Steve Varsano, a corporate jet broker, returns to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University nearly 50 years after graduating to deliver the commencement speech to 6,000 graduates. He tours the campus, meets with the university president, and visits the Air Traffic Management program before flying a BBJ to Pittsburgh for a client meeting, then catching a commercial flight to London for work the next day.
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This is what a day in my life looks like as a Corporate Jet Broker. Giving a commencement graduation speech to an audience of 6,000 students and their families. As I arrived, I was greeted and escorted through the back halls toward the main arena. Being back in Daytona, memories from nearly over 40 years ago quietly returned. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is more than just a university. In the late '70s, I was a student here. A young man with no clear plan, just a strong sense that my future belonged in aviation. But as I moved through their programs, I discovered just how many the many different opportunities aviation offers, from corporate, commercial, military aviation. I was welcomed by several professors and Embry-Riddle's president, Dr. Butler, each stopping me for a brief exchange as I made my way through. I then got changed into the customary regalia robe. We took some photos and had some more brief conversations and then welcomed all the graduates. As the arena began to fill, the scale of the moment hit me. This was the largest crowd I have ever spoken in front of. I'll admit it was quite daunting. And then it was time. Make this Make your parents proud of you, but most of all, make yourself proud of you. I took the stage, the same university where I once sat as a student. I was now congratulating and sending off the next generation of aviation leaders. To return here about 47 years later, not as a student but as a speaker, it was both humbling and an honor. A full circle moment I'll never forget. If you'd like to see the full speech, Visit the Jet Business YouTube channel. It's also available on Instagram as a reel. Early the next morning, I returned to campus to meet Dr. McCormick. He welcomed me to the Air Traffic Management program, where students are trained to manage the mayhem of the sky with precision and calmness.
People often ask me how to get into aviation. Wow, there's so many different ways and so many different avenues. There's not one single path. It depends on your skills and definitely on your interests. But here's one way, and there'll be a lot more to come in future videos.
Toured the simulation labs and classrooms, and I was impressed by the technology and the discipline. Since I was already in the US, I made a quick detour to meet a potential client and show them a BBJ. With a corporate jet, I walked straight onto the plane, flew 2 hours, had my meeting, then continued directly to Pittsburgh Airport where I caught my flight back to London. I landed just in time to be at my desk the next morning. So, that was a busy 24 hours in my life. Follow to see what I get up to tomorrow.
