L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E N T
Reflecting On 75 Years
I
HAD JUST GRADUATED FROM college when I went to work for my grandfather , Bob Munro , at Kenmore Air selling parts in the parts department . I was fortunate to work alongside my grandfather before he retired . And for that , I am forever grateful .
He ’ d tell tales about how he and my grandmother , Ruth , grew the company from a single seaplane into what it is today . I loved listening to those stories . I loved hearing how over the years Grandpa was committed to doing the right thing . And most of all , I loved seeing him put that commitment into practice day-in and day-out .
While the company evolved , Grandpa ’ s commitment to our passengers and employees always remained a priority .
Todd Banks , President
He believed people were the bedrock of our company . It ’ s a belief he instilled in all of us , especially my uncle Gregg Munro and my mother , Leslie Banks . Bob Munro ’ s values continue to guide our business and have given us the staying power through several tumultuous periods in the company ’ s 75-year history .
How have we evolved ? For one thing , customers in our early days often owned small cabins in remote regions . They ’ d learn to fly at Kenmore and then buy an airplane so they could get out of town — sometimes to fish , more often to spend time with family . These days , most folks would rather let a professional pilot handle the yoke . However , our passengers are every bit as excited about getting away for a fun adventure or to relax in the beauty of our region . jorge cavello photo
Although the company has grown and changed with the times , we ’ ve chosen to do so slowly and thoughtfully . This choice has been made possible by our many gifted employees . It ’ s also a decision that ’ s allowed us to weather storms — the most recent of which is COVID . To say it ’ s been an interesting time is an understatement . Fortunately , there is light at the end of the tunnel . We are climbing closer to normalcy every day .
During the past year , we ’ ve leaned heavily on our maintenance shop and parts department . We were able to do so because our business model is diverse , which is a unique advantage when you consider most companies focus on one specialty .
Diversifying was a conscious decision we made over the years , as we embraced new business opportunities when the right ones presented themselves . For instance , 15 years ago we invested in a wheeled plane division that has allowed passengers to fly in inclement weather conditions . The addition of a maintenance hangar at Paine Field in Everett , Wash . made it easier for us to cross-utilize our mechanics , as they are closer to our Kenmore headquarters . And most recently , the introduction of a Pilatus PC-12 to our fleet has expanded our charter service . We ’ ve already chartered passengers to Lake Tahoe , Palm Springs , and Sun Valley . There really is no limit .
The growth we ’ re seeing is exciting , but it doesn ’ t happen without good people . As my grandfather taught me , they are the foundation which makes Kenmore Air unique . To work alongside people who continue to care about our passengers and our company culture is a testament to “ doing the right thing .”. When I look back on our 75-year-history , I like to think my grandfather and grandmother would be proud .