If you’re a drone business owner, it can feel like a never ending mission to keep your business moving forward. In today’s drone industry where technology and demands are rapidly advancing, it can be challenging to have a clear understanding of how your business can stay ahead of the curve. 

The Scaling Your Drone Business roundtable at Commercial UAV Expo will feature conversations with drone business owners who have successfully scaled their businesses to work for today’s needs.

Through rotating discussions, the session will cover these critical topics to help attendees walk away with a plan to accelerate their own businesses:

  • How do you move from project-based work to recurring contracts?
  • How do you recruit, train, and retain high-skill drone pilots and data analysts?
  • What’s your plan for scaling without sacrificing mission safety and quality?
  • How do you build a brand clients trust more than the cheapest option on the market?

Offering their expert advice and guiding conversations will be Jerimiah Contreras, manager of pilot experience at FlyGuys; Sam Scully, founder and principal of Sam Scully Staffing; David Daly, owner of Vigilante Drones & Consulting; Joe Stough, CEO & executive chairman of FlyGuys; and Robert Hart, owner of LIDAR Drone Services.

Taking a step back to look at your big-picture goals is an essential step in creating a plan. In Contreras’ words, “scaling starts with understanding end goal and determining a growth path.”

Successful business ownership extends beyond simply providing a product or service. It requires a commitment to cultivating and maintaining strong client relationships to ensure lasting partnerships. Numerous factors influence the stability of the client–service provider relationship, yet the ability to consistently deliver results in a safe, efficient, and timely manner remains indispensable. As Scully emphasizes, “Drones open doors, but dedication, safety, and trust keep them open.”

Each table in the room will be dedicated to a specific discussion topic. Attendees will share their insights for 20 minutes, then will have the opportunity to move to another table to talk about a different topic and meet new faces. After about three rotations, the moderators will gather everyone for a larger group discussion to share high-level takeaways from all the discussions.

This session is a unique opportunity to not only network with business operators who experience navigating the challenges of the drone industry, but also to connect with other attendees who can offer insights on what tools they’ve utilized as emerging drone business owners.

If you have a specific topic you would like to see discussed in this session, please submit it to be considered here.