Meet Nick Gimbel | SVP General Manager MRO


We had the good fortune of connecting with Nick Gimbel and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Nick, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The key to my success is my deep passion for helping others reach their full potential. I discovered this early on by watching people grow and advance in their personal and professional lives. Seeing people reach their potential and grow as individuals or in their professions has always been a driving force for me. For instance, when I used to coach baseball, it was incredibly fulfilling to witness the kids improve over the season and excel in the skills I was teaching them. This passion for watching others succeed and helping them get there is at the core of what I do.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I have a background in mechanical engineering, and I landed my first job right after finishing school, working for a pool company. It was during this time that I ran into someone I used to coach Little League, and through a chance connection, I was able to secure a position at an aviation company within two days. I started my career by developing testing and tooling equipment at GA Telesis and eventually was promoted to operations manager.
Throughout my journey, personal maturity played a significant role. I delved into psychology to understand people better. I follow the principles of servant leadership, doing whatever it takes to support and serve those under my command. I’ve been in executive management roles since 2015, overseeing areas like customer service and inventory management, and understanding how all these components work together to make the business as productive as possible. Although the path to where I am today wasn’t necessarily easy, the lessons I’ve learned have been invaluable.
When it comes to what I want the world to understand about me and my brand, it’s all about the value of being goal-oriented. By setting clear, concise, and defined objectives, I have helped others achieve their goals. One of the critical lessons is the importance of aligning the team with the goals and explaining the ‘why’ behind our actions. I’ve found that by showing my technicians simple financials and connecting their work to the overall business success, we create a sense of transparency that can sometimes be lacking in management-technician relationships. It taught me the significance of communicating the ‘why’ behind what we ask our team to do and getting their buy-in. This collaborative approach has made every business I’ve been a part of profitable. Prioritizing the people on your team and engaging them in the ‘why’ behind their work is key to success.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’m relatively new to Arizona, so my activities are primarily centered around recommendations from friends and family. As the weather cools down, I plan to explore more outdoor activities. I’m very family-oriented, spending weekends attending my son’s classmates’ birthday parties and watching my son’s baseball games. I’m also an avid golfer, so you’ll often find me on the golf course. My bucket list includes touring Arizona, visiting places like Lake Powell and Flagstaff, and traveling the entire country. I’ve also been to various ballparks, and visiting all of them is another goal of mine.
Some of the most fun and exciting things to check out are ballparks and national parks. I find joy and adventure in exploring different baseball stadiums and the natural beauty of national parks. These experiences offer a unique blend of sports and the great outdoors, making them top choices for me.
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?
Nick Gimbel – SVP General Manager MRO of Unical Aviation
Website: https://www.unical.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-gimbel-6999b055/
