What Jacobsen|Daniels does

Jacobsen|Daniels (J|D) is a private, DBE/MBE/ACDBE-certified aviation consulting firm founded in 2001 by engineer Brad Jacobsen and architect Darryl Daniels, headquartered in Ypsilanti, Michigan with satellite offices across nine U.S. cities. The firm provides end-to-end services spanning airport planning, capital program and infrastructure advisory, construction and program management, GIS solutions built on ESRI Enterprise, terminal concessions development, safety management systems, airline representation, and terminal management. A wholly-owned subsidiary, Fly Away Valet, operates premium valet parking at DTW, BWI, and SAT as a managed-services complement to the core consulting practice. J|D also serves the FAA through the JD RoVolus joint venture, delivering policy, program, and software development support.

The firm serves government airport authorities (Wayne County/Detroit, LAWA, Chicago Department of Aviation, Port of Seattle, Memphis-Shelby County, Miami-Dade, Sacramento County, Columbus Regional, Aspen/Pitkin County, San Antonio), commercial airlines (Delta Air Lines), rental car tenants, and federal agencies. Revenue is generated primarily through project-based professional services contracts ranging from on-call planning assignments to multi-year capital program engagements (e.g., $7M five-year SEA PMSS contract; $4.6M Memphis master plans; $1.5M three-year LAWA real estate consulting), supplemented by managed-service revenue from Fly Away Valet operations and terminal concessions. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales built on founder reputation, direct client relationships, and competitive proposal work on public-sector procurements.

Name

Jacobsen|Daniels

Legal name

Jacobsen Daniels Associates, LLC

Website

https://jacobsendaniels.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jacobsen|Daniels is a private aviation consulting firm founded in 2001 providing airport planning, capital program management, construction management, GIS, terminal concessions, and valet parking operations to U.S. airport authorities, airlines, rental car companies, and the FAA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Consulting Services

NAICS

Airport Operations (48811), Other Airport Operations (488119)

SIC

Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581)

akta.pro primary industry

Airport Car Rental (On-Airport Concessions) (THADAAAA)

Keywords

• Aviation consulting services
• Airport planning
• Airport construction management
• Airline representation services
• Geographical information systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Ypsilanti

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Revenue generated from providing aviation consulting services including airport planning, program management, construction management, and other professional services to airport operators, airlines, and government agencies. Services are delivered through project-based contracts ranging from on-call planning assignments to multi-year capital program engagements.
2. Valet & Parking Operations: Revenue from operating Fly Away Valet premium valet parking services at airports including DTW, BWI, and SAT. Services include valet parking operations, facility design, and parking services marketing.
3. Terminal Concessions: Revenue from developing and managing terminal concessions including retail shops and food & beverage locations at airports, working with brand partners and local vendors.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Jacobsen|Daniels is an aviation consulting firm that delivers professional services across the full lifecycle of airport facilities — from master and capital planning, program and construction management, and GIS/geospatial solutions, through airline representation, terminal concessions development, safety management systems, and federal support to the FAA. In addition, the firm directly operates Fly Away Valet, a premium full-service airport valet parking brand at DTW, BWI, and SAT.

Product overview

Jacobsen|Daniels (J|D) is a professional consulting services firm specializing in airport facility planning, implementation, and operations. Founded in 2001 and co-founded by Architect Darryl Daniels and Engineer Brad Jacobsen, the company offers a comprehensive suite of integrated services spanning the entire lifecycle of airport development—from initial planning through construction and ongoing operations. The core service portfolio includes Airport Planning, Valet & Parking Operations (operated under the Fly Away Valet brand), Airline Representation, Terminal Management, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Federal Services (contracting to the FAA), Capital Programs & Infrastructure, Construction & Program Management, Terminal Concessions, and Safety Management Systems. This integrated approach—whereby the company leverages experience from the entire lifecycle of a facility to elevate planning, construction management, and operations—differentiates J|D from conventional aviation consulting firms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Fly Away Valet: Premium full-service valet parking operations at airports including DTW, BWI, and SAT.

Products and services

• Airport Planning Comprehensive airport planning services including master planning, on-call planning, forecasting and analytics, stakeholder engagement, airside/airspace planning, landside planning, terminal planning, cargo planning, general aviation planning, financial planning, AGIS/Airport Layout Plans, and environmental planning for airport operators.
• Fly Away Valet Premium full-service valet parking operations at airports, offering amenities such as complimentary newspapers, full-service oil changes, luggage assistance, bottled water, contactless transactions, and online reservation systems. Operated at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Baltimore/Washington International (BWI), and San Antonio International Airport (SAT).
• Airline Representation On-the-ground airline representation services including negotiation with airports, deal structuring, relationship building, and solution finding to ensure seamless airline operations for commercial airlines operating at major hub airports.
• Terminal Management Comprehensive terminal equipment management including jet bridges, baggage claim systems, janitorial services, fire alarm systems, preventive maintenance, and swift repair interventions for airport operators seeking continuous terminal uptime.
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS) GIS solutions including geospatial strategy and planning, enterprise system design, data conversion and development, database development, field data collection, web application development, systems integration, ArcGIS Online setup and configuration, GIS hosting, and FAA-compliant GIS Airport Layout Plans. Utilizes ESRI Enterprise solutions for custom dashboards.
• Federal Services Contracting services to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) including policy consultation, program delivery, GIS services, and strategic communications development. Supports the FAA Office of Airports, Office of Commercial Space Transportation, and Office of Environment and Energy.
• Capital Programs & Infrastructure Capital project and infrastructure consulting including ConRAC Development, capital program management, asset lifecycle management, decommissioning assistance, and financial structuring for aviation facilities and airport operators.
• Construction & Program Management Construction and program management services including program and strategy planning, planning and due diligence, design management, preconstruction management, construction management, construction cost estimating, LEED certification facilitation, financial and document controls, project closeout and activation, and airline and concessions development.
• Terminal Concessions Terminal concessions development and management including regional culture integration, tailored airport retail, revenue optimization, and customer experience enhancement for airport dining and retail spaces, working with brand partners and local vendors at DTW and other airports.
• Safety Management Systems Safety management system development including safety manual development, safety risk assessments, FAA Order 5200.11a compliance, facility safety risk assessment panels, and subject matter experts for safety risk assessment panels for airport operators and FAA program offices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully maintained landing fees flat for three consecutive years at MIA while reducing annual operational budget
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WHSmith North AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026Joint venture partnership for retail concessions development at Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. J|D provides retail merchandising, planning support, and construction management services while WHSmith North America serves as the master concessionaire. Partnership has delivered multiple retail concepts including Fuel Travel Shop, iStore, Motown Greatest Hits Travel Shop, and Imagine Michigan.
• Airport Retail Group (Pady Regnier)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026ACDBE certified partner in joint venture for DTW retail concessions, bringing local retail expertise and vendor relationships.
• Détroit is the New Black (Roslyn Karamoko)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2026ACDBE certified partner contributing local Detroit brand perspective and artistic curation for airport retail experiences.
• Chicago TitleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Part of the expert real estate team assembled for LAWA property acquisition and management services, providing title and escrow services.
• Cushman & WakefieldminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Real estate consulting partner for LAWA initiatives providing valuations, appraisals, and market analysis.
• Plante MoranminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Financial advisory partner for LAWA real estate consulting, providing financial analysis and economic impact studies.
• TranSystemsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Transportation infrastructure partner providing engineering and planning expertise for LAWA property initiatives.
• Converse ConsultantsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Environmental and consulting partner for LAWA property acquisition and right-of-way services.
• Cornerstone RealtyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Real estate partner for LAWA property management and acquisition support.
• Donna Desmond & AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Real estate consulting partner for LAWA initiatives.
• IO Environmental & InfrastructureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Environmental services partner for LAWA property and infrastructure projects.
• Mark ThomasminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Engineering and planning partner for LAWA real estate and infrastructure consulting.
• R.P. LaurainminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Right-of-way and acquisition services partner for LAWA property initiatives.
• Southwest EscrowminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2024Escrow services partner for LAWA property transactions.
• Westlake ConsultingminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2024Partner in team selected by Port of Seattle for Project Management Support Services at SEA.
• Rock Project ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2024Project management partner in SEA tenant improvement team.
• MZA ArchitectureminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2024Architecture partner in SEA project team.
• CMTSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 January 2024Construction management partner in SEA project team.
• JD RoVolus (Joint Venture)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Joint venture with another small business formed in 2018 to provide FAA consulting services including policy documentation, advisory circular updates, environmental initiatives, and software development. Manages over ten subcontractors and multiple contractual arrangements for multi-million dollar FAA contracts.
• ESRI (Esri Partner Network)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2018Proud member of ESRI Partner Network since 2018. Uses ESRI Enterprise solutions for GIS platforms and ArcGIS Online configuration for airport clients including LAWA.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/journeywithjd
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jacobsen-daniels

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jacobsen|Daniels