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Owner’s
Corner
Love, Guac and JET-A
Monty Moran recognized the importance of others’ contri- butions and how their skills
fit into the big picture from a young age. This talent was honed during his tenure as the co-Chief Executive Officer of Chipotle Mexican Grill. During Moran’s 12 years at the helm of the fast-casual restaurant, the com- pany grew from a handful of restau- rants to almost 2,500 restaurants and nearly 75,000 employees.
After stepping away from the company’s operations in December 2016, Moran opted to pursue a longstanding dream. “I had always wanted to be a pilot, but a kid on the playground during elementary school said it wouldn’t be possible because I
26 • TWIN & TURBINE / May 2022
was too tall. The internet didn’t exist back then, so there was no easy way for me to fact check what he said, so I dropped it.”
But, nearly 40 years later, f lying was finally something that Monty could pursue – and no one was going to tell him it wasn’t possible this time. “After 23 years of being a CEO, both at Chipotle and a law firm [Messner Reeves LLP in Denver], I finally had the time to learn to fly. It was the first thing I did once I retired.”
“So, I called Journeys Aviation at KBDU [Boulder Municipal Airport] and said I wanted to learn how to fly. They said ‘of course’ and asked how quickly I wanted to start.” Now with the time to dedicate to his
lifelong interest in aviation, Moran eagerly replied, “Is there availability this afternoon?”
The next day, he completed an inaugural lesson in a Cessna 172. He soared through initial training, and five months after his first lesson, Moran received his Private Pilot Certificate. The milestone was only the first step in his aviation obsession. The newly minted pilot’s next question was, What plane will best fit my mission, and where do I go from here?
His first aircraft search led him to a 1991 Beechcraft Bonanza A36. Moran says, “It was a cream puff, an absolutely beautiful airplane with new propeller and avionics.” Moran