Evolution of an Enterprise, Chapter 3: The Network ... at 30,000 Feet

Josh Somers and Binh Uebinger are the men behind executive aircraft detailing company Voyager Industries LLC.

But Voyager wouldn’t have gotten off the ground in December if not for the contributions of nine other key players – the network of people behind Somers’ and Uebinger’s entrepreneurial efforts.

(Click here to view Voyager's network.)

Command center: Acura

No. 1 in that group is Rick Williams, the financier and partial owner.

In March 2006, Uebinger was working as a service representative at Acura of Springfield, 3130 S. Campbell Ave., where Williams was a customer.

Uebinger’s job at Acura, which lasted until August 2007, proved critical to Voyager’s existence, bringing four of the nine members of “the network” into Uebinger’s life.

“I met those guys at the right time,” he said.

While at Acura, Uebinger’s entrepreneurial spirit burned hot, and he’d ask successful businesspeople for bits of advice any time he could. For more than a year, Uebinger asked Williams – a successful business owner, inventor and investor – about ideas for businesses.

In June 2007, Uebinger went to lunch with Shelby Bodenhamer, another successful businessperson he had met through Acura. Bodenhamer suggested that Uebinger start a company to clean and detail privately owned airplanes. (See Chapter 1 of this series at sbj.net.)

Intrigued by the idea, Uebinger called Somers, who also worked at Acura, and the duo embarked on a business partnership.

The first person Uebinger and Somers called with their business concept was Williams, who was formerly among the majority owners of Community Hospices of America. While Williams eventually became the financier, Uebinger and Somers were initially only looking for advice.

Shortly after, Uebinger and Somers recruited help from fellow Acura employee Brad Brunkow, who lent them computer software to produce business cards and flyers. Brunkow also helped design a logo.

The fourth Acura connection made was with Jeff Stone, auto customer and a corporate pilot for Loren Cook Co. Uebinger said that while the duo was still assessing the feasibility of the concept, they wanted an opinion from Stone.

Stone thought the local market could support an airplane-cleaning service, and he pointed them to a number of resources. He even gave them a show-and-tell session with Loren Cook’s jet, warning them of sensitive parts to avoid during cleaning.

“When two young twentysomethings are going to take a big bite out of the old capitalist cake, I’m more than willing to help them anyway I can,” Stone said.

Angel’s wings

During the summer, Uebinger and Somers conducted research, consulted with “the network” and formed a business plan.

In October, the two men applied for a $30,000 startup loan from an undisclosed local bank, but they were turned down. That’s when Williams went from unpaid informal adviser to financier and co-owner, offering what he called “angel money.” Williams agreed to cover the company’s expenses until Voyager would become self-supporting.

“I think it’s something that will fly,” said Williams, who now devotes his time to investing in local companies and producing disinfectant room fogger under the banner of SafeSpace Co. “They have drive enough for four people. Between their good planning, their industry knowledge, their homework and their energy, I saw it as a sure win.”

Williams projected Voyager would hit the break-even point by this summer, and he estimated his total up-front contribution would reach about $25,000. In return, Williams received equal ownership with Somers and Uebinger, but, once paid back, his share would drop to 10 percent for the duration of the business.

Urgent service

In November, Somers and Uebinger met both Sarah Kerner and Patrick Ahlstrand – professionals who helped Voyager by giving excellent service with a sense of urgency, Uebinger said. Kerner, Springfield-Branson National Airport legal counsel, put together the necessary service contract with the airport, and Ahlstrand, account executive and broker with Barker Phillips Jackson, found a way to insure the unusual cleaning company.

Within days of getting their contract with the airport, Somers and Uebinger met with Beverly Schmitz, the airport’s customer service coordinator for General Aviation. Stone, the pilot for Loren Cook Co., had earlier referred the duo to Schmitz, a 23-year employee at the airport, but they weren’t able to meet with her face-to-face until they had the signed contract in hand.

Schmitz gave Somers and Uebinger contact information for 10 corporate pilots, which led them to their first two paying customers – Prime Inc. and Ozarks Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Bottling Co., represented, respectively, by pilots Darrin Adkins and Jack Webster.

Adkins and Webster were helpful by taking a chance on an unproven company, Somers said.

“If one person vouches for you, then you can take that step to meet the next person,” he said.