part 107 pilots, public safety, and industry experts

The Advexure Team

Our team is made up of highly experienced FAA Part 107 licensed drone pilots, previous public safety servants, as well as film production specialists. We fly and use all equipment that we carry and know how important the dealer support structure is to a UAS operation.

Learn more about advexure

Travis Waibel 👨‍💼 🎯 🚁

Founder/CEO

Travis Waibel 👨‍💼 🎯 🚁

Founder/CEO

Travis's journey in the drone industry began in 2012 when he founded Advexure in the midwest and witnessed first-hand how drone technology was revolutionizing commercial workflows for agriculture, public safety, and the film and cinema sectors. Today, Travis drives Advexure's strategic partnerships to adapt the company's portfolio and capabilities to meet the ever-changing needs of Advexure's client base and the drone industry at large.

Travis's journey in the drone industry began in 2012 when he founded Advexure in the midwest and witnessed first-hand how drone technology was revolutionizing commercial workflows for agriculture, public safety, and the film and cinema sectors. Today, Travis drives Advexure's strategic partnerships to adapt the company's portfolio and capabilities to meet the ever-changing needs of Advexure's client base and the drone industry at large.

Dan Waibel 📈 🔍 💰

CFO

Dan Waibel 📈 🔍 💰 

CFO

As a seasoned financial maestro and certified public accountant over the last 30 years, Dan has played a pivotal role in steering Advexure's financial foundation and growth in the competitive drone technology market. Dan's strategic approach to financial management combined with his experience taking a company public have been instrumental in propelling Advexure's strategy and bolstering the company's strength and stability.

As a seasoned financial maestro and certified public accountant over the last 30 years, Dan has played a pivotal role in steering Advexure's financial foundation and growth in the competitive drone technology market. Dan's strategic approach to financial management combined with his experience taking a company public have been instrumental in propelling Advexure's strategy and bolstering the company's strength and stability.

Cody Thomas 🚜 🚀 🤝

VP, Business Development

Cody Thomas 🚜 🚀 🤝 

VP, Business Development

Hailing from a family deeply rooted in the agricultural industry of California, Cody developed an early appreciation for the importance of technology in enhancing efficiency and productivity. His later career journey in wildland firefighting provided him with a deep understanding of the critical role that drones play in public safety. Cody's ability to forge strategic partnerships, identify market opportunities, and foster industry collaboration sets Advexure on a trajectory for sustained growth and success.

Hailing from a family deeply rooted in the agricultural industry of California, Cody developed an early appreciation for the importance of technology in enhancing efficiency and productivity. His later career journey in wildland firefighting provided him with a deep understanding of the critical role that drones play in public safety. Cody's ability to forge strategic partnerships, identify market opportunities, and foster industry collaboration sets Advexure on a trajectory for sustained growth and success.

Jim Colombo 👨🏻‍🍳 🔧 📦👨‍💼

Operations Specialist

Jim Colombo 👨🏻‍🍳 🔧 📦 

Director of Operations

With his early professional endeavors rooted in the culinary world and subsequent experience as a drone operator in the electric utilities sector, Jim has curated a multifaceted and diverse recipe for success that he serves to Advexure customers and partners. Jim plays a crucial role in coordinating various aspects of Advexure's operations to enhance the company's operational efficiency and deliver on the mission to provide an unmatched customer experience.

With his early professional endeavors rooted in the culinary world and subsequent experience as a drone operator in the electric utilities sector, Jim has curated a multifaceted and diverse recipe for success that he serves to Advexure customers and partners. Jim plays a crucial role in coordinating various aspects of Advexure's operations to enhance the company's operational efficiency and deliver on the mission to provide an unmatched customer experience.

Jeff Alexy 🚒 🔑 💪

Public Safety SME & Instructor

Ray Cruz 📖 💬 🏈

Customer Success Lead

With a strong background in customer success and technical leadership from her time at Autel Robotics, Ray Cruz is a crucial player in ensuring customer satisfaction at Advexure. Her 5+ years in customer success have sharpened her skills in understanding and addressing customer needs. An avid reader, Ray's enthusiasm for continuous learning translates into her work, where she eagerly embraces the latest drone innovations. Although she enjoys drones and the industry, she amusingly admits to a fear of flying and space travel.

As a public safety subject matter expert (SME) and instructor at Advexure, Jeff brings an extensive background in drone use in firefighting and public safety. With an impressive tenure of 23 years in the fire service for the largest county in the United States, Jeff possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in emergency response and safety protocols. As a Level 1 sUAS Certified Thermographer, his specialized expertise in the application of aerial thermal imaging for various public safety use cases empowers Jeff to serve as a trusted resource and invaluable asset to Advexure and its public safety and inspection customers.

Tommy Gunn 🎵 📣 📸

Marketing Director

Tommy Gunn 🎵 📣 📸 

Marketing Director

Tommy drives Advexure’s marketing prowess and possesses a creative skillset that he’s developed over seven years in the digital and cross-channel marketing space. In his previous role, he spearheaded marketing efforts to drive public safety adoption of drone as first responder (DFR) and continues his efforts to revolutionize the use of drone technology to change the way first responders leverage UAS technology to serve their communities. Tommy’s extensive experience enables him to continue to push boundaries to drive the company’s growth as a market leading drone solutions provider.

Tommy drives Advexure’s marketing prowess and possesses a creative skillset that he’s developed over seven years in the digital and cross-channel marketing space. In his previous role, he spearheaded marketing efforts to drive public safety adoption of drone as first responder (DFR) and continues his efforts to revolutionize the use of drone technology to change the way first responders leverage UAS technology to serve their communities. Tommy’s extensive experience enables him to continue to push boundaries to drive the company’s growth as a market leading drone solutions provider.

Aaron Beckman 👨‍🚒 🗺️ 📸

Field Applications Specialist

Aaron Beckman 👨‍🚒 🗺️ 📸

Field Applications Specialist

Having joined the fire service in 1998, Aaron has developed a strong background in fire science and brings a wealth of knowledge and practical understanding of the unique challenges faced by first responders. As a field applications specialist, Aaron plays a crucial role in systems training, vetting, testing, and proving new drone platforms for Advexure. Aaron's ability to bridge the gap between technology and practical applications has made him a trusted advisor and valuable resource for public safety professionals and operators across the geospatial and accident reconstruction space.

Having joined the fire service in 1998, Aaron has developed a strong background in fire science and brings a wealth of knowledge and practical understanding of the unique challenges faced by first responders. As a field applications specialist, Aaron plays a crucial role in systems training, vetting, testing, and proving new drone platforms for Advexure. Aaron's ability to bridge the gap between technology and practical applications has made him a trusted advisor and valuable resource for public safety professionals and operators across the geospatial and accident reconstruction space.

Jeff Alexy 🚒 🔑 💪

Public Safety SME & Instructor

Jeff Alexy 🚒 🔑 💪

Public Safety SME & Instructor

As a public safety subject matter expert (SME) and instructor at Advexure, Jeff brings an extensive background in drone use in firefighting and public safety. With an impressive tenure of 23 years in the fire service for the largest county in the United States, Jeff possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in emergency response and safety protocols. As a Level 1 sUAS Certified Thermographer, his specialized expertise in the application of aerial thermal imaging for various public safety use cases empowers Jeff to serve as a trusted resource and invaluable asset to Advexure and its public safety and inspection customers.

As a public safety subject matter expert (SME) and instructor at Advexure, Jeff brings an extensive background in drone use in firefighting and public safety. With an impressive tenure of 23 years in the fire service for the largest county in the United States, Jeff possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in emergency response and safety protocols. As a Level 1 sUAS Certified Thermographer, his specialized expertise in the application of aerial thermal imaging for various public safety use cases empowers Jeff to serve as a trusted resource and invaluable asset to Advexure and its public safety and inspection customers.

Rick Smith 👮🏻‍♂️ 📢 📚

Public Safety Advisor

Rick Smith 👮🏻‍♂️ 📢 📚

Public Safety Advisor

Leveraging his extensive background in various fields of law enforcement, ranging from Investigations, CSI, Sr. Patrol Sergeant, Tactical Team Lead, and multiple Instructors roles spanning over 30 years allows Rick to provide invaluable insights and guidance to Advexure’s Public Safety Customers, while also assisting and training organizations outside of public safety on the effective and safe use of drone technology. As a UAS program Developer and Advisor and Active UAS Instructor, Rick’s consultative approach encompasses assessing specific needs, understanding operational challenges, developing mission sets, and formulating comprehensive strategies to leverage drones effectively. His dedication to sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices enhances the effectiveness of drone programs which contributes to safer communities and more efficient tactics for UAS deployments.

Leveraging his extensive background in various fields of law enforcement, ranging from Investigations, CSI, Sr. Patrol Sergeant, Tactical Team Lead, and multiple Instructors roles spanning over 30 years allows Rick to provide invaluable insights and guidance to Advexure’s Public Safety Customers, while also assisting and training organizations outside of public safety on the effective and safe use of drone technology. As a UAS program Developer and Advisor and Active UAS Instructor, Rick’s consultative approach encompasses assessing specific needs, understanding operational challenges, developing mission sets, and formulating comprehensive strategies to leverage drones effectively. His dedication to sharing knowledge, expertise, and best practices enhances the effectiveness of drone programs which contributes to safer communities and more efficient tactics for UAS deployments.

Jeff Alexy 🚒 🔑 💪

Public Safety SME & Instructor

Gregory Pratt 🕵️‍♂️ 🚁 🔍

Training Instructor

Gregory Pratt began his career in the US Marine Corps Reserves as an Air Traffic Controller. After earning a Business Administration degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and a Private Pilot's License, he served six years as a Naval Flight Officer. Post-Navy, he was appointed an FBI Special Agent, with a 22-year tenure (1998-2019) in the San Antonio office, handling White Collar Crime, Public Corruption, and Counter-Terrorism cases. His additional roles included surveillance pilot, Evidence Response Team Leader, Hostage/Crisis Negotiator, and Liaison Agent. Post-retirement, he founded DroneStar LLC, a drone service provider, while teaching UAS/Drone courses and consulting on safety and security matters. He also holds a private investigator license in Texas.

As a public safety subject matter expert (SME) and instructor at Advexure, Jeff brings an extensive background in drone use in firefighting and public safety. With an impressive tenure of 23 years in the fire service for the largest county in the United States, Jeff possesses a wealth of knowledge and experience in emergency response and safety protocols. As a Level 1 sUAS Certified Thermographer, his specialized expertise in the application of aerial thermal imaging for various public safety use cases empowers Jeff to serve as a trusted resource and invaluable asset to Advexure and its public safety and inspection customers.