Evolution of an Enterprise, Chapter 19: Branson Bound

The co-founders of Springfield-based aircraft detailing company Voyager Industries LLC believe they've found their entrepreneurial kindred spirits in Branson.

Voyager owners Josh Somers and Binh Uebinger have a tentative agreement with the owners of the privately financed Branson Airport to clean the facility's general aviation traffic, with possibilities for expansion down the road.

Uebinger met with airport executives in early November to pitch the idea, and the airport liked what it saw in the two enterprising businessmen.

"We're young entrepreneurs like them, and we wanted to partner with the young blood - people who are really excited about aviation," said Gene Conrad, deputy director of marketing and air service development for Branson Airport. "We're excited about what they're doing, and they're excited about what we're doing."

Uebinger said prices are still being negotiated with the airport, but he's optimistic about what will happen when the $155 million Branson Airport opens in May.

"It just feels like we're working with our own - younger, entrepreneurial people with the same goals in mind, which is to be the best in aviation," he said. "I get goose bumps thinking about how awesome it will be."

Though Voyager's initial deal only gives the company access to privately owned aircraft flying in and out of Branson Airport, Voyager Industries could pick up the cleaning work on commercial aircraft as well.

Branson Airport, which bills itself as the first privately financed and operated commercial service airport in the country, projects 500,000 passengers annually will pass through the facility.

While no announcements have been made regarding which airlines will serve Branson Airport, Conrad said there will be six to eight commercial departures daily when the airport opens, with potential growth in the future.

Conrad said that initially, airport employees will handle cleaning the commercial aircraft overnight along with other duties for the airlines, but he noted that, because the airport is privately owned and financed, capitalizing on every possibility for additional revenue or cost savings is key.

"We don't get any federal money, so we have to look at everything differently," Conrad said. "If they can do (the detailing) cheaper than our folks, we'll look hard at that."

The possibility for growth is not lost on Somers, who said it could mean an entire cleaning crew dedicated solely to Branson.

"I had come up with the idea to work our fees into whatever usage fees the airline paid (to the airport), because whatever we (charge) to clean the inside of a plane would never be noticed by the airline, but it would be a huge deal to our company," Somers said.

Add the Branson Airport deal to Voyager's existing deal with the developers of Perfect Landing Airpark in nearby Cedarcreek to operate the fixed base of operations there, and Branson could be a major meal ticket for the fledgling company.

"This is a life-changing event for us," Somers added. "If they're bringing real numbers of people in, and we're touching all of those planes, this business can be very successful."[[In-content Ad]]