Avionics News February 2013 - 42
— I N T E R V I E W B Y P A T R I C I A L U E B K E A » » » Mike Sutphin of Avionics International Supply Inc. Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Hot Springs, Ark. Growing up, I worked a lot with my dad who was a true country peddler. He had a big Winnebago and would go to antique stores all over the South, buy or trade something, and then sell the items down the road to another person. I am not sure what you call that today. pply Inc. tional Su s Interna vionic tphin of A Mike Su A vionics International Supply Inc. has been in operation for more than 25 years. The company concentrates in the wholesale distribution of avionics and aviation parts and supplies to private and commercial repair facilities worldwide along with the calibration and certification of avionics test equipment and tooling through its affiliate, Avionics Test Equipment Calibration. The company provides additional services, including financing, marketing, website development, mobile applications, consignment sales and technical support intended for a “WholeAero” experience. Recently, Patricia Luebke, Avionics News contributor, spoke with Mike Sutphin to learn about his work at AIS. 42 avionics news • february 2013 With... Today, we would call it “American Picker,” and he could have his own reality TV show. You’re right, but back in the 1960s and 70s, we didn’t call it that. The first jobs I remember were when I was about 10 years old. I would bus dishes, refinish furniture, mow yards – really anything to make money. My first real job was as a milkman, then with Sunshine Biscuit Company where I sold cookies and crackers. Sunshine had a restructuring and wanted me to relocate. I said no, and my job was terminated. Next, I moved to Del Monte Foods, where I handled all the wholesale and retail distribution on a regional basis. I was responsible for sales, forecasts, inventory planning and management of the wholesale warehouses and grocery stores. Del Monte was sold to KKR, and the company was broken into little pieces. In this restructure, I was let go. Next was the telecommunications industry beginning with AT&T in sales and operations where we were building voice and data networks along with fiberoptics networks. I handled major accounts sales, built sales and network operation offices, negotiated franchise agreements with cities – really anything that came up. I learned a lot about communications, the Internet and computer networks. I specifically remember a meeting where we were introduced to the Internet in the late 1980s. We were told the Internet would change the world, but I thought, “That’s not going to happen.” Then, I spent years building data networks and modems banks to support Internet traffic. They were right; the Internet has changed our life and our business world. When 9/11 happened, I was working for another company and came to the conclusion that every time I built an office, fiber network, data center, route or sales territory, it would be taken away. So I started thinking I wanted my own deal. What I saw in New York City made me rethink my life and what I was doing. You came to New York after 9/11? Yes, I came as part of my job to see what systems had to be rebuilt. I was there very soon afterward – maybe the fourth or fifth flight