Avionics News September 2015 - 61

any capital projects like cutting trees
that are obstructions. We maintain
the blacktop on runways and
taxiways - preventative maintenance
with crack filling and sealing.
What do you like best
about your job?
It's not routine. Every day is a new
challenge, but it's a good challenge.
How many people
report to you?
There are 10 people from Eastern
Cincinnati Aviation with linemen and
mechanics. The avionics shop has
four, and we have another six or so
maintenance people.
How do you find the
challenge of people
management?
At times, it's difficult. People
problems can be an issue, but I have
to say we have a good crew put
together right now. If it weren't for
them, I couldn't do my job.
Are you hands on in the
avionics shop?
I assist with layouts and design,
but our technicians do the actual
installations. I talk to the customer
about how they fly, what kind of
flying they do, and we make a plan
for their panels.
Are you a pilot?
Back in 1994, I got my recreational

license in one week during vacation,
and now I have a multiengine rating
so I can fly Sporty's Aztec. I do a lot
of early morning flying with Michael
(Wolf, Sporty's president) to eat
breakfast and stay current. I have
about 500 hours right now.
What do you do for fun?
I fly, of course. I am heavily
involved in Boy Scouts. I'm an adult
leader and serve on the troop
committee and do a lot of camping
with the boys. Actually, I just got
back from the Florida Keys where
we lived on a sailboat for a week.
The boys had to man the sails, cook
and clean, and we enjoyed fabulous
snorkeling.
I garden. Last year, I had a contest
with a co-worker as to who could
grow the biggest pumpkin. I won
with a 150-pound pumpkin and
I'm trying for a 500-pounder this
year. When the pumpkin plant
starts blooming, you have to hand
pollinate the female and male
flowers, pick one flower and take
the others off. We grow tomatoes,
peppers, beans, cucumbers, zucchini
- I like to make homemade salsas
and relishes.
Tell me about your family.
Collin is a sophomore at
Archbishop Moeller High School. He
plays the trumpet, and he's working
on his Eagle Scout project right
now. He's a counselor at Boy Scout

summer camp for seven weeks for
the summer. My daughter, Caroline,
is going into seventh grade and is
into sports. She plays club soccer,
which involves some traveling,
and that's her best sport. She also
plays volleyball and basketball. My
wife, Andrea, graduated from The
Ohio State University in 1996 with
a welding engineering degree. She
worked in the industry until Collin
was born in 1999. I'm a lucky guy;
she gets the kids where they need to
be and when they need to be there.
In her spare time, she's on the
committee for the band and spends
a lot of time volunteering at the
high school, as well as volunteering
in the cafeteria at Caroline's school.
What do you see
for the future?
We want to continue doing
what we do. We want to be
the best. We want a continued
high level of quality and making
customers happy. We want to
grow the business when we see an
opportunity. I'm in my 23rd year at
Sporty's - it's a family atmosphere
and, at 23 years working here, I'm
finally not considered a newbie
anymore. q

To learn more about
Cincinnati Avionics, visit
cincinnatiavionics.com.
avionics news

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september

2015

61
http://www.cincinnatiavionics.com
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