Q&A with Wayne Starling – IADA

Wayne Starling, Executive Director, International Aircraft Dealers Association (IADA)
[email protected]

How long have you been at your current organization?

Over two years.

What are your responsibilities within your organization?

I am responsible for the day to day operations and the financial well-being of IADA, IADA Foundation, and Aircraft Exchange. My focus is to continually find ways to bring value to all our current members while recruiting new members.

Describe a typical day or week in your role.

My focus daily is to find ways to communicate more effectively with our members, answer various questions from members, and provide aid to the committees within IADA. I talk with various prospective members regarding the value of joining IADA while explaining why we require dealers to be Accredited and brokers to be Certified. Currently, I am also spending time talking with various publications providing updates on IADA, and what we are doing during these unusual times.

What do you love most about your job?

That would have to be my relationship with all the members. I have known many of them for many years, so it is like working within your family. It can occasionally be challenging as we have made significant changes over the past couple of years. We underwent a name change from NARA to IADA. We introduced the first-ever Accreditation Program for aircraft dealers while also putting into place a Certification process for individual brokers within the general aviation industry. I am passionate in my belief that we can harness the combined passion and ideas from all members to bring tremendous value to the general aviation industry.

Why did working in the Business Aviation industry interest you, and how did you get started?

I had been in banking for several years, working for a couple of significant banks when I was recruited by a start-up company that wanted to offer loans for aircraft financing. After my first meeting with them, it was evident that they were critical thinkers who “thought out of the box.”  For example, they wanted to offer financing on jets and turboprop aircraft while requiring no financials and no personal guarantees. This business opportunity was of interest to me because I had owned my own business for several years and knew the difficulty that entrepreneurs often faced with banks when borrowing money. It was a significant risk for me to leave a substantial bank, relocate my family, but I felt we could make it work. We were a small start-up company in Boise, Idaho, competing against some significant lenders i.e., GE, Fleet Capital, Cessna Finance, to name a few. The risk I took had a tremendous reward as the company was highly successful and was purchased by PNC Bank that continues to be a leading lender.

Who or what has been your greatest professional influence?

I think the most significant learning influence for me was when I owned my own business for several years. It gave me a more in-depth understanding of how to work with entrepreneurs and the challenges they face within their own organizations. I have so many mentors in the aviation business – too many to count. I appreciate the time and effort of all the people who have guided me throughout my career in aviation.

Describe yourself in 3 words.

Driven, Compassionate, Enthusiastic

What one item would you never travel without on a long-haul flight?

My iPAD

Finally, what is your hidden talent or hobby?

My hobby is golf. I am an avid player – just ask my wife! I think my hidden talent is having an innate ability to mentor and coach people to achieve their goals and be successful.   When you give – you get it back!