Avionics News December 2014 - 35
they're at the wrong airport. If you put Clinton Airport in the GPS, it will take you to us. What's a typical day? As I'm talking to you, I'm answering a lot of emails. I receive a large amount of requests for quotes from all over the world; I have a purchase order from China in front of me. Every day I am working with Dawson's staff on different orders, making sure they are filled correctly or finding a component. Of course, other vendors are calling me all day long looking for parts. What's the corporate culture at Dawson Aircraft? We're very relaxed with a lot of confidence in what each of us brings to the table. We all get along well in this very positive environment. We pray together and share that faith in our working relationships. Tell me about Will Dawson. Will is a good, hardworking guy and a career aviator who I've known for 25 years. I've done business with him as an employee and colleague. He is local to the Clinton area, from a farm family. I started 25 years ago doing annuals; he was just getting by, and I've watched him grow this company into a successful online business. He's very inspiring, and I'm not just saying that because his door is open and he can hear what I'm saying. Working with him is a very positive experience for me. What do you do when you're not working? I have a lot of hobbies. I play the guitar and banjo, mainly bluegrass, gospel and country. I perform a little bit, but I don't make money at it. I mostly get together with friends. "Blue grass jams" is the operational term. I'm also a BMX racer - that's bicycle motocross - and I work with kids in their races. I get a lot of gratification out of that. I'm also a big fan of yoga - I do yoga three times a week. I just tried it once and loved it, as it really loosened up my body to the point that I dropped my gym membership. My wife says I stand taller now. My wife, Terri, is an attorney who is currently working as a public defender in Conway, Arkansas, which is where we live. We both draw on our faith, and we're active in our local church. I recently joined a prison ministry. We also have a grandson who we enjoy doting on. We have three dogs upon which we lavish far too much attention. We have Toby, a golden Labrador the size of a bear. We have a Cairn terrier named Zip and a small mixed-breed rescue dog named Munchy. They all get along fabulously and enjoy routing through the trash when we're not watching. What do you see for the future? I believe this business will continue to grow. We're seeing more and more online business. I have sizable customers, repeat customers, and I've never spoken to them on the phone. This is especially true for overseas customers. Our business is becoming more and more international. Back in the 1970s, you had your little vegetable patch; now you're interacting with people globally. q To learn more about Dawson Aircraft, visit, www.dawsonaircraft.com. avionics news * december 2014 35