MRO Is a Fun Business: Weaving Efficiency With Legacy at Elliott Aviation w/Dan Edwards

Efficiency is mission critical in the high-touch, high-mix, low-volume world of mid-sized MROs. Doing the job right and doing it quickly is the name of the game. Leaders have to drive velocity and streamline processes and they have to do so while operating in a technical talent-constrained environment. That’s the job Elliott Aviation’s CEO, Dan Edwards walked into. His perspective: MRO is a fun business. What are some of the concerns he’s balancing as the leader of this organization? How do you balance the legacy play with an ambition for growth? In this episode, Dan shares what it’s like running Elliott Aviation, how they are finding talent in this environment, and driving up efficiency in a business where it matters most. The pandemic wreaked havoc on the industry. There’s been so much turnover of talent. Attracting and retaining that talent is the number 1 aspect of having a good business in the MRO world . -Dan Edwards Three Things You’ll Learn In This Episode -Don’t chase squirrels It’s really tempting to chase down the industry and try to compete in every space. How does Dan avoid this trap as CEO? -A good problem for a CEO to have How do you find the harmony between the pipeline created by sales and the capacity the operations team actually has? -The key to a successful MRO business The shortage of technical talent is a pain many MROs are feeling right now. How is Elliott Aviation filling their immediate talent needs while also thinking of the future? Guest Bio Dan Edwards is a seasoned aerospace executive and has led a broad array of businesses in both the government and commercial sectors. His new role as CEO of Elliott Aviation is the latest in a successful history in the aerospace and defense industry. Formerly the CEO of Triman Industries, Dan led the development and execution of the aggressive growth strategy that vaulted Triman to the top of military aftermarket distribution by tripling sales and growing profitability by over 5 times. Dan served over 23 years in the USAF both in active duty and reserve status as a KC-10 pilot and Civil Engineer. He graduated from the US Air Force Academy with a Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering and later earned his MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Go to https://www.elliottaviation.com/ for more information or connect with Dan on LinkedIn . Learn More About Your Host: Co-founder and Managing Partner for Northstar Group, Craig is focused on recruiting senior-level leadership, sales, and operations executives for some of the most prominent companies in the aviation and aerospace industry. Clients include well-known aircraft OEMs, aircraft operators, leasing / financial organizations, and Maintenance / Repair / Overhaul (MRO) providers. Since 2009 Craig has personally concluded more than 150 executive searches in a variety of disciplines. As the only executive recruiter who has flown airplanes, sold airplanes, AND run a business, Craig is uniquely positioned to build deep, lasting relationships with both executives and the boards and stakeholders they serve. This allows him to use a detailed, disciplined process that does more than pair the ideal candidate with the perfect opportunity and hit the business goals of the companies he serves.