Interiors in Flight
The sky's the
limit.
“We
were literally two guys in a garage when we started our
company,” remarked Larry Heilbron on the humble start to the
company he and his partner, Terry Turner, founded a few months
after 9/11. They had each just lost their jobs at an aircraft
refurbishing company and rather than take another job offered in
West Palm Beach and have to pack up his family, Heilbron asked
Turner if he wanted to go into business together.Turner agreed
and with an initial investment of $1,000 each, they started
Interiors in Flight, Inc., a custom manufacturing company
specializing in aircraft interior refurbishment. The challenges
were many for these entrepreneurs who launched their first
business in mid-life, after many years of being employees. “Like
I always said, we know how to do airplanes but we didn’t know
how to run a business,” said Heilbron. Coincidentally, he saw an
ad in the newspaper for the SBDC at UCF’s Advisory Board
Council. “I thought the program could help us,” said Heilbron.
Although the company had just reached the program’s minimum
annual revenue requirement of $500,000 at the close of 2005,
Interiors was accepted into the program and a board was formed
to address the company’s needs. Experts in sales and marketing,
finance, strategy, operations, and management comprised their
board of advisors. Heilbron and Turner have grown and thrived as
managers with the support and mentoring of the program. “Every
time that we’ve had a question or an issue the advisory board is
always there. It’s so priceless to have people that are
professionals advise us,” commented Heilbron. And yet a board
member recently remarked that one of the partners’ greatest keys
to success is that they are receptive to the advice and input of
the board.
When
Interiors In Flight became a client of the Advisory Board
Council in early 2006, they had revenues of $500,000 and seven
full-time employees working in a 4,000 sq. ft. production
facility. By the close of 2007, the company had experienced a
dramatic growth spurt. Revenues rose to nearly $1 million and
staff increased to 17 full time employees in order to manage the
volume. Moreover, the company moved into a larger production
facility and now operates out of a 6,500 sq. ft. workshop in an
Orlando industrial park.Yet the changes in the company run much
deeper than numbers alone.“How we look at the business is
different now,” said Heilbron. “Before we were always putting
out fires. Now we prevent them so they don’t even start.” Turner
added, “We’re more involved in planning the business now. The
board has helped us in a lot of ways to make better decisions
for the company.”
As an
FAA approved repair station, Interiors in Flight offers
refurbishment and repairs for executive and corporate aircraft.
Their services comprise full service interior modifications and
refurbishment and may include: upholstery, cabinetry, carpets,
paint, paneling, and all interior soft goods on the plane. The
firm’s high quality refurbishment covers the cabin, cockpit,
lavatories, galleys and even the cargo holds. Interiors in
Flight counts as its customers many of the major aircraft
manufacturers in the business including Cessna, B/E Aerospace,
and Gulfstream.
Since
going through the Advisory Board Council program Heilbron and
Turner now see the business in a different light. “We’ve
definitely matured as business owners,” commented Turner. “We
have a new confidence now. Instead of looking at the business as
just a paycheck, it’s where our future is.” |
"We're more involved in planning the
business now. The board has helped us in a lot of ways to make
better decisions for the company"
Terry Turner
Interiors in Flight
|
