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Patrick Britton-Harr, 38
If you ask someone about their plans for the next several years, and they tell you they hope to file an IPO for their company, that person should probably at least be considered for a 40 Under 40 issue.
Patrick Britton-Harr has actually exited a business before. Shortly after graduating from college he worked in the health care industry with a mobile dentistry business, which grew to serve five states before he moved on to his next idea. “I’m a serial entrepreneur,” he explains. “I love the building process.”
That next idea is AeroVanti, a private flight chartering business built around the Piaggio P180, a twin turboprop engine aircraft. It’s already generated $20 million in revenue in its first year of operation, Britton-Harr says. But this aviation enthusiast — he’s actually a third-generation pilot — says he wants to see the company expand horizontally into more of a membership club. Added benefits like ground transportation, residential services and even yacht access are the current strategy for getting Sarasota-based AeroVanti big enough to go public.
To build successful companies, Britton-Harr relies on shared responsibility across his team. “We don’t run from a hierarchy, we run as functions,” he explains. “It is very much an all-for-one, one-for-all aspect where we win together and we lose together. We do that by supporting each other.”
That approach requires finding the right people to work with. “You want to find individuals who have the same drive and dedication, but are outside of the box thinkers who can provide different insight to the program,” he says. So far he’s been able to do that, with people like Robert De Pol, AeroVanti’s chief operating officer.
At this rate, it’s a reasonable prediction that Britton-Harr might create more companies over the course of his career as an entrepreneur. In fact, if you put it to him, he’ll tell you what the last one will be: a champagne and caviar bar, headquartered in the Florida Keys.
— Alexander Walsh
City of Residence: Tampa
Employer: AeroVanti, Inc.
Title: Founder & CEO
Birthplace: Houston
Years in the area: Off and on 38 years
Marital Status/Children: Married with dogs - two Chocolate lab puppies and 1 French Bulldog
Alma Mater/Degree: Old Dominion
What community group or organization are you most involved with? Blue Angels Foundation
Are you working from the company office, home office or hybrid? Office
What's your top tip for being productive? Get started. Do not delay. Any forward progress is better than staying stagnant.
If you could have a side hustle, what would it be? I'm a part time as an Angel investor - I believe the best thing entrepreneurs/business developers/leaders etc.. can do is to leverage their knowledge and experience to provide guidance and mentorship to continue the entrepreneurial spirit.
What's your favorite off-hours activity? Home Games at Raymond James - GO BUCS!!
At what percentage on your phone do you start to get Low Battery Anxiety? When my phone has lost all power. I’m always running on low battery.
What are the top three apps used on your smartphone?:Mail, JetInsight, Slack
What books are you reading now? Kevin Karella - Lincoln James Legacy: War Child
What's your go-to music genre, band or act to be inspired? Country & Jimmy Buffet
Who would play you in the movie of your life? Ryan Gosling
Where is your happy place? In the air or on the water
Describe yourself in three words: Just send it
Who is your mentor for your career and why? My beautiful wife Tracy Deckman - Tracy has been fortunate or unfortunate however you want to look at it, to have been part of every one of my startup companies. The outside perspective that Tracy brings not only is it refreshing it’s always right
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