Larry Studdiford, President of Studdiford Technical Solutions, LLC, has 28 years of aviation experience, with a focus on checked baggage system design, construction management, and related services for airports worldwide, including technology integration, configuration management, specification development, and commissioning.
Larry established Studdiford Technical Solutions, LLC in 2015, a small business consulting organization that specializes in baggage handling and transportation security. Larry’s excellent leadership and participation in significant BHS/CBIS design and construction projects has proven beneficial not just in the execution of day-to-day project activities, but he also offers proven best practices from his peers around the industry.
Below are highlights of the interview conducted between World’s Leaders and Larry Studdiford:
Describe who you are as a person, inside and outside of the workplace.
My wife thinks she’s the funny one in the family, but I like to think I have a good sense of humor. Mostly “dad” jokes, but I tend to see the humor in most things. Although I tend to perseverate over “what if” scenarios in everything I do, I like to maintain a certain level of spontaneity. The key, I think, is to plan ahead, stay nimble, and enjoy the ride.
Describe your background, and what did you do before you started/joined the company?
I have wanted to be an engineer since I was in the sixth grade, maybe earlier. I was always fascinated by aviation. When I was younger, my dad worked as a machinist at Sikorsky Aircraft, so I was exposed to helicopters. My 6th grade science fair project was on jet propulsion theory (first place, thank you very much), and while in college I had unique opportunities to work in the university’s cooperative education program at United Technologies on both helicopter and jet engine design. After graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering, I sent out a bunch of resumes and just so happened to land at a small company that designed airport baggage handling systems. 28 years later, I haven’t looked back. I worked for various companies, both large and small, but maintained a foothold in the airport design and construction industry until I decided to start my own company eight years ago.
Tell us about the inception of the company. How did it all start?
The company for which I was working at the time was acquired by a much larger firm; it was very reputable, but it seemed to lack personality once the integration began. This was the second time the company for which I was working was acquired, and I felt that the group I was leading was becoming more hamstrung in our ability to compete in the marketplace. While my wife goaded me on, saying that because I was an engineer, I was stereotypically risk-averse and would never leave the comforts of a high-paying, stable job, I decided to begin exploring various opportunities, speaking to a number of industry colleagues. It was not until I was approached by a vendor who needed a qualified consultant that I made the jump. I have never regretted the decision.
What has made you successful? What do you value?
I am a firm believer in karma in business. While I have definitely come across successful people with questionable ethics, I think at the end of the day, if you have nothing to stand on but your integrity, you’ll always have a solid footing. Our company’s mantra of “solutions, integrity, and results” has worked very well for us. I rarely have to actively pursue work since companies typically come to us because of our honest, excellent work and our ethical standing. I really take pride in the fact that all of our team members understand how important that is to me.
Which are the major services of the company, and how does the company get ahead in the competition? What value-added services does the company provide?
We specialize in airport technology solutions, specifically in baggage & material handling, and checked baggage inspection systems (CBIS). We provide services at every point across the project lifecycle, from planning to detailed design, installation oversight, commissioning, integration, close-out, and transition, depending on the needs of the program. Through planning, design, program, project, contract, and construction management, commissioning services, and overall baggage handling system (BHS) subject matter expertise, we basically guide projects through a changing marketplace. I think what really sets us apart is that virtually all of our team members have experience serving both the commercial side (airports & airlines) and the federal side, with direct collaborative working experience with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). I have worked alongside the TSA since their inception after the tragic events of 9/11 in helping to design and deploy checked baggage screening solutions, as have a number of my staff. That really gives us keen insight as well as long-standing relationships.
What are the most important aspects of a company’s culture? What principles do you believe in and how do you build this culture?
As mentioned earlier, our integrity is the basis for all we do. If we are not confident in what we are doing, we guide our clients to someone who can do it better. We promote superior integrity while providing cost-effective and pragmatic solutions with diverse, well-rounded capabilities.
What are your responsibilities as the Founder/CEO/President of the company? What is the happiest part of your daily routine?
As a small business owner, I am really involved in all facets: project work, client relations, business development, accounting, and HR. But it’s about the people. Our business model since the beginning has been for me to acquire and initiate a project, then slowly transition it to one of my expert team members. I am happiest when I have successfully transitioned a project and the client is extremely happy with who is taking the reins. Our industry is all about relationships, and when this happens and I can look across our portfolio and see things running smoothly with minimal involvement from me, that is what makes me happy, and allows me to think more broadly and strategically about the direction of the company. These past few months have been the epitome of that, and I think I am probably the happiest I’ve been since starting the company.
What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the first time?
Find mentors wherever you can. Learn as much as you can from supervisors, adjacent group leaders, etc. And not just what to do, but what NOT to do. I have been extremely fortunate in my 28+ years in this industry to have intelligent, quirky, compassionate mentors, sometimes not even realizing they were mentors until long after they were not part of my daily routine. And remember that everyone is a human being with a life outside of work. Never be too quick to judge without considering all the factors. And finally, find things that are completely different from your daily work life—things that take your mind completely away from work. It could be a hobby (I like to kayak and mountain bike, for example) or just something that brings pure joy outside of work. I recently joined a garage band (“Mondays at Larry’s,” since it’s in my garage; I play guitar, bass, and vocals) with some neighborhood friends, and it never fails to lower my blood pressure.
And finally, take stock of your family life. Travel has always been a necessity in my career, but finding balance is essential. Don’t miss that soccer game, or recital, or a date night from time to time with your spouse. Clients that don’t understand when you have a family conflict are not worthy.
