Business is not only good for Mickey Stowers, it’s booming.
The co-owner of Aircraft Structures International said he has hired eight people within just the last two weeks, and intends on hiring 40 people within the next two years.
Aircraft Structures International, 1026 S. 66th, is just one of several businesses in Enid that are growing and expanding, says Brent Kisling, executive director of Enid Regional Development Alliance.
“Business is pretty good,” Stowers said. “We’re expanding and building additional hangars.”
Stowers and his wife Kay bought Aircraft Structures International 15 years ago, back when it was called Great Lakes Aircraft Co.
The company specializes in rebuilding damaged aircraft, retrieving damaged aircraft and repurchasing and reselling them.
A big reason why business is booming for the Stowers is because a type of aircraft called a caravan is in high demand worldwide.
The caravan is a single engine turbo- prop aircraft that is designed to haul both passengers and freight.
“It operates more efficiently than jet aircraft,” Stowers said.
Stowers said he’s had two different customers in Germany, and he’s even bought one of the aircraft in Laos.
Jennefer Branch, part owner of Brueggemann Engineering, 412 N. Independence, said her business also is expanding.
“We’ve opened up a little gallery next door,” Branch said.
Branch described it as an art studio where the business will display some of the items it has made.
Brueggemann’s specializes in manufacturing connecting rod bearings for pumping units.
She said the company is remaining profitable through the recession.
“We’re doing well,” she said.
Kisling said Enid has an “interesting economic dynamic” because of the number of both large companies and small businesses in Enid.
“The small businesses in Enid, most of which are doing quite well right now, many of those are in support of the oil and gas industry or the ag industry and those are two (industries) that maybe haven’t been overly successful over the last two years, but they haven’t taken a dip (nationwide),” Kisling said.