Galley Support Innovations-2016
Whether you’re flying at 30,000 feet or yachting on a river, it’s the little things that can make a big difference to interior quality and luxury. Galley Support Innovations (GSI), of Sherwood, Arkansas, designs and manufactures custom interior hardware for just this market that includes commercial aircraft, trains, and yachts. Owners Gina and Wade Radke have changed the way the industry looks at interior hardware. Much of the hardware on these transportation vehicles had not been updated in decades. “We’re not interested in selling everybody the same latch,” said Gina. “That’s been done for years. Led by Wade, our team sits down with the aircraft designers to understand the complete interior design. From there they design custom solutions that fit the overall design. Our motto is ‘We Make It Happen’.” GSI manufacturing was run as a California family-owned business for over 50 years before Gina and Wade bought the business in 2004 and moved it to Arkansas. Under their leadership the company has grown from four to 24 employees, in part due to the assistance of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 7(a) and 504 loans funded through Centennial Bank, Arvest Bank, and Arkansas Capital Corporation. In addition, SBA’s resource partners, the SCORE Business Counselors and the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center (ASBTDC), provided critical business counseling and expertise. The Radkes said a major challenge when they bought the business was learning about manufacturing for the aerospace industry. The couple spent six weeks learning how to run the machinery and the business. Since money was tight, they each had to learn to run and repair every machine, relying heavily on two employees who moved with the product line to Arkansas. In addition, they worked with vendors, Arkansas Manufacturing Solutions, SBA and its resource partners, SCORE and the ASBTDC. The Radkes encourage their staff to participate in community service through the Union Rescue Mission where Gina is Chair of the Board of Directors. Wade is on the Board of Directors for Immerse Arkansas, a nonprofit that works with young adults who have aged out of the foster care system. The Radkes are committed to promoting opportunity to all. They offer employment opportunities for ex-offenders, and applicants through the Department of Workforce Services Summer Youth and the WAGE program. WAGE is a work readiness program designed to ensure that unemployed and underemployed Arkansans have the skills necessary to be successful in the workplace. Wade has also started a new auto repair business, Disciples Garage LLC, to employ and train transitioning felons and anyone needing a second chance. -2- In 2016, the SBA Arkansas District Office named the Radkes the Arkansas Small Business Persons of the Year. GSI was named one of Arkansas Business Newspaper’s 40 under 40 in 2015 and also the Arkansas Business of the Year. They were the winner of the Governor’s Excellence in Exporting (small manufacturer) in 2015, and the Community Impact Image Award in 2014. Gina was named one of “5 Women to Watch in International Business” in 2014.