Meet Barbara of Executive Airways Grooming Services

Clear skies are even better when your plane was cleaned the way it should be by Barbara McLean-Stollery and her team at Executive Airways Grooming Services.

Barbara worked part-time at Executive Airways Grooming Services in Calgary, while enrolled in the Aircraft Maintenance Engineers Technology program at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT). Holding her commercial and private pilot licenses, Barbara was very knowledgeable of airplanes and her work ethic had impressed her employer. As he prepared to retire and searched for someone to take over the business he founded 25 years ago, Wayne Kaut offered Barbara the opportunity to acquire his innovative maintenance service and to become her own boss.

Barbara has never regretted accepting his offer and remains convinced that there should be no hesitation when opportunity knocks on the door. “I really appreciate the freedom that comes along with running my own business,” explains the young business owner. “Entrepreneurship involves long work hours, but the additional time is rewarding, both personally and financially.”

The work ethic that drew the attention of Mr. Kaut has proven to be very advantageous for Barbara. Since taking the reins of the company in 2005, Executive Airways, which then had three employees and annual revenues of $60,000, today earns $660,000 and employs 20 people. Barbara was also chosen to be a part of the Canadian delegation at the G20 Young Entrepreneurs’ Alliance Summit in Toronto, once again proving that hard work can be rewarding.