Tristan MacLean, '18

Tristan MacLean (Management, '18) continues to reach new heights after winning the 2018 Hawk Tank business plan competition. His company, Always Time to Fly, has grown steadily since he launched it after his Hawk Tank success. Tristan now holds the corporate sponsorship and pilot contract for ExxonMobil at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, one of the most prestigious opportunities in the ballooning industry. He has piloted for ExxonMobil since 2019 and was recently awarded a new five-year contract beginning in 2025. In addition to his full-time career, Tristan continues to expand his business, operating three balloons and pursuing new corporate partnerships. He recently returned to Durango to fly in the Animas Valley Balloon Rally. You can follow Tristan’s ballooning adventures on Instagram at @alwaystime.2.fly.