Bianca Rhodes, President & CEO of Knight Aerospace, one of the world’s leading manufacturers and distributors of air transportation products joins Enterprise Radio.
Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Bianca Rhodes discuss the following:
- Can you tell us a bit about what Knight Aerospace does and the types of customers you work with?
- Your company slogan is “Transforming humanity’s missions” – Tell us what that means from a practical, everyday standpoint.
- What are the main driving needs in your industry, and how do Knight’s solutions/products differ from those of its competitors?
- Knight recently delivered an airplane toilet and galley module, dubbed “The Next-Generation ATGL” to The Royal Australian Air Force. Tell us about the product, and why the Royal Australian Air Force chose to replace its predecessor with your solution. What does the Knight’s Next-Generation ATGL mean for elevating the standards of military aircraft?
- What’s next for Knight in terms of moving passengers in unconventional modalities? Specifically, by making the leap from air to space transportation, how does Knight plan to enhance the rocket cargo program in the U.S.?
Bianca Rhodes brings years of leadership and experience to her position as Knight Aerospace’s President and CEO. She has ushered in a new era of innovation with the introduction of the company’s Aeromedical Bio-Containment Module (ABCM) and Next-Generation ATGL for military aircraft.
Rhodes began her career in banking, as a commercial banker for San Antonio’s second-largest bank: the National Bank of Commerce. Nearly a decade into her tenure, she transitioned to a corporate finance role with TexCom Management Services, a computer leasing company. Rhodes helped TexCom consolidate a 34-bank group, which positioned the company to be sold to Intelogic Trace (NYSE: IT), for which she became the Chief Financial Officer.
In 1993, Rhodes joined Kinetic Concepts Inc. (NASDAQ: KNCI), a former client of Bianca’s at the National Bank of Commerce, which she helped to take public during her tenure with the bank. As KCI’s CFO, she engineered a turnaround that more than quadrupled the company’s valuation. In a private offering just three years later, KCI was valued at nearly $1 billion.
Following the transaction, Bianca founded CrossRhodes Consulting, where she managed a diversified real estate asset portfolio. Rhodes has successfully raised capital, structured buyouts, and advised dozens of companies, primarily in the health care sector.
Rhodes has since 2014 served as the President of Knight Aerospace Medical Systems, LLC (KAMS), which specializes in roll-on, roll-off medical modules for the medical evacuation of patients across the world. In September 2017, KAMS successfully purchased the assets of Knight Aerospace Products, Inc., which has provided roll-on, roll-off palletized and modular systems, as well as ground support equipment, to over 25 countries throughout the world since its inception in 1992.
Rhodes’ career includes numerous volunteer positions at various organizations. She founded Any Woman Can, a San Antonio organization dedicated to empowering young women through professional and personal milestones. Rhodes’ various civic activities include Board of Director and trustee positions with AirLife San Antonio, Junior Achievement of San Antonio; Big Brothers and Big Sisters of San Antonio; Baptist Healthcare Systems; San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind; the Dee Howard Foundation, and the San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce. Rhodes also is a board member of Dura Software, a preeminent software company based in San Antonio, and Lawson Products (NASDAQ: LAWS), based in Chicago.
Rhodes graduated from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas with a BBA in Finance in 1981.
Rhodes has been married for over 34 years to Jim, an investment advisor, and has three adult children and two grandchildren. She spends her free time reading, gardening, and hiking.
Website: https://knightaerospace.com
Social Media Links:
Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/knight-aerospace
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KnightAero_SATX
Facebook: https://facebook.com/KnightAerospace
Instagram: https://instagram.com/knight_aerospace
People also listened to this: The 7 Covenant Principles: Your Key to Great Relationships
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (23.4MB) | Embed
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | TuneIn | RSS | More
