expected to be operational by December 2017.
Steve Chandoha, President, was enthusiastic about the new acquisition. “Teterboro Airport is surrounded by development with limited opportunities to expand, so we are extremely grateful to be able to add this well-maintained facility to our network. This state-of-the-art hangar and additional ramp space will afford us greater flexibility with our customers, especially during gridlock periods when our capacity is challenged. Now we have more options to fuel, park, and hangar aircraft, which translates into better service for our customers.”
The Teterboro Chapter of the Professional Aviation Maintenance Association (PAMA) held its 28th Annual Holiday Social at The Graycliff in Moonachie, NJ, on Friday, January 13, 2017. Meridian supported the event by purchasing a table of 10 for its employees and their guests. The lively evening began at 7:00pm and lasted until about 11:00pm.
The holiday event featured an open bar, dinner, dancing, a live band and DJ music, and of course, a photo booth with props. The dinner included a full buffet, carving table, pasta station, seafood, and ice cream bar. Door prizes were donated by member companies and given out at the end of the evening to guests. A 50/50 raffle then followed, with three lucky winners walking away a few dollars richer that night.
The early PAMA holiday parties were held in December, until one year a snowstorm cancelled the event. It was rescheduled for the following month, and as it turned out, everyone liked the date in January much better since it didn’t conflict with everyone’s busy holiday schedule in December. It’s been held in January ever since.
PAMA is a nonprofit society representing all professionals in aviation maintenance. The Teterboro Chapter is located at Teterboro Airport in Bergen County New Jersey. The chapter typically meets on the last Tuesday of each month (except June through August) at the Graycliff in Moonachie, NJ.
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company, proudly sent a team of 8 runners to participate in the 19th Annual PSE&G Teterboro Airport 5K on Saturday, July 16, 2016. This unique race, located at one of the busiest general aviation airports in the country, attracts nearly 1,000 runners and hundreds of spectators each year. The course, which takes place mostly on one of the two airport runways, is flat with only five turns, two water stops, and mile clocks. While the course itself may not seem challenging to a seasoned runner, the summer heat reflecting from the sun-drenched tarmac is often the biggest challenge. The event was certified and sanctioned by the USATF-NJ.
Team results were calculated by the using the top 3 running times from that team. Meridian finished 4th among TEB tenants with a final team score of 1:26:58 and an average of time of 28:59.56. The top scores from Team Meridian were as follows:
| Cristian Valencina | 27:43.64 | (239th overall) |
| Anthony Zambrano | 28:23.44 | (262nd overall) |
| Eric Chavez | 30:51.61 | (328th overall) |
More race results are available online at https://www.compuscore.com/cs2016/july/teterbor.htm#overall
The event featured over $10,000 in random prizes, a $1,000 grand prize, ChronoTrack B-Tag scoring, United Way mini-flyer dashes, refreshments and a DJ. The event benefits The Bergen County United Way, which is one of the largest charitable organizations in the community. Proceeds collected from the run help the organization to provide direct services to the most vulnerable residents in the community and to develop programs and financial resources to address unmet needs. For more information about the Bergen County United Way, go to https://www.bergenunitedway.org.
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport, is pleased to announce that its FBO, Meridian Teterboro, has been voted the top FBO in the Northeast by Aviation International News (AIN) and FltPlan.com in 2016. Additionally, Meridian was voted the best FBO at Teterboro Airport in the Professional Pilot (ProPilot) PRASE Survey. All three of these industry surveys are well-respected and the entire staff is honored to be recognized for its exceptional service.
Meridian was voted in the top 10% of all US FBOs in the AIN survey, while ProPilot readers ranked Meridian as the 14th best US FBO. Pilots’ Choice Awards by FltPlan.com rated Meridian #3 among its Top 50 US FBOs. The AIN and ProPilot surveys also measure individual customer service, and the company is proud to say that both Betsy Wines and Victor Seda continue to be recognized for their outstanding efforts. AIN recognized Betsy Wines for going ‘Above & Beyond’, while ProPilot had both Wines and Seda ranked in the Best CSR category. The pair has been together in the Top 5 of the Best CSR category for the past 10 years.
Steve Chandoha, Meridian Teterboro President, credits his team as the main reason for the continuing high marks the company receives. “Our entire FBO team, from Security to Customer Service to Line Service, understands that we must treat our customers as individuals. Betsy and Victor continuously demonstrate these values with their work ethic and attention to detail. I am very proud of them, and the entire staff of Meridian Teterboro.”
“Exceptional service is the cornerstone of our corporate culture here at Meridian, and we are very pleased that our customers and colleagues see and appreciate that commitment,” said Betsy Wines, Vice President of Customer Service & Human Resources. “We are honored that they have named us the top FBO at the airport, as well as recognizing us as one of the leading FBOs nationwide.”
Ken Forester, Meridian CEO, summed up his appreciation of these survey results by saying, “I am proud of the entire team that works to exceed expectations every day. It is important to us that every pilot and passenger feels welcomed and valued when they arrive at Meridian. We understand that customers have choices when they fly into Teterboro, and we truly appreciate their business.”
marking the 50,000th flight by Corporate Angel Network.
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport, was honored to be part of an historical milestone event last week when the Corporate Angel Network (CAN) celebrated its 50,000th flight on Thursday, April 14, 2016. The empty leg flight, which departed from Meridian Teterboro, was arranged for toddler Baron Yerby and his parents Jonathan and Casey. Baron had been in New York City receiving cancer treatments at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital, and the family was traveling back to their home in Georgia.
The empty seat in the Challenger 300 was donated by a longtime Meridian customer. In addition to the Management Team of this customer, the event attracted representatives from CAN, the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), and Aviation International News (AIN). A small crew of photographers and videographers were also on-hand to capture the moment.
Peter Fleiss, CAN’s Executive Director Emeritus, had this to say, “We at Corporate Angel Network are very proud to be celebrating the 50,000th flight today. It demonstrates the longevity and value of our mission, and how our organization has grown over the years to positively impact so many people who are facing the difficult challenges of battling cancer. This milestone is also a celebration of our business aviation partners whose participation has made these flights possible.”
Ken Forester, Meridian CEO, was honored that his company could play a role in this event. “The good work that Corporate Angel Network does exemplifies how business aviation gives back to the community. We are very proud of our customers who support this wonderful organization, and I am both excited and humbled that our company was able to celebrate this amazing milestone with our friends at CAN.”
Corporate Angel Network, based at Westchester County Airport, arranges free transportation for cancer patients to specialized treatment by using the empty seats on corporate jets already flying to the desired destinations. Since its first flight in 1981, CAN, a 501(c)(3) organization with Public Charity status, has provided more than 50,000 flights to adults and children whose best treatment options are often thousands of miles from home. Volunteers and a small staff coordinate the medical travel needs of patients with the scheduled flight activity of more than 500 participating corporations (including half the Fortune 100) resulting in 225 or more patient flights each month. For more information on Corporate Angel Network, go to www.corpangelnetwork.org.
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Meridian Gives Back during the Holidays
On Friday, December 18, 2015, Meridian colleagues Michelle Guerra and Joy Glassman exited the Meridian parking lot and drove down Industrial Avenue to the unadorned airport building identified only with a big number “1” on its side. Inside their car were three large boxes containing new toys, games, clothes, shoes, gift cards, and many other items which would have made Santa’s Elves jealous. These were the donations collected by Meridian employees for the Center for Hope and Safety. Caitlin Byrne, the shelter’s representative, was there to receive the donations and to thank the many company representatives from the airport community that had donated.
Center for Hope and Safety’s mission is to assist women and children who are victims of domestic violence, including emotional, economic, sexual and physical abuse. The agency provides emergency and transitional housing, emotional support, and a diversified continuum of services focused on safety, empowerment, and self-sufficiency. Through community partnerships, Center for Hope and Safety raises awareness, provides services, and educates community members about domestic violence.
Ken Forester, Meridian CEO, is extremely proud of his staff. “To see so many wonderful gifts donated by our Meridian family to families in need is truly a humbling experience. We work hard everyday to make sure that our customers feel special, but it’s even more gratifying to see our folks go above and beyond to help those in our community who are less fortunate. The donations that have been collected for the Center of Hope and Safety will certainly brighten the holidays for a lot of kids who are facing some tough times. It’s truly important for us to give back during the holidays, and I think that our people have done a great job in rising to the occasion.”
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport in Teterboro, NJ, is expanding westward to Hayward Executive Airport in Hayward, CA. As the concrete is poured and the steel goes up, people are beginning to take notice – including our friends at EVA International. EVA publishes Executive & VIP Aviation, a quarterly journal aimed at private aircraft owners and operators and the industries that support them. The Autumn 2015 issue was just released, and it features an in-depth article about the new Meridian Hayward facility, which is currently under construction. The issue is being mailed to its 15,000 international subscribers and will be displayed later this month at NBAA2015, the industry’s largest trade show. The NBAA’s Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition will bring together 26,000 key aviation contacts from around the world, including current and prospective business aircraft owners, manufacturers and customers into one meeting place to get critical work accomplished.
Click here to read the article!
Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport, is proud to be part of a new milestone for the Corporate Angel Network (CAN), which flew its 48,000th cancer patient on June 11, 2015. Onboard was 48 year old colon cancer patient James Etherton accompanied by his wife Tammy. A Cessna Citation belonging to Blue Beacon International, Inc., flew them from treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City to their home in Mechanicsburg Illinois. Teterboro Airport is a major business aviation airport located only a few miles from New York City.
“Tammy and I would like to express our appreciation to Corporate Angel Network and Blue Beacon for being so generous” said Jim Etherton. “Once a month I need to fly to New York for treatment. The fact that they were able to alleviate the financial burden and stress of flying commercial will never be forgotten”, Etherton continued. “Getting diagnosed with cancer is a life changing experience. The silver lining to that cloud, however, is that we have come to realize how many great people there are out there willing to help in our time of need. It makes me want to beat this that much more so that one day I can do the same for others!”
Blue Beacon International, a CAN participating company since 1992, also flew the Etherton’s to treatment on June 6, 2015. “It was a good feeling to be able to help someone while doing my daily duties” said pilot Bill Breitenbach. “I know Blue Beacon was happy to assist in achieving this impressive milestone and we hope to do even more flights to help meet the next milestone”.
Corporate Angel Network is the only charitable organization in the United States whose sole mission is to help cancer patients access the best possible treatment for their specific type of cancer by arranging free travel to treatment across the country using empty seats on corporate jets. This not only improves the patients’ chances of survival but at the same time, it reduces their emotional stress, physical discomfort and financial burden. For more information about the amazing work they do, please visit their website at https://www.corpangelnetwork.org/
CAN is the designated charity for NBAA, which hosts an annual event that raises hundreds of thousands of dollars each year to support CAN’s humanitarian mission.