Airport Business

OCT 2013

The airport professional's source for airport industry news, articles, events, and careers.

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GROUNDCLUTTER Ralph Hood Certified Speaking Professional; Member, Alabama Aviation Hall of Fame Airport Business' Top 40 Under 40 — 2013 Young innovators ready aviation for the future his issue of Airport Business is devoted to 40 aviation up and comers (actually 41 because we had a tie) under age 40. What an honor it is for those selected and what an asset these 41 are for our industry. Last year in this space I wrote that, "Aviation needs young leaders—but only if we want to survive." I was dead serious about that. Show me a church, civic club, town, company or industry in which the average age is getting older with no influx of young members, and I'll show you a group that will either change or go under. That's truer this year than last, and will be even more important next year. Of course our entire industry won't collapse if we get this wrong—just that part of the industry that doesn't adapt. I'm proud that Airport Business publishes this list of "40 Under 40," thus providing much-needed appreciation for these young leaders. When an industry needs young leaders—and what industry doesn't?—it should let them and the world know that the industry appreciates them. If you know any of this year's selected 40, I hope you'll send them an email or other note of congratulations. After all, we want them to tell their friends in other industries how much they like their jobs. T 36 WILLIAM BORGSMILLER ❘ I spoke for Women In Aviation this year, and was delighted to see that the aviation industry is showing up en masse to recruit employees among this young and dynamic group of women. During my presentation I urged the members to consider airport management as a career. Did your airport exhibit at Women In Aviation's annual conference this year? Perhaps you should next year. You can bet that your competition will be there recruiting. If you think aviation changed during the last half-century, just sit back and wait. I really believe that the next 50 years will change more than the last 50 years as the world grows smaller and possibilities grow larger. We're going to need a lot of people—educated young people—to react to and handle opportunities and challenges. Airport management requires more education, more smarts and more energy than ever before. Just dealing with leases, guvmint rules and financing takes a lot of up-to-date knowhow. We need a constant influx of young men and women educated and trained in many fields. One way to get them is by recognizing our best and brightest with honors like our annual "40 Under 40." AGE WILLIAM Borgsmiller told his mother he wanted to be a pilot at the tender age of 3. And that never changed. He officially launched his aviation career at the age of 12 by working part-time for a small 135 operation in Red Bluff, Calif. that flew Cessna 210s in support of Forest Service operations. Over the next six years, Borgsmiller worked for and managed a small FBO at the Red Bluff Municipal Airport while working to obtain his Commercial PilotÕs License and A&P; Certificate. After graduating high school, Borgsmiller attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University PRESIDENT/CFO AVIATION CONSULTANTS INC. where he completed a BachelorÕs degree in aeronautical science and furthered his flight training with the addition of ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI, and SES ratings. Later, Borgsmiller moved to Redding, Calif. where he worked as a first officer and co-captain for Sierra Pacific Industries aboard its King Air 200, Conquest II and Hawker 1000. In 1998, he founded Aviation Consultants Inc. and spent two years working as a regional representative for Texaco aviation products covering northern California and Nevada from his home base in San Luis Obispo. Since leaving his position with Texaco, he has worked full time within his business as the president and CEO. During his time with Aviation Consultants Inc. he also obtained his rotorcraft license and NBAA Certified Aviation Manager (CAM) certification. His advice to newcomers to the industry is to: ÒFigure out what you love to do [though perhaps not at the age of 3], and focus on becoming the best at it. Try to maximize quality over profit and you will likely find that you have more of both in the end.Ó YEARS IN AVIATION 24 October 2013 airportbusiness 11

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