Good, Long Days
That unwavering support and engagement is vital because the average entrepreneur’s day is long. By 7:00 a.m., Neubauer is in the home office with a cup of coffee in hand, where he works until late morning. Then it’s off to the ladder production shop where he works until it’s time to head home for dinner. Afterwards, he works in the home office until 9:00.
“I try to slip an hour of light exercise into the day, but the work-life balance isn’t very balanced,” he confesses. “It’s a good problem because we’ve been getting so many orders, including military contracts, which has forced us to increase our efficiency and professionalism.”
It also increased their hiring. “Generally, I’m looking for a positive attitude and for someone who shows up ready for work. Beyond that, if they lack some specific skills that’s not a showstopper, provided they’re
willing to learn,” Neubauer says. “We have a very specific way of building our products to maintain high quality standards, which are built by great employees, including four vets from all four U.S. military branches. They’ve been a stellar group.”
HeliLadder sales started slow. “We started off very small for two reasons: it was a product that nobody had ever seen before and two, it was the most expensive ladder on the market.” Gulp!
Neubauer justifies HeliLadder’s higher price. “Customers began to understand that our ladders made their mechanics safer and more efficient, and thus their helicopters spent more time in the air generating revenue. For example, a hospital flight can generate $20,000 to $40,000 in revenue. If only one flight is missed because the mechanic was delayed in getting the aircraft into service, the operator loses a lot of money. Conversely, if you make one more flight because the mechanic worked
safely and efficiently, the HeliLadder made the hospital up to $40,000 on that extra flight and provided patient care.” That sounds reasonable, but doesn’t having the highest price cause concern? “Fortunately, we’re now at a point where customers see the value of our ladders and price isn’t a primary factor,” he answers.
What has been, and still is, a factor, negatively for the helicopter industry writ large and perhaps positively for HeliLadder sales, is the shortage of qualified mechanics. “This presents an opportunity for HeliLadder because we provide a product that significantly increases the productivity of that limited labor pool,” Neubauer says. “Furthermore, our stable platforms can make an employer more attractive to prospective employees who don’t want to spend their working days hanging off an old ladder. Also, the industry is paying more attention to safety, which makes our platforms more attractive to companies.”
Other Passions
All these factors combine to give Neubauer and his ladders a lift. That success allows him to pursue passions, from actively supporting the military veterans charity Central Oregon Veterans Ranch to also being part of a team that has developed the new AdvenChair, which is an off-road wheelchair that enables “teams of two or more to tackle new challenges and boldly go where no chair has gone before,” according to its website.
Still, Neubauer’s first focus is HeliLadder. “It’s been a kick to watch this product develop and go out into the industry. I genuinely smile every time I see a pallet of our goods shipping out into the field, not only because of the income it generates, but also because our platforms support working mechanics. That makes me really happy,” says the businessman-mechanic who continues to do “some good in the world.”
16
Nov/Dec 2022
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83
