Inside Viper Fire: How a Serial Entrepreneur is Disrupting Wildfire Protection
In this episode of What Keeps You Awake.TV, host David Hooser sits down with Todd Spitzer, founder & CEO of ION Jets, a Scottsdale-based private aviation brokerage specializing in short-notice global travel for executives, public figures, and high-net-worth clients. From a firefighter/first-responder background to building a 5,000+ aircraft network, Todd explains how “over-communication” and human touch—not just software—became ION’s edge.
🎯 Inside This Episode:
• Broker value 101: faster quotes, better ops, and true trip management vs. DIY searches
• Origin story: concept (2010) → launch (2013) and scaling a lean, commission-based team (AZ & LA)
• Running on relationships: training on FAA/DOT rules, operator partnerships, paying bills on time
• Weathering shocks: zero flights for 3 months during COVID → surge, and why fiscal discipline mattered
• Building tools (carefully): internal AI for flight coordination—without losing the human element
• Empty legs explained: 50–70% savings windows, when to pounce, and mixing with commercial
• Memberships that pencil: ION 360 (~$2K/yr) + empty-leg alerts program (~$495/yr)
• “Left of bang” ops: contingency planning so clients never feel the scramble behind the scenes
📌 Learn more: ionjets.com
🔔 Subscribe to What Keeps You Awake.TV for more stories from entrepreneurs building bold, resilient brands.
📣 Drop a comment: What’s one travel hack (or mindset) that saves your team time and stress on the road?
🔑 Hashtags:
#IONJets #PrivateAviation #JetCharter #EmptyLegs #BusinessTravel #LuxuryTravel #Aviation #Entrepreneurship #ScottsdaleBusiness #WhatKeepsYouAwakeTV
