Aero-Zone Marketing: 
What is a day in the life of Alfredo look like?

Alfredo Dreyfus: The first priority of the day is coffee.  Once at work, my goal is the same every day, and that’s to leave the office better than I found it.  I’ve also dubbed myself cheerleader-in-charge, which includes putting out daily fires, working on customer satisfaction and, most importantly, I make sure the team is firing on all cylinders.

Aero-Zone Marketing: Which projects are you most excited about right now?
Alfredo Dreyfus: Currently, outside of Aero-Zone, we’re in Beta to distribute our software suite called InfoTrader.  We’ve been working on the ERP for Aero-Zone since 2016, we went live in 2018, and have now built it out for our trader-friends in the aviation industry.  We expect and are excited to begin licensing the software in about June of this year.  We’ve also added a developer to our team, as well as hiring on Tripp Biggers as VP of Bus. Dev. and Vanessa Dreyfus as Brand Champion.

Aero-Zone Marketing: Can you touch on the importance of a strong team and having strong leadership?

Alfredo Dreyfus: Strong leadership is how you build and keep a highly-skilled and tenured team.  I believe in leading from in front, in being completely transparent with your team, and I believe in sharing blunt honesty in both directions with our people.  It’s important to have trust from and amongst your colleagues; and businesses are a delicate ecosystem so you have to work on creating a culture with common values and ethics.

Aero-Zone Marketing: Aero-Zone seems to be a family-run business. How is it working with family?

Alfredo Dreyfus:   Ahh that’s a great question and also one I get asked frequently.  I will tell folks who ask me this “It’s harder in the beginning but worth it in the end.”  What I mean by that is you have to draw strict lines to avoid falling into the traps of nepotism.  Both sides have to be able to separate business from familial ties.  It’s also good to create separation so that family members don’t necessarily report directly to you.  Once you get past these nuances, that’s when everyone let’s their guard down and we all become an extended family.

Aero-Zone Marketing: In an old facebook post, you wrote: “Words I thought I’d never say:  I’m jonesing for an aviation show, static display, or ASA regional conference.  I will sit through the classes quietly, I’ll take notes in the QC seminars, hell I’ll even put one on (you in, Wayne?)!  I don’t care. I miss my #avfam!!  Anyone else in!?!?”

How do you feel now that you have attended a show (AeroXchange) recently, did you sit quietly and take notes? Was anything different?

Alfredo Dreyfus: I did take notes!  Quietly?  Not so much…  As to what was different, everyone, including myself, was so appreciative to be back sitting in on the seminars, listening to the different speakers, and most importantly visiting with one another in person.  The aviation industry is a very tightknit group and there was a lot of excitement in the air! We too are excited about what the future holds for our industry.

Aero-Zone Marketing: What were your biggest challenges 2020-2021 and how do you see it going 2022-2023?

Alfredo Dreyfus: Well, our biggest struggle has been to build the inventory back to its 2019 stature.  It’s not so much that we can’t find the inventory, it’s that it’s selling about as fast as we’re buying.  Under Wayne and Mike’s leadership though, the company has instituted some new strategies that are beginning to really pay off.  We are cash-heavy currently and primed to buy more inventory from our friends around the globe.  I believe the future is bright for commercial aviation, the sky’s the limit (pun intended).

Aero-Zone Marketing: Who was or is one of your favorite mentors ?

Alfredo Dreyfus: I’ve been very blessed to have had many mentors in many different arenas of life.  Favorite though?   My father.  He was strict, disciplined, and a ball-buster.  He had a great sense of humor and an infectious laugh (I can hear it now).  He taught me how do be a man and I am forever grateful.

Aero-Zone Marketing: Aw. That is so sweet. Ok, last and final question. I hear you like to cook, what is your favorite dish to cook?

Alfredo Dreyfus: I do like to cook!  I make a great shrimp and andouille sausage gumbo with Okra that is probably my favorite.  But if you asked my kids, meatballs – hands down.

Aero-Zone Marketing: Delicious. Thanks for sitting down with us!