Avionics News June 2016 - 35

We're in a growth phase right now,
so I spend time identifying areas
where we need to improve and
grow.
How did your interest in
aviation develop?
The story I love to tell is that I
skipped a day in kindergarten to go
flying. Dad worked for a company
that owned a Piper Navajo, and
I was invited to go along. I got
to sit in the co-pilot's seat, but
actually I had to stand so I could
see. That was my first memory of
flying and being in an airplane.
Besides that, my dad was a private
pilot so he bought an airplane - a
Cessna Cardinal RG when I was
young. That's how I learned to fly.
At age 16, I started formal flight
training and I got my private pilot
certificate at 17. I graduated from
high school and then went to OU
as an aviation major.
What do you like best
about your job?
I get to be around airplanes
all day, every day. That was a big
motivator for making the change
to come here. In this specific
position, I still get to enjoy my
entrepreneurial spirit and do
things to help our company grow
and get better. I get to do a little
bit of everything - accounting,
sales, marketing, flying - so many
aspects to what I do that there
is no one day that is exactly the
same.

You mentioned the owner
of TAS. Who is that?
Mike Harbison. He has a great
desire to continue to build upon
what he started. He wants to build
a legacy for himself and his kids to
carry into the future. He allows me
to seek those opportunities, and he
provides full support in making that
come to fruition.

What do you do when
you're not working?
I enjoy spending time with
my family. Ann is a stay-athome mom, but she teaches
an aviation class at OU, part
time as an aviation professor.
We spend most of our spare
time with our kids, chasing
their goals and dreams.
Brayden is 13 years old in
seventh grade. He is a Boy
Scout, and I am involved with
that. He also likes to dance.
As one of the few boys, he's
surrounded by girls. I wish
I'd known that myself when
I was in school. Amber is
11 years old and is in fifth
grade. She's into dance, too.

Do you have any pets?
We have a female golden
retriever named Journey who is a
rescue dog. She is probably one of

the most loving dogs I've been
around. She's very jealous, though,
and wants all the attention.
Any hobbies?
We spend a lot of time at
Possum Kingdom Lake. We're avid
boaters and water skiers - also do
wakeboarding and kneeboarding.
We have a house there, and we go
there a lot in the summertime. I
always tell people I'm one of the
blessed few that my vocation is
also my hobby.
What do you see in the
future for TAS?
We continue to develop areas
where we see a fit for our level
of customer service - avionics,
parts sales, a/c sales - tapping
into markets where there are
opportunities available to us. We
are optimistic about the avionics.
It's an area that provides a good
point for us to get into the ADS-B
mandate. With our level of
customer service, we can keep our
customers satisfied while keeping
them within the guidelines of
regulations. We will continue to
seek opportunities and grow the
market, providing new jobs and
hire new personnel. q

To learn more about Turbine
Aircraft Services, visit tasokc.com.
avionics news

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june

2016

35
http://www.tasokc.com
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News June 2016
