Springfield Business Journal_2019-07-29

22 · SBJ.NET JULY 29-AUG. 4, 2019 2019 ECONOMIC IMPACT AWARDS 6-15 YEARS IN BUSINESS by Kathryn Hardison · khardison@sbj.net In Caleb Arthur’s mind, he’s donating to nonprofits and individuals-in-need every day the sun shines. “If I’m gone and dead tomorrow, I’ll still be donating,” he says. That’s because the CEO of Sun Solar LLC is giving more than money to charities and nonprofits. He’s also donating solar equip- ment, which he says is a way to give back to the community as a whole by reducing en- ergy usage and teaching others about solar options. Arthur says the company’s goal every year is to donate $200,000 in cash or solar equipment to charities. In to- tal, Sun Solar has donated over $500,000 of solar panels to nonprofit orga- nizations, such as the Drew Lewis Founda- tion and Eden Village. “I think the biggest thing we do for our community is we teach businesses and homeowners how to go solar and save money by doing that, but also help reduce pollution and reduce carbon in our atmo- sphere,” Arthur says. “I’m not so concerned if people believe in climate change or not, as much as if we’re having a good push to- ward reducing our carbon footprint.” His goal is to make solar energy afford- able for everyone, which is why most of the solar panel systems are offered through monthly payment plans. Sun Solar, which generated $19 million in 2018 revenue, has roughly 4,300 customers, and every year, he says the solar equipment saves about $3.5 million of energy usage. The warranty of the equipment is 25 years, which means over the warranty life of the panels, those 4,300 customers will save $87.5 million in energy usage. The company has installed al- most 73,000 solar panels since its founding in 2012, according to its website. Sun Solar recently opened it’s headquar- ters in Springfield at 2531 N. Patterson Ave. The company has extended into additional markets from its first location in Houston, Missouri, where it had just four employees. Sun Solar also operates in Joplin, Columbia and Olathe, Kansas. Arthur says the com- pany is expanding to St. Louis and Benton- ville, Arkansas, before the end of this year. The company now employs over 100 people at the Springfield headquarters, 17% of whom are military veterans. Arthur says the company is focused on providing bet- ter opportunities for U.S. veterans, and he believes the move toward solar energy is one way to do that. “A lot of our global wars that the United States military participate in are usually around oil and fossil fuels,” he says. “With re- newable energy, you don’t need fossil fuels. ... It’s going to save vet- erans lives and bring our boys home.” In 2018, Sun So- lar also was named one of the few cer- tified Tesla Pow- erwall installers in Missouri. The company has been selling the battery packs, which stores and runs a house or business on excess energy from solar panels. Energy Saver Sun Solar LLC Founded: 2012 Address: 2531 N. Patterson Ave. Web: USSunSolar.com Products/services: Solar energy equipment supply and installation Employees: 107 2018 Revenue: $19 million JESSICA ROSA Alan Kindall, from left, Caleb Arthur and Eugene Han have helped Sun Solar install 73,000 solar panels since 2012. TOP HONORS by Mike Cullinan · mcullinan@sbj.net Although it was a low-key beginning in 2007 for Burgess Aircraft Management LLC, with a lone aircraft and two part-time employees, it didn’t take long for the busi- ness to really take off. By early 2008, a second aircraft, its first hangar and four full-time employees were added on its way to nearly $1.9 million in revenue for the year. Today, 23 employees, 10 aircraft and three hangars at Springfield- Branson National Airport are in the com- pany’s portfolio. The company provides an on-demand fleet of planes that the staff flies, services and manages for charter service, accord- ing to Mark Burgess, managing partner and chief operations officer. Managed joint ownership is also offered through the company, he says, in which indi- vidual owners are able to lease planes to Bur- gess Aircraft for charter trips. The company helps prospective owners find planes and facilitates the financing and purchase, while maintaining operational control of the jets. Burgess says growth has been steady since founding over a decade ago, and rev- enue was up 25% to $11.5 million in 2018. “We’ve seen growth in Springfield, but the bigger part of our growth is from out- side charter companies and brokerage firms,” Burgess says. “They’ve got airplanes and crews but can’t handle the lift. We cov- er the additional lift for them.” Those airplanes are frequently on the move, he says, as Burgess’ fleet averages 800 to 1,000 trips a year. “We’ve gotten busier,” he says. “About half generate out of Springfield and half are generated out of other places.” Aside from flights to Canada, Bahamas, the Caribbean islands and Mexico, Burgess says all U.S. states, with the exception of Hawaii, are travel destinations for his com- pany. This year’s goals include purchasing an airplane that will go to the Aloha State, with a second plane to travel to Europe. Citing privacy concerns, Burgess declined to disclose company clients. Burgess says the aviation industry is feel- ing the impact of pilot shortages nation- wide, but his company has been proactive to largely avoid the issue. “We not only pay an end-of-year bonus, but also added a midyear review and bonus compensation,” he says. A single-engine aircraft is even being of- fered to employees as an added company benefit for them to use for free, allowing for more time-efficient personal trips. He says such an employee perk is a creative way to be competitive with a benefits package. Among charitable endeavors, Burgess says the company is a regular supporter of Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, Dynamic Strides Equine Therapy, Victory Mission and Rare Breed via trip donations and cash contributions. For the past six years, service of aircraft and crews have been donated around four times a year for Veterans Airlift Command, to transport dis- abled veterans for medically related trips, military reunions and family functions. “We feel like it’s a good way to reach out to veterans who can’t get around easily,” Burgess says. Despite the company’s humble start more than a decade ago, he says 2019 isn’t show- ing any notable signs of slowdown. Three more aircraft are in the acquisition process. And with two staff members added earlier this year, he says another employee will be hired once the aircraft roster is expanded. Picking Up Speed Burgess Aircraft Management LLC Founded: 2007 Address: 2525 N. General Aviation Ave. Web: BurgessAircraft.com Products/services: Aircraft management and charter service Employees: 23 2018 Revenue: $11.5 million Mark Burgess is in the pilot’s seat at Burgess Aircraft Management as managing partner and chief operations officer. If I’m gone and dead tomorrow, I’ll still be donating.” —Caleb Arthur Sun Solar LLC