Craig Grave
President

Craig Grave demonstrates remarkable aptitude as the founder, CEO, and President of AIM. His extensive experience is evident in his exemplary leadership and guidance. His unwavering dedication to excellence has propelled AIM to become a leading force in the industry. His vision, mission, and overall trajectory for AIM reflect his motto “Be better than the other guy. Do the job once and do it correctly.” Hence the tag phrase, “AIM high and AIM for excellence!”

With a lifetime of experience in Commercial and General Aviation Maintenance and flying, Craig founded AIM In 2005 and has since steered it towards becoming a leader in the industry. His understanding of customer needs stems from his years of firsthand experience as a customer of MROs. This insight has enabled him to structure AIM in a way that consistently delivers the exceptional service he himself would expect.

Craig graduated first in his class with an Applied Science Degree in Aviation Maintenance Technology. He has also attained a Commercial Multi-Engine Aircraft pilot license, a helicopter pilot license, and a single-pilot type rating to fly Citation Jets. This vast experience has enabled him to excel in his role as AIM’s founder, CEO, and President.

Prior to founding AIM, Craig held various significant positions such as Inspector/Mechanic/Technical Support Specialist/Crew Lead and Supervisor in The Memphis Group (Memphis, TN), Air Tech Aircraft Services (Olive Branch, MS), America West Airlines (Oakland, CA), and Travis Aircraft Service (Oakland, CA). He was also the V.P of Powerplant Operations at Pegasus Aviation Group in Tucson, AZ and Quality Control/Powerplant Manager at Nations Air in Smyrna, GA, and Powerplant Manager at Capitol Air in Nashville, TN. His diverse professional experience has equipped him with invaluable skills and insights, making him a highly capable leader.

When not in the air, he pursues his hobbies of hunting, fishing, motorcycling, and traveling.

Jacqui Paravano
Chief Financial Officer

Jacqui Paravano, CFO, has been a vital member of the AIM leadership team since 2007. Her experience and insight have brought tremendous value to AIM’s financial operations, playing a critical role in its enormous growth and success. Jacqui’s leadership and strategic thinking are key drivers of the alignment between business and financial strategy at AIM. She works diligently to ensure that all decisions and actions are in harmony with the company’s overall goals, providing the foundation for long-term investments and mapping out a financial course for the future.

One of Jacqui’s key responsibilities is analyzing the company’s cash flow, thereby ensuring that it has sufficient liquidity to meet its obligations. Additionally, she is responsible for conducting in-depth analyses of the company’s financial strengths and weaknesses. By assessing the financial performance and identifying areas for improvement, she can propose corrective action plans to address any challenges or inefficiencies. Jacqui’s patience and expertise extend across all areas of the business, making her a dependable source of support for colleagues and customers alike. Her meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to excellence have earned her widespread admiration and respect from those who collaborate with her.

Originally from South Africa, Jacqui is a graduate of the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. She relocated to the United States with her husband and three daughters in 2006. In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, cycling, motorcycling, watching movies, and most importantly, spending time with her family.

Paolo Paravano
Director of Organizational Operations

Paolo Paravano has twenty-eight years’ leadership and operational management experience across a variety of public and private organizations in Africa and the U.S. In one of these companies, he directed its operational planning and logistics, facilitating the expansion of five national retail outlets. He also orchestrated strategic operational restructuring and change management principles at another, resulting in a 300% increase in its net worth. His numerous promotions and awards are testimony to his expertise in this area, as well as to his leadership skills.

As AIM’s Director of Organizational Operations, Paolo is responsible for overseeing and optimizing the company’s day-to-day operations, ensuring that resources are used efficiently, and that its objectives are met. He works closely with other executives and department heads to identify areas where operational efficiencies can be improved, and implements strategies to achieve daily and monthly goals. His analytical and detail-oriented approach ensures that all aspects of the company’s operations are optimized for maximum efficiency.

Paolo has a B. S in Business Management from Damelin Business School in South Africa and has completed numerous nationally accredited management-related certifications in the organizations he has helped shape since his immigration to the U.S. in 2006.

In his leisure time, he enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with his family.

Ricardo Garcia
Sales and Business Development Manager

AIM’s newly appointed Sales and Business Development Manager, Ricardo Garcia is an experienced and accomplished Aviation & Aerospace Sales & Business Development professional. He is ideally qualified to support customers’ needs and is excited to build new relationships to further expand the company’s reach within the aviation industry.

Ricardo’s career spans 12 years, from Capital Analyst through to Sales & Business Development Manager for high profile companies such as Aeronav Technologies, American Airlines, US Airways and West Star Aviation. His rapid progression from junior to senior roles is on account of his ability to expand brand reputations, lead expansion plans, and spearhead high-profile joint and partnership agreements to help take businesses to new heights. His qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, demonstrating his passion for the industry.

In his spare time, Ricardo dedicates himself to triathlon training and racing. He has participated in multiple events including several Half Ironmans. In 2022, he qualified to represent the U.S. in the World Triathlon Championship Series in Hamburg, Germany. This year, Ricardo is planning to do the Full Ironman in Tempe, Arizona.

Kate McDonald
Human Resources Manager

Kate brings to AIM more than 25 years’ experience in HR, Safety and Organizational Management from the public and private sectors in Arizona. She is passionate about availing herself as a resource to staff and strives to bring out the best in them. She does this by developing collaborative teams and creating a culture that makes AIM a great place to work at. She is also a qualified life coach and mediator, the latter being a skill she uses to achieve the best outcomes for companies and employees at odds with each other.

Kate is originally from Pecos, New Mexico. She moved to Tucson in 1989 to attend the U of A for multiple degrees, fell in love with the warm weather and friendly people and has been a resident since then. Her hobbies include spoiling her eight grandchildren, fishing, hunting and all kinds of crafts.