Avionics News September 2014 - 39

I usually ask about the
corporate culture at a
company, but it's just you.

I joke with my wife when she starts
talking about other employees and things
happening at her job that my entire staff
is in a great mood and wants to take the
afternoon off and go fishing. I have plans
to hire some staff - it's something I am
working toward. I have someone part
time who flies for a living. We are able to
mesh our schedules, and it works well for
both of us. I definitely see the benefit of
having someone in the hangar full time.
When the phone rings and I'm working
on a project, it can be distracting.

Tell me about your
background.

I grew up just east of Atlanta in
Covington, Georgia. Every toy I had, I tore
apart and could usually put back together;
I often tried combining toys. I've always
wanted to fly, and that's where I got
started. As soon as I could go out in my
own car, I went to the airport. I earned
money for my first lesson by working in a
restaurant.
During my first flight lesson, a lineman
got fired. Being in the right place, I got
hired. That's where I really got introduced
to aviation. Flying was always my goal,
but I had to make money. I worked as a
lineman and then got into maintenance,
just hanging around the airport,
shadowing the mechanics. I started an
apprenticeship in high school, which gave
me a huge head start.
When I graduated high school, I got
a job as a mechanic. The avionics guy at
the company where I was working left,
and I was told I could contact any avionics

manufacturer and get any manual or
material I needed. The company just
needed someone to do avionics. When it
comes to avionics, I started as self-taught,
which I like doing a lot. I started on light
sport aircraft and then progressed through
a few avionics shops, with many great
mentors along the way who provided
many of the formal avionics training I
needed. I last worked in a corporate repair
station with more than 100 employees
and realized I enjoyed the hands-on
communication with the owner/operators.
After obtaining my commercial
and flight instructor license, I decided
to pursue a degree in professional
aeronautics. I graduated from my dream
college, Embry-Riddle, online two years
ago. I was older when I started college
and did it all part time. I did a lot of things
backwards to get to flying.

Where does your interest
in aviation originate?

It was just something I always enjoyed.
My father was in the Navy on an aircraft
carrier. At a young age, I saw some of the
coolest airplanes. People often ask me
which of my parents was in aviation, and
I wish one of them were so they could
have warned me to get out now. I'm
being sarcastic because I love aviation. If I
couldn't make a living in aviation, I don't
know what I'd do.

When you're not working,
what do you do?

We enjoy anything that's on the
water or in the air. I love to go flying, and
we live 7 miles from the beach on the
Intracoastal Waterway. We have a Jet Ski
and paddle boards. I met my wife at a

previous job, and when we decided it was
time to move, we were fortunate to both
get jobs at a new location allowing us to
continue working together. A lot of people
think it is crazy that we enjoy working
together, but we truly do. Currently, she
works in the marine industry for a major
boat manufacturer. She says the marine
industry is just as fun as aviation. One day
we hope to be back working together.

Do you have any pets?

We have a 90-pound boxer named
Buckeye. We adopted him with that
name. Right now, my wife is going to
the University of Florida, so we have a
true Gator household with a dog named
Buckeye.
We also do a lot of running - I've run
four marathons. The marathon itself
isn't the most difficult part, but the
training is. You run at least five days a
week, and each run is a minimum of
an hour long with weekend runs lasting
around four hours.

In closing, what do you
see in your future?

I'm always seeking new avenues
for the business, new ratings and
perusing new ideas. I'm getting excited
about UAVs. From a flight instructor
standpoint, I'm excited about new,
experimental glass-panel technology
- there's a lot to be done to enhance
flight training. With a certified aircraft,
you can't venture far from what the
manufacturer wants, but you can with
experimental aircraft. q
To learn more about Absolute Aviation,
visit www.absoluteaviationllc.com.
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september

2014

39
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Avionics News September 2014

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