As the founder and president of LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions, established in 2011, Jean Rollo has guided the company to become a premier provider of staffing and technical services to the aviation industry, empowering businesses to meet evolving demands and challenges.
Under Rollo’s leadership, LAUNCH has seen tremendous growth over the past three years through innovative initiatives and strategic acquisitions. A standout accomplishment is the creation of LAUNCH Global Access, a visa sponsorship program that addresses the critical shortage of aircraft mechanics in the U.S. by tapping into international talent pools. Additionally, the company launched LAUNCH Defense to meet the specialized needs of military aviation maintenance and modifications, connecting with major defense contractors.
LAUNCH has also expanded its capabilities through key acquisitions, including a leading passenger-to-freighter conversion company and the world’s largest aviation jobs website. These moves have strengthened its foothold in the market, enabling the development of proprietary digital platforms like eLAUNCHNow, a cutting-edge app to seamlessly match aviation contractors with opportunities across the country.
At the heart of Rollo’s success is a commitment to innovation and workforce development. She has fostered alliances with A&P mechanic schools to build a pipeline of talent and prioritized initiatives to train and upskill the aviation workforce. “A key goal that we set from the outset was to create career opportunities for an inexperienced, young workforce from diverse backgrounds,” she said. “I was particularly interested in addressing the gender imbalance in the aviation industry and providing young women with the chance to flourish in what had traditionally been a male-dominated field.”
Rollo’s vision for LAUNCH extends beyond immediate success. Over the next five years, she plans to expand the company’s global reach, invest in advanced AI-driven job-matching technology, and diversify revenue streams to navigate the cyclical nature of the aviation industry.
“Meeting with our staff, helping them solve problems or find unique solutions inspires me each day,” she said. “I try to connect with our team members on a personal level, and I find we breed enthusiasm with each other through those connections.”
The impact of Rollo’s leadership is evident in numerous accolades. LAUNCH has been named a military friendly employer for eight consecutive years and has been recognized on Forbes’ America’s best startup employers and Inc. 5000 lists.
“LAUNCH is truly like a family,” she said. “When you ask employees what they like about the company, they always talk about the people first. That’s what keeps me passionate each and every day – the people that make up LAUNCH.”