Los Angeles-
The SBA Los Angeles District Office today announced its selection of Igor
Pasternak as the Small Business Person of the Year. This year’s winner
earned the prestigious honor for his innovative spirit and managerial
stewardship in adroitly steering Worldwide Aeros Corp. while avoiding
perilous business headwinds and achieving a clear flight to profitability.
Mr. Pasternak was nominated by his banker Wai-Chun Li, who heads-up United
Commercial Bank’s SBA Lending Department. Mr. Li submitted the nomination
after he “got wind” of the SBA’s program criteria through a colleague and
predicted that Aeros would win in a breeze. By now you must think that all
these wind references somehow symbolize the uniqueness of the company that
Igor Pasternak founded and of which he is now CEO. You are quite correct.
Aeros is a leading lighter-than-air airship design and manufacturing
company. “Yes, we make blimps”, is the mantra that is often intoned when
you reach the company’s Tarzana headquarters.
A visit to the company
web site showcases the components of a very sophisticated product line
with applications to both the Government and Commercial marketplaces. Aeros
takes pride in its world-wide customer base and time-honored quality and
reliability of their products over the almost two decades of the company’s
existence. Whether it’s a non-rigid airship, an advanced
tethered aerostatic system, a stratospheric airship, or a partially
buoyant aeroscraft, the customer can rest assured that he / she is buying
the best in “blimpsmenship.” No pun intended.
Mr. Pasternak grew up in
the Ukrainian city of Lviv near the Polish border and received his
advanced Science and Engineering training and education from one of the
oldest and most prestigious technical universities in Europe – Lviv
Politechnike. With a newly minted Master of Science in Engineering degree
and a host of hands-on aeronautics experience, Pasternak founded Aeros, Ltd. in
Ukraine. Achieving success in short
order, Aeros rapidly became known throughout Europe and Asia as a source
of quality aerostats and well-made “lighter than air” products. To access a
more fertile environment to foster Aeros’ growth, Igor Pasternak moved the
company to the United States in 1992 and set-up operations in New York.
Two years later, at the behest of Governor Pete Wilson, Aeros moved to
California, and with the help of an SBA guaranteed loan began constructing
airships and aerostats for commercial customers.
Today, Aeros is poised on
the brink of an extremely promising future. Its proprietary products have
provided it a competitive edge. The company sales trend remains
fortuitous, underscored by exceptional revenue improvement experienced
during the first half of fiscal 2005. The state of the world-wide
geopolitical economy continues to exert strong demand for Aeros’ unique
product line, especially its technology rich aerostat monitoring devices.
Also, during the last several years employment opportunities at Aeros grew
nearly four fold, reflecting management’s aspirations for dynamic
near-term growth.
Los Angeles SBA District
Director Alberto G. Alvarado commended Igor Pasternak’s wisdom and
enterprising spirit, stating, “ Igor Pasternak’s company has taken the
journey from the conceptualization and creative genius state, through the
difficult and fraught-with- pitfalls research and developmental stage,
arriving at the dividend point whereby that genius is now being rewarded.
As a true entrepreneur, he assumed staggering risk to achieve this dream
and succeeded against heavy odds. In the process he created 50 jobs
contributing to his community’s economic development. This successful trek
is exemplary and praiseworthy as a model for aspiring small business
owners. May good news remain in the wind for Igor and Aeros.”
The Small Business Person
of the Year award will be presented to Mr. Pasternak at the 2006 Small
Business Week local festivities taking place at a luncheon to honor
entrepreneurship on May31st at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown
Los Angeles.
Igor Pasternak and
District Director Alvarado are available for interviews by calling Frank
Brancale at (818) 552-3203.
