Avionics News November 2014 - 35

at business cases and feasibility
and work as a liaison between
the executive team and business
development. I work closely with
estimation and feasibility.

What is the corporate
culture at Appareo?

At our core, we're a bunch
of innovators. This spirit makes
Appareo feel like a startup culture,
yet we have a different long-term
vision than most startups. Appareo is
family-owned and multigenerational,
and the average age of employees is
in the 30s. I'm proud we've earned
the right to grow. We don't have a
sale or exit strategy; we're here for
the long term. We have no outside
debt, so it creates a family culture
and everyone is looking at the long
term.

What industries does
Appareo work in?

We work in aviation and
agriculture, primarily. We make
electronic control systems for
agriculture to help farmers increase
yield. We make sensors that give
feedback to farmers. I'm a city kid
and a pilot, so I had a lot to learn
about agriculture. But there's a
surprising similarity between aviation
and agriculture. Both are highquality, rugged environments - lots
of bouncing around as compared to
cellphones, for example. The volumes
are lower, but the quality is higher. All
our manufacturing is done in-house,
and we utilize many of the same
materials in both industries.

Does being a pilot help
you in your role?

Absolutely. I became a pilot
two years ago. I've always been
an aviation geek. Starting work at
Appareo with a big general aviation
focus gave me the last little push to
finish my private license. Now I'm
an active pilot. I purchased part of a
1961 Mooney M20B. Although the B
model is a relatively early Mooney,
the basic design is recognizable
throughout all Mooney M20s,
including the low-drag wing and
signature tail. Of course, the avionics
have been significantly upgraded over
the years. I'm still a low-time pilot
and just past 100 hours.

What do you do when
you're not working?

I travel a lot - weekend trips to
Chicago or to see my family in Saint
Paul. The lakes in northern Minnesota
are beautiful to visit - either by plane
or car.
I also restore old audio equipment
- some people claim vinyl is better
sound. This may be true, but mostly I
just like the whole experience. I find
the equipment on my own and work
on it - I am a huge fan of vacuum
tubes. I guess I have a thing about
items from the 1960s - the audio
equipment, my airplane and also I
have a 1960 boat with a 1961 engine.
There's just something cool about
how it looks.

What do you like about
living in Fargo?

Like Appareo, the Fargo community

is growing, and it's great to be a part
of that growth. I'm especially connected to downtown Fargo, which has
undergone a considerable transformation in the last decade. I frequent new
galleries and restaurants. A new restaurant and wine bar opened downtown last month, and I'm aware of
two more that will be opening soon.
The Fargo Theatre anchors downtown well with its iconic "Fargo" sign.
It is the last remaining vaudeville
theatre in Fargo and has recently
been fully restored. Inside, there is a
great Wurlitzer organ, which is played
before shows.

Tell me about a
recent long trip.

I was in the south of France not long
ago. We make flight data recorders
and have a customer there. Southern
France is a very good place to be in
December. I ended up getting sick
the night before my flight home, so I
canceled and stayed another day. It
was quite a difficult decision to stay
in beautiful weather when you're
facing a return to winter in Fargo.

What does the future
look like to you?

My future and Appareo are
intertwined. I can see what we're
trying to build with the combination
of our creative, innovative spirit and
our strong, family-fun business model
- it's thrilling to be a part of it. q

To learn more about Appareo Systems,
visit www.appareo.com.
avionics news

november

2014

http://www.appareo.com

Avionics News November 2014

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