About
Proponent

As an employee-owned company, our success is reflected in yours. We are the worldโ€™s largest independent, employee-owned distributor of aircraft parts and supplies, and we have built our business around the idea of providing unique solutions to individual customers. With over 500,000 priced parts available, and same-day shipping worldwide, we provide you with what you need when you need it.

Wide shot of a team of people, wearing headsets, sitting at their desks in orange and gray cubicles

Who We Areโ€‹

Weโ€™re more than just parts. We are an aerospace distributor focused on our customers and suppliers. We believe that relationships are what really keep planes in the air, which is why we do everything in our power to create deep, rewarding relationships with our customers and suppliers.

Our goal is simple: to be a fast, simple, and reliable partner. We believe that this starts by listening to our customers, learning their unique objectives, and working together to deliver customized solutions and services to ensure their success. We also work closely with our suppliers to provide insights into the aftermarket, helping them grow their businesses.

Proponent grew out of a partnership between Kapco Global and Avio-Diepen, with nearly 50 years of aerospace expertise and a shared perspective on what an aerospace distributor can be. As an employee-owned company, we work hard every day to add value to our suppliersโ€™ and customersโ€™ supply chains, helping ensure the future success of aviation businesses worldwide.

A group of workers standing in warehouse shelving, watching one colleague give a presentation with a white board behind him

Our Success Is Your Success

As an employee-owned company for more than 30 years, we have learned that when we listen to our employees and do what is best for them, our success becomes the success of our customers and suppliers. Because our employees are invested in the success of our business, each has a single goal: to provide you with business-enhancing solutions that are as unique as you are.

A Look Inside Our Offices

Leading By Example

Proponent is a people-first company. We strive to create a unique, engaging work environment that fosters the kind of loyalty and long-term commitment that makes for consistently happy employees, customers, and suppliers.

Our leadership team is made up of people who epitomize this aspiration, more than half of whom have been members of the Proponent team for over a decade.

Andrew Todhunter headshot

Andrew Todhunter

Andrew began his career at Proponent as COO in 2001 following a decade of experience as a management
Steven Frields headshot

Steven Frields

Steven Frields has always been intrigued by the details. At a young age, he enjoyed taking things apart to understand how they worked
Jeff Nixon headshot

Jeff Nixon

Jeff Nixon, Proponentโ€™s Chief Commercial Officer, oversees Proponentโ€™s customer-facing teams including Outside and Inside Sales
John Valantine headshot

John Valantine

A lifelong problem solver, John Valantine always thought he would be an engineer or a computer scientist. As Chief Information Officer, he is
Desiree Garcia headshot

Desiree Garcia

Desiree Garcia is passionate about the role that employees play in Proponentโ€™s growth and is dedicated to
Rodolph Italianer headshot

Rodolph Italianer

In his role as the Vice President of Business Innovation, Rodolph Italianer is always looking for creative new avenues
Erik Krol headshot

Erik Krol

As the Vice President of Strategic Business Units, Erik Krol is responsible for some of Proponentโ€™s core business
Chris Mercier headshot

Chris Mercier

Supplier Partnerships are a central component to Proponentโ€™s goal of providing the best aerospace distribution solutions
Annette Oโ€™Neal headshot

Annette Oโ€™Neal

Customer satisfaction has always been important to Annette. Utilizing Lean Tools, Annette strives to continually
Jacob Volen headshot

Jacob Volen

A lifelong learner, Jacob is most at home in collaborative environments, engaging in problem-solving discussions
Steve Emmert headshot

Steve Emmert

Steve leads warehouse Operations for Proponentโ€™s facilities in California, the Netherlands and Singapore. Heโ€™s passionate about growing and

Corporate Culture

Our Core Values

Proponent is a value-led organization. We aim to provide the ultimate value to our customers and suppliers, and we hold our core company values sacred.

Our core values of empathy, intelligence, agility, and integrity can be summed up in the following unofficial company motto: Proponent strives to be a trusted partner, delivering innovative solutions in an engaging work environment.

Male Proponent employee smiling and talking to female employee in foreground

A Trusted
Partner

Our highest goal is to serve our suppliers and customers beyond their expectations. We treat every interaction as an opportunity to learn more about our clients and to provide customer-centered service with a personal touch.

A man in a green shirt talks to another man opposite him

Delivering Innovative
Solutions

Being 100% employee-owned means that Proponent has the independence and flexibility to make long-term decisions that benefit you, our suppliers and customers. Proponent is set up to be agile and creative so that we can offer innovative services and solutions tailored to each clientโ€™s specific objectives.

A group of three male employees walking and talking outside, with orange fall trees behind them

In an Engaging
Work Environment

Proponent provides a unique and engaging employee-driven work environment. We value the perspective and creativity of each and every employee, encouraging their feedback and involvement whenever possible. It is an honor and a privilege to invest in our employees, providing plenty of opportunities for advancement and professional development.

Employee Interviews

Smart Present, Green Future

Proponent is committed to using energy and natural resources efficiently and minimizing our impact on the environment. With a history dating back to the early days of commercial aviation, we naturally maintain a long-term view of our business and its role in the community. Even when the economic payback of certain initiatives is quite long, we are willing to invest in improved environmental practices to ensure continuous improvement.

Aerial photo of a Proponent building, with many solar panels on the rooftop

In the last several years, Proponent has significantly reduced its generation of landfill materials and its electrical usage, and significantly increased the volume of materials recycled. In 2011, we introduced โ€œclosed-loopโ€ water processing equipment to our machine shop to reduce water consumption and eliminate any waste products that might be introduced into the sewer system. In 2013, we installed new high-efficiency lighting and motion-detection systems in multiple warehouses to reduce overall electrical consumption.

In 2024, we installed a new 538 kW rooftop solar array at our Brea, CA headquarters. In our location on sunny days, it can produce more than 3,000 kWh of energy each day. To put that in perspective, our solar panels could provide power for more than 100 typical American homes. As we fine-tune our solar efficiency, we hope to increase output while continuing to optimize our operations.

We strive to contribute to a clean, safe, healthy environment โ€“ now and in the future.

To learn more about how Proponent is participating in the green aviation movement, visit our blog.

Meet our Customers