Adam Triolo joined REGENT in 2021 as Director of Commercial Business Development overseeing the company’s relationships with its customers across the spectrum of ownership. Whether speaking with major airlines or individual operators, Adam works with the entire REGENT team as seagliders are poised to carry more people further and at lower operating costs than the alternatives.
Adam has been around airplanes and airports since the age of 16 when he towed and fueled aircraft at Denver’s Centennial airport. He started flying a Piper Cherokee at 17 and received his helicopter license at 19, piloting a Schweitzer 300, R22 and an Enstrum. His early love of flying led to a career in aviation. Working for an OEM as both a demonstration pilot and sales director, Adam has worked on the West Coast of the U.S. followed by five years in Asia Pacific, and has had the chance to seamlessly blend his deep technical knowledge, professional piloting, an ability to cultivate exceptional relationships and a focus on customer service to close deals and delight clients around the world.
Adam lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he continues to fly the Airbus A320/321 for a U.S. based air carrier.
Tell us about your role. What does your work entail? Who do you work with?
At REGENT, our entire business is built around solving the big challenges facing regional transportation. For our customers, we are providing a one of a kind platform that will dramatically reduce operating costs, carry larger payloads further, and provide an unparalleled level of safety for passengers. For communities, we are democratizing regional transportation. Our vehicle will provide unparalleled access to low cost, clean and affordable transportation to neglected and underserved populations. Finally, for our environment, REGENT is playing a role in the important pivot away from fossil fuel dependence to contribute to a greener transportation sector with the 100% electric seaglider.
What inspired you to join REGENT?
I joined REGENT because I respect the team and I am passionate about the mission. It's a beautiful thing when highly qualified and capable people come together with a common purpose. At REGENT, you get a front row seat to systemic change—I get to watch our team of engineers build a clean sheet vehicle from scratch, watch our customers delight in businesses they will build around a wholly new form of transportation, and watch ecosystem rise from the ground up to support a new clean future for our communities. To work at REGENT is to be a part of something meaningful—an active contributor to societal change.
The startup world is an exciting space where anything is possible. We're explorers. And we are paving new ground with the goal of providing 'wins' for our clients, their customers, and society as a whole.
You’ve spent many years as a demonstration pilot. How does that work inform your role at REGENT?
Sales is all about connecting. It's about empathy. It's about understanding who your client is and what makes them tick. Being a good demonstration pilot is a lot like being a good sales person. You should be listening twice as much as you're speaking. You should be demonstrating the attributes of the product in a way that fits the mental framework of the client and their planned operations. We're here to listen, learn, understand, and address pressing needs within our clients businesses.
What gets you up in the morning?
My alarm is set for 3:45 am. I head to the gym everyday, rain or shine. There's nothing more energizing than an early workout and the chance to meet new people—new customers.
What is your favorite plane to fly?
This is tough—there are a lot of really nice flying aircraft out there. I would say the King 350 was the best Turboprop. The Airbus A320 NEO the best jet. My favorite helicopter was the Bell 206 Long Ranger but I need to do a little more sampling on the rotary wing side :-)
Favorite city?
Singapore—what an amazing place to live and work!
If you weren’t a pilot and head of sales, you’d be a…
Ideally working in politics on issues I really care about. A lot of good can be accomplished when people make the right kind of noise.