Think Like an Owner

From Episode 262 of Think Like an Owner. Watch the full episode here.

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Trey Bryson, an aviation industry veteran with deep experience across business aviation, commercial MRO, and aircraft completions. Trey shares how his career has spanned everything from customizing luxury VIP jets—including designing in-air hot tubs and modular gyms—to founding Jet Works, an independent MRO business.

We dive into:

• The major differences between commercial and business aviation maintenance
• How speed and efficiency drive profitability in aircraft operations
• The complexities of aircraft modifications, from dance floors to structural repairs
• Lessons learned from building and selling an MRO business through economic downturns

Trey also offers advice for ambitious CEOs, emphasizing the importance of financial strategy, team-building, and adapting to industry shifts. Whether you're in aviation or simply love hearing how businesses are built and scaled, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and hard-earned wisdom.

Listen weekly and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn.

Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/

Links:

Aviation Technical Services

Trey on LinkedIn

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:02:18) - Trey's Career Journey in Aviation

(00:03:47) - Differences Between Business and Commercial Aviation

(00:06:02) - Unique Requests in Aircraft Interiors + Challenges and Innovations in Aircraft Maintenance

(00:36:57) - The Impact of Economic Downturn on Business Aviation

(00:46:25) - Advice for Ambitious CEOs

(00:47:34) - Conclusion

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with Eric Legvold and Trey Darr of Davinci Jets to explore the business of private aviation management and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) services. We dive into how Davinci Jets was built from the ground up, the evolution of private jet management, and why the company has remained profitable every year since its founding.

Eric shares how the company pivoted from its original single-seat charter concept to full-service aircraft management, bootstrapping the business while maintaining a lean and disciplined approach to growth. Trey brings insights from his experience in aircraft maintenance and explains how Davinci is balancing fleet management with third-party MRO services, ensuring efficiency while expanding their customer base.

We also discuss:

• Why more Fortune 500 companies are turning to third-party flight management
• How vertical integration in aviation can reduce costs and increase control
• The challenges of hiring and scaling in the MRO industry
• How Davinci has stayed profitable in an industry where many companies struggle

If you're interested in private aviation, business strategy, or the complexities of running a capital-intensive operation, this episode is full of insights from two experienced operators navigating an evolving industry.

Listen weekly and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn.

Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/

Links:

Davinci Jets

Trey Darr on LinkedIn

Eric Legvold on LinkedIn

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:58) - Starting Davinci Jets

(00:09:09) - Growth constraints

(00:11:44) - Ventures before Davinci

(00:13:46) - The upside to MRO

(00:17:31) - Prioritizing your own fleet vs. external customers

(00:18:28) - Growth plans

(00:20:56) - MRO & Management compliments

(00:22;59) - What do you do differently to maintain profitability?

(00:27:16) - The Charlotte market

(00:29:22) - MRO Growth

(00:31:46) - Process improvements

(00:33:30) - Market growth

(00:40:29) - The slowdown in Jet Cards

(00:43:35) - What are you most excited about in the industry?

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I sit down with David Neeleman, one of the most accomplished entrepreneurs in aviation history. With a track record that includes founding five airlines—Morris Air (sold to Southwest), WestJet, JetBlue, Azul, and now Breeze Airways—David has built transformative companies across three different countries and reshaped the industry at every step.

Given my work at Airframe Group focusing on aviation service companies, I wanted to understand the core principles that drive his success. We explore how he approaches founding and scaling airlines, the nuances of customer service across different markets, and why hiring great people is his most consistent strategy for building lasting businesses.

Other highlights include:

• How David has adapted to different market dynamics and competitors
• The importance of customer experience in aviation and beyond
• Advice for ambitious CEOs looking to build high-impact companies
• A wild personal flight experience that shaped his views on the industry

I recorded this episode in David's office in Salt Lake City after a fascinating tour of his company, making this an especially exciting conversation for me as a lifelong aviation geek. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did!

Listen weekly and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn.

Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:03:32) - David's principles for building an airline

(00:07:27) - Covid and other impacts on profitability in recent years

(00:08:38) - Changes in service expectations from flyers

(00:12:25) - Setting up an IT infrastructure

(00:15:38) - Scaling an airline to profitability

(00:20:24) - Philosophies around varying customer experiences

(00:29:05) - Building a company around a market or niche

(00:32:46) - Generating new demand via new routes

(00:37:16) - When do you decide to pull out of a city or cut a route?

(00:39:15) - Leadership philosophies

(00:42:03) - Team building practices & communication styles

(00:45:12) - Broader airline challenges

(00:47:42) - Advice to CEOs

(00:48:54) - Key challenges ahead for Breeze

(00:49:37) - Closing thoughts

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bmq6URHPLJ0

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, we're tackling one of the most critical elements of scaling a business—building a world-class talent engine. Joining me are Jake Dancyger and Cyrus Symoom, co-CEOs of Clariti, who have spent the last five years growing their company from 20 employees to over 120.

We break down the entire talent lifecycle, from sourcing and hiring top performers to coaching, retaining, and structuring career growth for long-term success. They share the hard lessons learned, including early hiring mistakes, the art of title progression, and how they shifted from scrappy startup hiring to a structured, high-performance talent strategy.

We also dive into:

- How to identify rising stars within your company before looking externally.

- The right way to leverage your board to attract top-tier talent.

- Why transparency in compensation and equity is key to long-term retention.

- The "swarm approach" they use to close top candidates with peer and board involvement.

- The biggest interviewing mistakes they've corrected over time.

If you're a CEO or leader looking to build and scale an elite team, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you won't want to miss!

Listen weekly and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn.

Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/

Links:

Clariti Software - https://www.claritisoftware.com/

Jake on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakedancyger/

Cyrus on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/cyrus-symoom-68a90450/

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:04:44) - Introducing Cyrus and Jake

(00:06:25) - Talent development, acquisition, and integration

(00:13:29) - Common objections from talented prospects

(00:17:07)- Role/Title Guidelines and structures

(00:21:06) - Involving boards and investors in recruiting

(00:23:51) - What tends to win talent in 2025?

(00:27:08) - Interview processes

(00:29:42) - Setting outcomes

(00:32:28) - How should CEOs involve themselves in interviewing?

(00:34:46) - Crafting Culture questions

(00:39:42) - Closing on a candidate

(00:43:54) - Comp plans

(00:46:34) - Onboarding and performance measurements

(00:52:14) - Designing career paths

(00:57:18) - Communication styles

In this episode of Think Like an Owner, I'm diving into one of the most crucial aspects of scaling a business—building and optimizing high-performing sales teams. To bring you the best insights, I've pulled together wisdom from past conversations with some of the sharpest minds in the game, including Tim Strickland, Mahesh Rajasekharan, Michael Coscetta, Dennis Dresser, and Ben Tagoe.

We're breaking down the strategies behind structuring and growing a powerhouse sales organization, hiring and coaching top-tier sales talent, crafting valuable sales contracts, and exploring how CEOs can play a hands-on role in driving revenue.

Whether you're leading a fast-growing company or fine-tuning your sales approach, this episode is packed with actionable tactics and expert advice to help you take your team's performance to the next level.

Listen weekly and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn.

Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/

Links:

Ep.155: Michael Coscetta

Ep.181: Ben Tagoe

Ep.195: Mahesh Rajasekharan

Ep.206: Tim Strickland

Ep. 214: Dennis Dresser

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:04:22) - Tim Strickland on Sales Team Structure

(00:07:42) - Mahesh Rajasekharan on Scaling Sales Teams

(00:18:56) - Michael Coscetta on Pricing and Sales Contracts

(00:25:40) - Dennis Dresser on Cross-Team Collaboration

(00:26:17) - Effective Strategies for Involving Executives in Sales

(00:28:06) - Understanding the CRO Role and Responsibilities

(00:31:40) - Hiring the Right Salespeople: Insights and Strategies

(00:35:17) - Characteristics of a Good Sales Hire

(00:38:32) - From Good to Great: Identifying Top Sales Talent

(00:41:44) - Keys to Effective Sales Management

(00:46:26) - Coaching Salespeople for Success

(00:50:21) - CEO Involvement in the Sales Process

(00:53:05) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts

From Episode 257. Watcht the full episode here: https://youtu.be/x1utcQzmxjI

Ep.257: Alex (@aebridgeman) is joined by Steuart Botchford (@Botchford) and Sam Hyde.

In this episode, I sit down with Sam Hyde and Steuart Botchford to dive into their journey of acquiring and growing Northstar Fertility, a leading surrogacy and egg donation agency. Sam and Steuart share their insights from building and managing the business, including how they identified value levers early on and prioritized investments in sales and marketing to drive growth. They also discuss their innovative pricing model, which offers clients greater certainty and simplifies the surrogacy journey.

We explore the challenges of balancing long-term and short-term initiatives and the lessons learned from experimentation. Sam and Steuart candidly share stories of successes and missteps, including how they refined their strategies by embedding themselves in the sales process, adapting to client needs, and fostering a culture of transparency and growth within their team.

Whether you're navigating the complexities of business growth, considering acquisition opportunities, or looking for leadership insights, this episode provides a thoughtful and engaging discussion on creating value through experimentation, client focus, and dynamic organizational culture.

Listen weekly and follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Breaker, and TuneIn.

Learn more about Alex and Think Like an Owner at https://tlaopodcast.com/

Links:

Northstar Fertility - https://www.nsfertility.com/

Steuart on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/botchford/

Pacific Lake Partners - https://www.pacificlake.com/

Trilogy Search Partners - https://trilogy-search.com/

Topics:

(00:00:00) - Intro

(00:04:34) - Steve and Stu's acquisitions

(00:11:31) - Spending time in Sales and Marketing

(00:15:48) - Experimenting with new concepts

(00:27:08) - Working with the board to make decisions

(00:31:07) - Dealing with failed experiments

(00:37:30) - Implementing systems

(00:40:57) - Designing incentives

(00:46:11) - Employee rating scales

(00:49:47) - Team management principles

(00:53:50) - Balancing short and long-term payoffs

From Ep.256 with Corgy Bengtzen. Get the full episode here.