Ben Lewandowski has rejoined Duncan Aviation as an avionics service sales rep. The second-generation Duncan team member grew up around the company. His father, programme manager Paul Lewandowski in the government contracts and special programmes department, has worked at the company for 25 years, and the younger Lewandowski spent many days shadowing him, fuelling an early fascination with aviation. This lifelong exposure to aviation and hands-on technical background give him a practical understanding of the challenges aircraft owners and operators face.

Curious about how things worked and drawn to the technical side of the industry, Lewandowski joined Duncan as an apprentice after graduating from high school. Working with then-director of maintenance Andy Bajc, he earned his Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) certificates while working full-time.

“I took a somewhat unconventional path after that,” he says. “I left Duncan Aviation to build my sales and management experience with the goal of returning and eventually moving into aviation sales.”

He joined Omaha-based FBO JetLinx in maintenance control, managing a fleet of aircraft, before spending three and a half years in medical sales. Those experiences broadened his understanding of aircraft operations and customer expectations, perspectives he now brings to Duncan Aviation customers.

“I enjoy building relationships and communicating with people, so combining aviation with customer service allows me to help owners and operators make informed decisions about their aircraft. That felt like the perfect fit,” he continues. “Duncan Aviation is the gold standard in aviation, so coming back was an easy decision.”

His time away reinforced that successful sales begin with listening. Lewandowski believes the best solutions begin with understanding how each customer uses their aircraft.

“My goal is to build long-term relationships with customers while continuing to expand my aviation knowledge,” he adds. “No two customers or aircraft have the same mission. A charter operator has different priorities than a private owner. Understanding those differences allows me to recommend the right solution instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.”

As he settles into his new role, Lewandowski is tapping into the expertise of the people around him.

“I'm excited to learn from my teammates,” he says. “Over the next several years I want to become the trusted resource owners and operators rely on for their avionics solutions. Returning to Duncan Aviation has been a dream come true. It truly feels like coming home.”