ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2021 - 11

George was adamant that we name the company using
our names, and I was able to convince him to only use
our initials combined with the word Telesis, which means
" progress intelligently planned. "
organization was like earning a Ph.D. in business. I actually came up with the idea
for GA Telesis while I was at C-S.
Jetrader: Tell me about the founding of GA Telesis.
AM: GA Telesis was my shot of creating my life's opus. As mentioned, I came up
with the idea while I was at C-S, but they were not interested in it. Let me set the
stage. I married my wife Cathy in January of 2001; our son Chase was born nine
months later, and we purchased a new home. The 9/11 attacks happen, and the
world of aviation is in total upheaval. In the months that followed, I told my wife that
I felt I was ready to start my own company - not knowing how she would react.
Her response was, " What do we have to lose? " So, I quit my job and hit the road
fundraising. I am glad I am not the sensitive type, because many investors laughed
at my idea, and a lot of doors were slammed in my face. I ran into an old friend,
George Batchelor, one day, and he and I got to talking. He actually offered me a job,
and I turned him down. About three weeks later, I met with him and asked him to

help fund my business plan. He loved
it, and we launched on 10 April 2002.
George was adamant that we name
the company using our names, and I
was able to convince him to only use
our initials from George and Abdol (GA)
combined with the word Telesis, which
means " progress intelligently planned. "
We hit the ground running and were
profitable in our first month. It was
roughly four months later that I received
the devastating news of George's
cancer diagnosis, and he passed a few
weeks thereafter. It was devastating to
lose a friend and industry icon, but that
was also early days in our business, so
I had no idea how I would continue on
the path of building GA Telesis. People
often ask why George would invest in
a company at that late stage of his life.
It was because he always wanted to be
in the game, and he often reminded me
that he didn't invest in the company;
Jetrader

* SPRING 2021 * 1 1
ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ISTAT Jetrader - Spring 2021
