Market Leader Spotlight: Kandi Spangler

Kandi Spangler’s aviation career is defined by adaptability and range. From her start in operations at NetJets to senior roles in charter, maintenance, marketing and brokerage, she has developed a résumé that touches nearly every corner of the industry. Today, as jetAVIVA’s market leader for the Citation Latitude, Longitude, XLS, XLS+, Sovereign and Sovereign+ aircraft, she brings that unmatched perspective to clients navigating some of the most versatile aircraft in the Citation lineup.

Her passion for aviation began with a single flight in a Cessna 172 at Columbia County Airport in Ohio. Invited on her first flight in her sophomore year of high school, she was instantly hooked. Determined to fly, she borrowed money from her siblings for lessons and soloed before her 17th birthday. Though accepted into Embry-Riddle’s flight program, the high cost of tuition led her to pivot into the business track instead. After graduation, she joined NetJets in operations, where she learned aircraft performance, passenger capacity and runway requirements—knowledge that became the backbone of her sales expertise.

In 2001, she moved to California with her husband and entered the Part 135 charter and management sector. Her analytical approach quickly stood out. For one major client, she built a comparative analysis of fractional, charter and ownership models, which later evolved into customized aircraft management sales packages. By 2006, she had joined JSSI, selling maintenance programs, and within two years was leading its global sales and marketing team. By 2011, Spangler launched her own aviation marketing consultancy before ultimately finding her calling in brokerage in 2012.

“For me, the most meaningful part of this work is the trust my clients put in me,” she said. “Helping someone navigate such an important financial decision—sometimes sight unseen—isn’t just about the aircraft, it’s about giving them peace of mind to focus on their companies, their families and their bigger goals.”

At jetAVIVA, her approach is centered on long-term partnerships rather than one-off deals. Sometimes that means advising a client to wait or rethink a purchase. “It might not serve the immediate sale, but it always serves the client—and in the long run, that’s what matters,” she explained. The philosophy has built lasting bonds. Clients often become repeat buyers, referral sources and friends.

Internally, Spangler credits jetAVIVA’s CEO, Emily Deaton, with shaping her growth. “Emily has this incredible ability to remove obstacles without micromanaging,” she said. “She helped me let go of self-imposed limits on work-life balance and equipped me to work more efficiently—not just harder. If jetAVIVA will have me, this is where I want to retire.”

Her relocation to Denver reflects lifestyle as much as work. With Centennial Airport right at her back door—the nation’s third busiest general aviation airport—it offers ideal access for her clients, while the surrounding mountains provide skiing, motorcycling and backcountry flying. “Denver gives me the best of both worlds,” she said. “It’s a big city with all the amenities, but also the freedom of mountain living.”

Spangler’s life philosophy is simple: “To inspire and be inspired.” A lifelong motorcyclist, she once doubted her ability to compete at a high level until she saw another rider, shorter than her, make the U.S. team for the BMW GS Trophy. “That moment shattered my self-imposed limitations,” she recalled. It’s a lesson she carries into her client relationships. “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear. Stepping into discomfort is often the signal you’re doing something worthwhile.”

With decades of aviation experience, a data-driven mindset and a client-first philosophy, Kandi Spangler has become a trusted voice in the Citation markets. For her clients, she is more than a broker—she’s a partner and a guide committed to their long-term success.

Connect with Kandi Spangler at [email protected].