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Cover Feature

zaheer faruqi
Zaheer Faruqi Faruqi and his wife considered
Aventure Aviation CEO Zaheer leaving the U.S., but ultimately decided
Faruqi’s professional story is a study against it. He said his Peachtree City
in highs, lows, and perseverance. neighbors encouraged him to stay.
Originally from Pakistan, Faruqi “My wife and I decided if we stayed,
attended college in the U.S., we’d make a difference through
graduating from Northrop excellence and success,”
University with a degree in said Faruqi.
Aircraft Maintenance Engineering Eventually, things gained
Technology and a diploma in altitude. After five years of regular
Airframe & Powerplant maintenance. government scrutiny and relentless
Later, he earned his Master’s in questioning every time he traveled,
Administrative Management. Faruqi could see blue skies but would
Zaheer Faruqi
After college, Faruqi worked for hear from the U.S. government one
Aventure Aviation
Saudi Arabian Airlines, Gulf Air in Bahrain, CEO more time.
and an aviation maintenance company in In 2009, the U.S. Small Business
the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Life was Administration selected Aventure
good. He enjoyed senior positions with Aviation as Exporter of the Year for the
excellent benefits and had no plans to State of Georgia. Winning at the state
From that fateful day and for
return to the United States. level meant the company could advance
years after, Faruqi was subject to
Faruqi’s love for his family to compete regionally. That same year,
intense scrutiny.
changed his vocational trajectory. Aventure Aviation also won Exporter
“I was grilled constantly, randomly,
In 1998, an aviation parts supplier in of the Year for the Southeast Region,
every flight, going out and coming
Fairburn, Georgia, called with a job offer. defeating companies from nine other
back,” he shared. Faruqi has stories of states to take the title.
At that time, his children – like their
questioning by Homeland Security, of
father – were planning to attend college For years, Aventure Aviation has been
consistently recognized with numerous
in the U.S. Faruqi said it was a “very
simple” decision. industry and professional awards. A full
Faruqi credits his team
list is found on their website. In sharp
“We chose to move so we could live
for the company’s growth
where our children would go to college,” contrast to how things began, Faruqi
and success. “It’s not an
Faruqi explained. shared a specific recognition as the
individual effort,” said the company’s biggest accomplishment.
After settling here, Faruqi knew
CEO. “We’re successful In 2021, Aventure Aviation received
he wanted to do more. He had the
education, experience, and aviation because all of us are the highest award, the U.S. Presidential
“E” Award for Excellence in Exporting.
industry contacts. On September 1, working in sync.”
2001, he started his own company, Faruqi accepted the award from the
Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
Axis Aviation. Everyone knows what
government officials visiting his home at
Created in 1961, the President’s “E”
happened 10 days later.
eight in the morning, of FBI agents pulling
Post 9/11, then U.S. President Award is the highest recognition an
him out of the line to board a flight, and
George Bush was often heard using the American business can receive “for
more. “It was difficult but I learned I had to making a significant contribution to the
phrase “Axis of Evil.” Faruqi knew he
be more resilient and adaptable,” he said. expansion of U.S. exports,” according to
could not move forward with his new
business name. “A relaunch was needed,” “I didn’t want to give up.” the U.S. Department of Commerce.
said Faruqi.
He chose Aventure Aviation as a
combination of the words “aviation” and
“venture.” But first, troubled times were
ahead. With neither bitterness nor self-
pity, Faruqi remembers those days.
“We knew the people who did what
was done on 9/11 were from overseas,
were into aviation, had brown skin, and
were Muslim,” Faruqi recalled. “I fell in all
those boxes.”
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