Ann Arbor CEO awarded aviation honor shared by Buzz Aldrin, Elon Musk – MLive.com

ANN ARBOR, MI -- When Craig Sincock first encountered Avfuel, the company was one of his consulting clients.

Four decades later, his leadership of that same company, a global supplier of aviation fuels, systems and services, has earned him a spot among aviation leaders like Buzz Aldrin and Elon Musk.

After graduating from the University of Michigan, Sincock spent 10 years working as a consultant, taking on Avfuel, a then-local aviation fuel company, as a client. In mid-January, Sincock, now the CEO of Avfuel, was conducted into the Living Legends of Aviation group, which is comprised of industry leaders, entrepreneurs, astronauts and pilots who have influenced the field. Other members include Harrison Ford, Buzz Aldrin, Jeff Bezos and Bonnie Dunbar.

Sincock acquired Avfuel in 1985, roughly a decade after the company was originally launched. At the time, the Michigan company had just three employees and was mostly supplying fuel stations at airports.

It was very exciting. A lot of late-night pizza, Sincock said. Sometimes people say, Craig, was it a great business plan? And Ill tell them, Well, no. We were young and didnt understand that we shouldnt compete with major oil companies.

Sincock grew Ann Arbor-based Avfuel to a global scale and now conducts business in 149 countries with 1,000 employees around the world. The company also supplies all sectors of the aviation industry, from government planes to agricultural crop sprayers.

Avfuel touches approximately a third of all U.S. business flights daily and supports nearly 30% of the markets fixed-base operators, which is a space at airports that provide hangar space, fuel and other aviation support. By surrounding the companys fuel arm with other supports in the rest of the aviation industry, Avfuel became the industrys first comprehensive independent fuel supplier, according to the Living Legends of Aviation website.

Sincock said he knew the company was successful when it began purchasing other aviation companies, teaching them Avfuels connection-first method.

Instead of product first, it was people first. And instead of thinking about a transaction or signing up a dealer or selling fuel, we thought about a relationship that would go on for years, Sincock said. When you think about (business) in those terms, it changes a thousand things that you do.

Sincock, who was raised in Plymouth, lives in Ann Arbor with his wife. His son, who is in his 30s, also works with Avfuel. The CEO has been interested in aviation since he was a child, he said.

Its just an exciting industry, and I could see that even when I was a kid. It was part of the moon landing back when I was in high school, Sincock said. My college roommates were flight instructors, so it didnt take me long to start getting in the airplane and flying.

For Sincock, aviation is about connection. He will sometimes fly to multiple cities a day to meet with clients, using the companys aircraft.

I mean, the (internet) connects us, but if you think after the web, whats the largest connectivity concept out there? Its travel, Sincock said.

Although being considered among the Living Legends of Aviation is humbling for him, Sincock said, he pointed to the rest of the corporation as the reason for its success.

Whats behind the award is whats important to me and thats the people who supported me and helped get there over the years, which is the staff and the team at Avfuel Corporation, Sincock said. Many of them.. have been there since the early days, and they have stayed with it. And the customers who supported us and our suppliers. Its everyone that made this happen.

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Ann Arbor CEO awarded aviation honor shared by Buzz Aldrin, Elon Musk - MLive.com