Avionics News May 2018 - 54

AVIATION ACES

Continued from page 53

A typical day for Mike begins at
7 a.m. with a "morning huddle" at
7:30 a.m., where each person gets
their assignments for the day. Each
task is written on a white board - that
was one of the suggestions of the
consultant. "The white board helps
us see what work is coming, what
each person is doing," Mike said. The
day closes with another huddle where
the day's assignments are matched
against the day's accomplishments.
In between, depending on the day,
Mike is either doing hands-on work
as a technician or is acting as chief
salesperson finding new business and
working with customers.
Mike Bragg describes his wife
On Mondays and Fridays. Mike
Cindy as "... the driving force behind
all improvements and all procedures,
dons a business suit and works on
and she keeps the company running
meeting with customers and solicon time, including me."
iting new business. On Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Thursdays, he's "in
uniform." He said, "I'm available for
hands-on work. We also have a mobile
vice. I realized years ago that there's not an airplane parked in
van and travel to other cities."
every driveway, so we better take good care of the customers
As for his relationship with customers, Mike said, "We
we have. We're not out to be the cheapest shop. We consider
like our customers, and sometimes we hang out and go to
ourselves a custom shop - like the independent hardware
dinner. Some customers are our friends, not all of them, but
store versus Walmart. We want to be that hardware store."
we try to make all of their airplanes safer, even if something
Other than work, Mike has had an array of hobbies. He
we find is not related to avionics. If we spot something that
loves to travel. Currently, he is fascinated by acquiring and
needs to be taken care of, even if it's something we can't do,
repairing high-end watches - Rolex, Cartier, Omega. He
we tell the customer. In fact, I've grounded airplanes. I won't
buys them used on eBay or from jewelry stores and has
return it to service until the owner agrees to do something.
taught himself watch repair with a nod to YouTube videos
I'll tell them that their aircraft isn't leaving my shop until
for help. He and Cindy have two grandsons, 7 and 4 years
it's fixed."
old. He said, "I don't see them as much as I'd like, so I
Mike believes that part of his company's success is related
plan special things and can afford to spoil them in a way I
to treating each customer as an individual and not always
couldn't with my own children. Let's get them one of these,
pushing for the most-profitable solution for him. He said, "I
one of those."
don't believe every airplane, every customer, needs all-new
Plans for the future are many. Mike said he is always lookall the time. I ask about their flying. Are you a weekend
ing for "good qualified people." Then the company needs
flyer? I tell them their options. That's our golden rule." He is
more space, a bigger hangar. Mike also has plans for a secnot averse to repairing old equipment and said, "I'm familiar
ond and maybe third location. A major project underway is a
with older equipment and have a full hangar in case I need a
switch from all-paper to all-digital records. And personally,
part that's no longer available."
he said, "I need more time to sell. We will set goals and then
Bragg Avionics strives to please customers in other ways,
meet those goals. We will continue to grow with the right
as well. He has a crew car for owners whose airplanes are
people and a new space." q
being worked on so they can go have lunch or run errands.
He said, "We try to make this an experience and not just a serTo learn more about Bragg Avionics, visit braggavionics.com.
54

avionics news

may

2018

http://www.braggavionics.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Avionics News May 2018