Meet Alex Guerra | Chief Pilot / Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alex Guerra and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alex, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I worked in the Implantable Medical Device field and after 9 years with this company, in early 2019, I was laidoff. Up to this point, all I did was work and fly my drone that I had purchased a few years back. Of course, I was also was married and have 3 children but drones were my passion. When I was laidoff my Family sat with me and told me it was time to follow my passion instead of the role which was to work to pay the bills weather you like it or not.
I LOVE DRONES and since the first day I saw my friend Adrian fly his new drone, at a park at night, I was blown away and have never let go.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
When I started by business back in 2019, I saw there were others already in the field so I needed a way to differentiate myself from my competition. I’ve been able to do this in various ways with number one keeping up with the drone technology which improves every 2 years. Secondly I was able to infuse my many years in the Corporate world where professionalism, presentation, dedication, hard work and never giving up on a customer is how you find success.

We started our business in March of 2019 and after things closed impressively that year we were faced with Covid the following year and year number 2 of our business. This was a very difficult year. As I found myself staring at a computer because of lockdowns, I needed to find a way to keep going. Financially was very difficult but as a Family we survived.

I needed to find a way to keep working although I thought I was just sitting in-front of a computer. So I studied my competition and saw different companies had these certifications. Some had veteran certified companies and others had minority certificates so I started doing some searching of my own.

Within a couple of months of work, our Company is now Certified as a Veteran Owned Small Business (I am a US Army Veteran). We hold minority verifications from the Federal Government, State of Florida, Miami Dade County. We are also SBE certified (Small Business Enterprise) with Miami Dade County, Miami Dade County Schools and South Florida Water Management. We are also DBE Certified by the FDOT and hold a few other certificates.

2020 was an awful year no matter how you look at it but, I never gave up. All those certifications are like applying for a mortgage and take hours of submissions and face to face interviews, but I never gave up. The days got long but I never gave up. Like a soldier, I never gave up. I can repeat this over and over again because this year aged me, but I never gave up.

So when people ask me, how did you start your own company and how have you become successful in it, my main point is, NEVER GIVE UP. Put in the work, keep making the right decisions, pray a lot and never give up. Everything will fall into place when the time is right and success will follow.

In December of 2020 after months of very slow progress, I received a call that seemed they were more interested in my certifications than anything else. It seems that most contracts that are issued by the Federal, State and local Municipalities have a requirement that they must use these certified companies as a percentage of the contract. This has been a game changer for us.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Miami is a beautiful City and probably one I don’t take to much advantage of. Whenever someone ask me about Miami or our surrounding areas, I always tell them to go out on the water. Get on a boat and go fishing, snorkeling or diving. Our real beauty is out there on the water.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Ok, you want my Shoutout, there are only a few. First and foremost, without God in my life, there is no me and no Flying High Productions. My second and earthly number 1 is my Wife. Without Her moral, business, love and financial help in the tough years, I have nothing. We are a Team and we made it! Finally, my entire Family has been so supportive in so many ways that proves in life that it truly takes a village.

Website: www.flyinghighproductions.org

Instagram: flyinghighproductions_llc

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/flying-high-productions-llc/

Youtube: @flyinghighproductions

Image Credits
Alex Guerra, Flying High Productions, LLC