Whom You Know: Movers and Shakers: Todd Rome, Founder and CEO of Blue Star Jets

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Movers and Shakers: Todd Rome, Founder and CEO of Blue Star Jets

As one of the world’s largest private aircraft charter broker, Blue Star Jets offers an unparalleled level of personalized service. As their motto states, ANY JET, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE™, Blue Star Jets grants clients freedom from the financial constraints of fractional jet ownership; the savings of paying only for trips taken; and the flexibility to choose the best aircraft according to a trip’s specific budget requirement.

As an idea which arose from business executives, Mr. Todd Rome and Mr. Ricky Sitomer, frustrated with the lack of service and high costs of flying privately, Blue Star Jets has revolutionized the private aviation charter business through centralization of a fractured marketplace. By creating a network of charter companies, Blue Star Jets has access to over 4,000 aircraft worldwide, ranging from helicopters to Boeing business jets.

The Blue Star Jets’ broker relationship sets it apart from its competitors. Blue Star Jets does not manage or operate aircraft on behalf of their clients; however, the company assists clientele in finding the best operators for any aircraft. Its staff of aviation specialists solicits competitive bids on each flight request, passing the savings to their clients. Blue Star Jets’ aviation specialists are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Operators providing service for Blue Star Jets’ clients must meet the most stringent of standards set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); additionally, Blue Star Jets offers aircraft that have been independently audited for safety, as well as their respective safety reports, to clients.

Since 2005, the New York-based Luxury Institute has named Blue Star Jets the “Most Prestigious Private Jet Services Brands.”

In April 2001, Mr. Todd Rome founded Blue Star Jets due to the inefficiencies in the private jet marketplace. While at Blue Star Jets, Mr. Rome has been the safety and security expert on CNN post-9/11, and has made numerous appearances on CNBC and FOX, in addition to a number of other cable networks. Prior to Blue Star Jets, Mr. Rome ran a successful broker-dealer on Wall Street in New York City. Mr. Rome is also Co-Chair of the Diabetes Research Institute. When not traveling or working, Mr. Rome enjoys spending time with his wife and children in the Hamptons. We are pleased to present him as our latest Mover and Shaker.

Peachy Deegan interviewed Todd Rome for Whom You Know.

Peachy Deegan: What age were you when you first flew?
Todd Rome: 21

Tell us about the experience please.
I flew on a gulfstream with friends and fell in love with it. My next trip was a Lear to Montreal for dinner and back.

What is being in the aviation industry like compared to working on Wall Street?
It is a lot slower.

How did you become the safety expert on CNN?
I've studied the market for years- stood on the assembly line of the factories and met with the heads of the manufacturers. Through this, I explored how to make it as safe as possible.

What do you believe makes Blue Star Jets different from the rest of the market? It's the least expensive private jet provider, yet it has access to the most aircraft and it has the highest standard of safety in the industry.

How do you choose your staff and what criteria must they adhere to?
The staff must have a marketing background and must be estrmely driven. I want people who won’t stop until they are successful.

What or who has had the most influence on your pursuit of excellence?
It is an accumulation of my friends, family, and mentors who have shaped me and my pursuit.

What is your favorite place to be in Manhattan?
Dinners with friends at Camponola or Scala Tella

What is your favorite shop in Manhattan?
The Button Shop

What is your favorite drink?
Latte

What is your favorite restaurant in Manhattan?
Nobu

What is your favorite thing to do in Manhattan that you can do nowhere else?
Go to central park and lay in Sheeps Meadow

What do you think is most underrated and overrated here?
What a great place it is to raise a family.
I love everything about the city.

Other than Movers and Shakers, what is your favorite Whom You Know column and why?
Big Apple Business because I find it interesting to read about other businesses in the NY area.

What else should Whom You Know readers know about you?
I am a proud father of four, I like to collect vintage cars. I like to work hard and play hard.

How would you like to be contacted by Whom You Know readers? toddrome@bluestarjets.com

Recent Testimonials by Brand Ambassadors on their Experience with Whom You Know

"I work with Peachy Deegan because she's prolific at what she does. She's a hard worker, she's thoughtful and she's tasteful at what she writes which is very important. Peachy gets the facts correct, and just that alone is worth its weight in gold."

-Edward Tricomi, Master Stylist and Owner of Warren-Tricomi
https://warrentricomi.com/

"No one has yet to express their taste for our cuisine better than Peachy Deegan on Whom You Know. Thank you for transforming our flavor into words, unlike any other before.
Sometimes WHOM YOU KNOW, really makes a difference and Ammos Estiatorio is grateful to know Peachy Deegan!"
-
Dimitris Nakos, Founder and Owner of
Ammos Estiatorio
https://ammosnewyork.com/

“Whom You Know has done an amazing job of featuring our company over many years [seven]. Peachy has worked tirelessly to create a well-curated selection of topics and brands that are clearly of relevance to her growing audience of readers. Her articles are filled with great insights based on first-hand experience. She does her research, knows her business and is a pleasure to work with!”

-David Sasuga, Owner of Fresh Origins Microgreens
www.FreshOrigins.com

"Peachy Deegan has the pulse of the nation and highlights exceptional opinion leaders in more than 23,000 inspiring and entertaining posts. Her 100,000 twitter followers are a true testimony to Peachy’s ability to inspire, motivate and entertain. She is a feminine force to be reckoned with and an exemplary example of an influential voice in today’s world."

-Mica Mosbacher, author of the new book The Hurricane Factor: Stormside Patriots and tv political commentator

"It was an honour to be chosen for Movers and Shakers by Peachy Deegan. The questions in the interview were intelligent and insightful and I thoroughly enjoyed answering them. The reaction to the interview has been overwhelmingly positive and has helped bring my art practice to a wider audience."
-Damien Flood, Internationally Acclaimed Artist
http://www.damienflood.ie/

"We were so fortunate to hit Peachy’s radar. Her review of our Warmies was spot-on and came at a great time in our company’s early history.
Peachy has such a strong relationship with her readers. She provides honest and real comments; she is truly a trusted source in a very large circle
of consumers."
-Scott Wehrs
President
Intelex U.S.A.
http://www.intelexusallc.com/

"We at Primola love working with Whom You Know and are proud to have been a highly-ranked Manhattan restaurant by Peachy Deegan since 2012, and are featured seasonally. We appreciate the fantastic work Peachy does highlighting our cuisine with her sublime writing style and the whole neighborhood of the Upper East side. Also, we are glad that she has started a Made in Italy column! If you have the opportunity to be considered for review, we'd highly recommend working with her."
-Giuliano Zuliani, Owner of Primola Restaurant
https://www.facebook.com/Primola-Canaletto-restaurants-NYC-135616799831091

"
Peachy Deegan is a gem. She is wonderful to feature our Irish brands in 'Whom You Know'! The articles are beautifully and passionately presented, bringing products and brands to life, making both relevant and fun for her many faithful followers to read. I am immensely proud for our hand-crafted products to be included in this venue!"

-
Bill Follett
President, Belleek Group North America
www.Belleek.com

"As you know from my past features, Peachy Deegan and I were in the same class at Boston College prior to either of us becoming entrepreneurs. When we played together on the BC Alumni softball team in Central Park years ago, she mentioned she could not find a great dentist in Manhattan and could often be found networking on her phone in the outfield hiding from the ball. She was my second patient ever in 2006 when I opened my dental practice; I was one of the first sponsors on Whom You Know and the first Mover and Shaker featured in 2009 and have worked with her continuously since. She's even talked her friends that are doctors into being my patients, and they subsequently send their hospital colleagues. I don't know anyone that is as great of a networker and writer as Peachy, nevermind that she is upstanding and always good for her word. Cosmopolitan Dental is so happy to be in the company of the caliber of major brands she works with today, and although she will tell you a million ways to get your teeth dirty between Peachy's Picks, Terrific Takeout and Peachy's Pantry, Peachy Deegan will tell you there is only one way to get your teeth clean!"
-Dr. Garo Nazarian, Founder and Owner of Cosmopolitan Dental
http://cosmopolitandental.com/