Aviation Business Journal 4th Quarter 2012 - 49

NATA’s New President, Tom Hendricks
Continued from page 47
and experience so we can make sure
the transition continues as smoothly
as possible, and I want to emphasize
that Jim’s experience will be a great
asset to us in the transition.
Since you speak so frequently of
change as an opportunity, what do
you see as some of the real opportunities
for NATA, in both the
immediate short term and as you
look further forward?
I’m very excited about being able to
champion the work of our members.
On the political front, I think there’s
an opportunity to ensure that we can
work with both parties and with both
the presidential administration and
Congress, regardless of who is in office,
by keeping a very even demeanor
in all of our dealings. I think we need
to be very careful about ensuring
our messages are focused on facts
and devoid of political opinion so we
can work across party lines. I think
the key will be to be very careful and
thoughtful about keeping the focus on
the fact that our members represent
the heart and soul of small business
in America. If you look at our membership
base, you will find that 20
percent of our members have fewer
than six employees and 30 percent
have fewer than 30 employees. These
are people who are managing, on a
daily basis, their businesses, their
cash flow, and their investment
decisions; and we’ve got to be very
thoughtful about how we try to educate
policymakers and legislators on
regulation and legislation that doesn’t
add value to the system in terms of
improving safety or security. I think
that there’s a great opportunity as our
policymakers become very focused on
Aviation Business Journal | 4th
Quarter 2012
small businesses across America to
champion very loudly the fact that the
aviation system and the small businesses
within that system are vital to
our economic future.
What are you most looking forward
to as you look at the schedule of
NATA events and opportunities to
connect with NATA members on
the horizon?
I’m definitely a people person: I enjoy
meeting new people and I’m looking
forward to meeting folks who share
my passion for aviation. I’m looking
forward to getting out and visiting our
membership to see how their businesses
operate and to see firsthand
what challenges they’re facing. And,
I’m looking forward to working to
understand the roles of our committees
and our councils and working
together to serve our members better
as their principal trade association.
Is there anything you’d like NATA
members and Aviation Business
Journal readers to take away from
this introduction as they look to
the future of this association under
your leadership?
I want our members to appreciate the
fact that I understand how critically
important the general aviation system
is to our economy, and how important
a leadership role NATA can serve for
that system. I take that responsibility
very seriously. We want NATA to be
the leading aviation trade organization
in Washington, D.C.; as I told
our employees and staff on Day One,
that’s the goal we’re starting to work
towards, beginning today.
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Aviation Business Journal 4th Quarter 2012

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