When opportunity knocks in the form of a social-media ad, some people scroll past. Tom Lelyo saw a door opening to the world of private aviation—and he stepped right through it. In this episode of Stir, Aginto CEO Chris Williams sits down with Tom, a family man turned jet broker, to explore how a simple Craigslist-style listing transformed into Jet Life Aero, a cloud-based brokerage shaking up an exclusive industry.
Tom’s story is a reminder that bold career pivots often begin with a spark of curiosity—and the courage to follow it wherever it leads.
From Youth Pastor to Jet Broker
Tom describes himself first as “a husband, a father of five, two golden doodles, a former youth pastor, and yes—a pizza connoisseur.” Ten years ago, he and his wife relocated from New Jersey to Sarasota after Tom accepted a youth-pastor role at St. Thomas More in Gulf Gate. He quickly noticed something odd on the church’s website: the airport code SRQ embedded in its URL—a small hint that aviation might one day shape his path.
While managing a local music school to supplement the family income, Tom yearned for a career where sales skills and hospitality intersected. “My first sales gig was selling Cutco knives door to door,” he recalls. That experience taught him the art of conversation, persuasion, and self-reliance. So when a “luxury sales” ad turned out to be an opening in private jet brokering, he wasn’t intimidated—just intrigued.
Demystifying the Private Jet Market
Most people think of private jets as a distant luxury, but Tom sees them as an accessible solution for time-pressed travelers. He explains that entry-level aviation experiences—like a $200 discovery flight over Sarasota Bay—are surprisingly affordable. From there, chartering a small aircraft to the Keys can run $2,000–$5,000, offering a seamless alternative to gridlocked highways. Ownership, of course, is a bigger commitment, but brokering lets clients explore every stage: rent, charter, or buy.
On the brokerage side, Tom makes 50–100 outreach calls daily to jet owners, matching supply with demand much like a real-estate agent uses Zillow. “You’re calling on tail numbers—identifiers like ‘Delta Golf 676’—and uncovering who’s ready to sell,” he explains. His pitch combines market expertise with personal service: he’ll discuss passenger counts, cabin size, pilot preferences, even insurance concerns—ensuring each match fits the buyer’s lifestyle.
Building a Business Around Family Flexibility
By founding Jet Life Aero in 2022, Tom gained the ultimate perk of entrepreneurship: control over his schedule. “I watched World Cup matches with my kids,” he says proudly, “without asking anyone’s permission.” That work-life balance comes at a price—extra hours, unforeseen crises, and the grind of entrepreneurship. But for Tom, that trade-off is worth it: “Now I make conscious choices about how I spend my time, and that means everything.”
He’s equally passionate about scaling his brokerage in an industry notorious for its “old-boys-club” mentality. Through a decentralized, cloud-based model, Jet Life Aero invites aspiring brokers nationwide to join under the company umbrella while building their own personal brands—a blueprint reminiscent of modern real-estate franchises. Tom’s mission is simple: give talented hustlers the same chance he got, regardless of background or location.
Lessons From the Runway
Tom’s journey offers lessons for anyone seeking to break into a closed-door industry:
Follow the unexpected lead. That SRQ airport-code clue was more than coincidence—it pointed Tom to aviation.
Leverage early sales experience. Cutting his teeth on knife-sales and youth-ministry recruitment taught Tom to connect with people and craft clear value propositions.
Make your personal reputation count. By owning his brand, Tom ensures his professional standing can’t be shaken by corporate shifts beyond his control.
Blend passion with practicality. Pizza-connoisseur, youth pastor, lifeguard rescuer—Tom’s eclectic background fuels both his empathy and hustle.
Embrace the blue-ocean strategy. Disrupting private aviation with a cloud-brokerage model creates a new market rather than competing on crowded terms.
In a world of six-figure salaries and silicon-valley prestige, private-jet brokering might seem niche. But Tom’s story proves that with curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to family first, you can elevate not only your career—but also your life’s quality.
<iframe width=”100%” height=”200″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/5fRVp5epbDY?si=PZfJSHvfaOlewjC-” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
When opportunity knocks in the form of a social-media ad, some people scroll past. Tom Lelyo saw a door opening to the world of private aviation—and he stepped right through it. In this episode of Stir, Aginto CEO Chris Williams sits down with Tom, a family man turned jet broker, to explore how a simple Craigslist-style listing transformed into Jet Life Aero, a cloud-based brokerage shaking up an exclusive industry.
Tom’s story is a reminder that bold career pivots often begin with a spark of curiosity—and the courage to follow it wherever it leads.
From Youth Pastor to Jet Broker
Tom describes himself first as “a husband, a father of five, two golden doodles, a former youth pastor, and yes—a pizza connoisseur.” Ten years ago, he and his wife relocated from New Jersey to Sarasota after Tom accepted a youth-pastor role at St. Thomas More in Gulf Gate. He quickly noticed something odd on the church’s website: the airport code SRQ embedded in its URL—a small hint that aviation might one day shape his path.
While managing a local music school to supplement the family income, Tom yearned for a career where sales skills and hospitality intersected. “My first sales gig was selling Cutco knives door to door,” he recalls. That experience taught him the art of conversation, persuasion, and self-reliance. So when a “luxury sales” ad turned out to be an opening in private jet brokering, he wasn’t intimidated—just intrigued.
Demystifying the Private Jet Market
Most people think of private jets as a distant luxury, but Tom sees them as an accessible solution for time-pressed travelers. He explains that entry-level aviation experiences—like a $200 discovery flight over Sarasota Bay—are surprisingly affordable. From there, chartering a small aircraft to the Keys can run $2,000–$5,000, offering a seamless alternative to gridlocked highways. Ownership, of course, is a bigger commitment, but brokering lets clients explore every stage: rent, charter, or buy.
On the brokerage side, Tom makes 50–100 outreach calls daily to jet owners, matching supply with demand much like a real-estate agent uses Zillow. “You’re calling on tail numbers—identifiers like ‘Delta Golf 676’—and uncovering who’s ready to sell,” he explains. His pitch combines market expertise with personal service: he’ll discuss passenger counts, cabin size, pilot preferences, even insurance concerns—ensuring each match fits the buyer’s lifestyle.
Building a Business Around Family Flexibility
By founding Jet Life Aero in 2022, Tom gained the ultimate perk of entrepreneurship: control over his schedule. “I watched World Cup matches with my kids,” he says proudly, “without asking anyone’s permission.” That work-life balance comes at a price—extra hours, unforeseen crises, and the grind of entrepreneurship. But for Tom, that trade-off is worth it: “Now I make conscious choices about how I spend my time, and that means everything.”
He’s equally passionate about scaling his brokerage in an industry notorious for its “old-boys-club” mentality. Through a decentralized, cloud-based model, Jet Life Aero invites aspiring brokers nationwide to join under the company umbrella while building their own personal brands—a blueprint reminiscent of modern real-estate franchises. Tom’s mission is simple: give talented hustlers the same chance he got, regardless of background or location.
Lessons From the Runway
Tom’s journey offers lessons for anyone seeking to break into a closed-door industry:
Follow the unexpected lead. That SRQ airport-code clue was more than coincidence—it pointed Tom to aviation.
Leverage early sales experience. Cutting his teeth on knife-sales and youth-ministry recruitment taught Tom to connect with people and craft clear value propositions.
Make your personal reputation count. By owning his brand, Tom ensures his professional standing can’t be shaken by corporate shifts beyond his control.
Blend passion with practicality. Pizza-connoisseur, youth pastor, lifeguard rescuer—Tom’s eclectic background fuels both his empathy and hustle.
Embrace the blue-ocean strategy. Disrupting private aviation with a cloud-brokerage model creates a new market rather than competing on crowded terms.
In a world of six-figure salaries and silicon-valley prestige, private-jet brokering might seem niche. But Tom’s story proves that with curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to family first, you can elevate not only your career—but also your life’s quality.
← More Stir Episodes
