Homegrown Leadership
Homegrown Leadership
Melbourne, Florida - 10 Oct 2007Although his father was born and reared in Tennessee and sports a slight Texas twang from his years in the Lone Star State working for various companies, Mitch Garner was born at Homes Region Medical Center and raised here on the Space Coast. A graduate of Palm Bay High, Mitch went on to graduate from the University of Central Florida, where he studied chemistry before returning home to the family business.
To call Symetrics a Garner family business is not exactly correct, however. Although founded by others, the company has been under the watchful eye of one Garner or another for the better part of the past 30 years. The real "family" part of the business comes in to play because of how the father-son duo treats their team.
"It was easier when I was here because the staff was smaller but I am really impressed, and even jealous, with how Mitch has handled the growth. He has really grown the company," Says Dudley.
Now with 140 employees at the Melbourne corporate headquarters near the airport, which they have occupied since 1996, Symetrics has maintained the feeling of family and teamwork. "I make a point to know everyone's names, and use them or even their nicknames," laughs Mitch. "We have seen such tremendous growth because everyone here gives it 110% every single day."
Symetrics: Small Business Agility...Big Business Ability
U.S. Army buys modems from Symetrics Industries
U.S. Army buys modems from Symetrics Industries
Melbourne, Florida - 08 Oct 2007Symetrics Industries LLC of Melbourne recently announced an award from the U.S. Army for about 300 Improved Data Modems (IDM) for installation on Army aircraft.
The contract value will be between $7 and $8 million, once final negotiations are completed. The IDM-304 is the Army version of the Improved Data Modems that Symetrics has been delivering to the U.S. Air Force for more than 14 years.
"We are absolutely thrilled with this order because it demonstrates the Army's confidence in our ability to execute a long-term, high-volume production effor," said Mitch Garner, Symetrics president and CEO. "The IDM-304 is the cornerstone of the Army's airborne element of the Tactical Internet, and Symetrics is proud to be able to provide this critical equipment."
Symetrics: Small Business Agility...Big Business Ability
Symetrics gets $7M contract with Army
Symetrics gets $7M contract with Army
Melbourne, Florida - 11 Sep 2007Melbourne-based Symetrics Industries LLC announced Monday that it has been awarded a Army contract for about 300 Improved Data Modems for installation on Army aircraft.
The contract value will be between $7 million and $8 million, once final negotiations are completed.
"It is a huge move for the company," said Randy Koller, business development manager at Symetrics, which has been trying to land the Army work for more than five years.
A voice data modem takes voice or images from the ground and transmits the data to the aircraft in real time, Koller said.
That, Koller said, improves accuracy for the aircraft's maneuvering and decreases the risk for friendly-fire injuries.
The IDM-304 modems will be installed primarily on Army helicopters.
Symetrics: Small Business Agility...Big Business Ability
Lawmakers' Plane Evades Ground Fire
Lawmakers' Plane Evades Ground Fire
Melbourne, Florida - 31 Aug 2007A military cargo plane carrying three senators and a House member was forced to take evasive maneuvers and dispatch flares to avoid ground fire after taking off from Baghdad on Thursday night.
The lawmakers said their plane, a C-130, was under fire from three rocket-propelled grenades during the course of several minutes as they left for Aman, Jordan.
"It was a scary moment," said Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Orlando., who said he had just taken off his body armor when he saw a bright flash outside the window. "Our pilots were terrific. . . . They banked in one direction and then banked the other direction, and they set off the flares."
Symetrics: Small Business Agility...Big Business Ability
Symetrics in High Demand: Sales Hit $32 Million Last Year
Symetrics in High Demand: Sales Hit $32 Million Last Year
Melbourne, Florida - 24 May 2007Symetrics Industries of Melbourne is finding a growing market for its missle-deflecting flares and other defense electronics products.
It didn't always used to be that way.
Symetrics is seeing growing demand for its AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System that detects missiles and leads them away from aircraft.
Symetrics: Small Business Agility...Big Business Ability
SAE AS9100 Certification
SAE AS9100 Certification
Melbourne, Florida - 24 Jan 2007Symetrics Industries, LLC announced today that it was recently awarded SAE AS9100 certification by the International Aerospace Quality Group. AS9100 certification is a global aerospace standard that defines the quality system requirements for suppliers to the aerospace industry. It is published by the Society of Automotive Engineers, and is based on the ISO 9001:2000 quality management standard. In addition to the ISO requirements, it provides 80 additional stringent requirements, and 18 amplifications specific to aerospace business operations. It also standardizes quality management system requirements and delivers quality assurance in design, development, production, installation and servicing. Symetrics’ successful certification to this strict international standard is an assurance to their customers that they provide products and services of the highest quality.
AS9100 certification is a reflection of Symetrics’ commitment to continuous improvement efforts made by its employees to provide products of outstanding quality that help ensure their customer’s success. “We are very pleased to have met the myriad of requirements defined in AS9100,” stated Steve Dretzka, Director of Quality at Symetrics. The number of additions to ISO 9001 incorporated into AS9100 may appear significant and daunting to some companies. However, as Dretzka explained, “A typical DoD contractor like Symetrics has already addressed many of the key concepts of AS9100 in their existing quality systems. These concepts are not new to us, but are merely tried and tested methodologies already in practice here.” Consequently, Symetrics existing ISO 9001 quality management system did not require significant modification as the company prepared for their audit.
Meeting AS9100 has become an important milestone for suppliers of aerospace systems and components. Increasingly, major aerospace contractors are requiring AS9100 compliance. As a supplier to Boeing, for example, Symetrics must meet requirements for the Boeing Quality Management System, which includes AS9100 certification.
“This accomplishment helps us better serve our customers and leading partner companies”, stated Mitch Garner, Symetrics’ President and CEO. “Meeting AS9100 also ensures our customers of the company's commitment to quality, and will foster their trust and confidence in our abilities,” continued Garner.
About Symetrics
For over 45 years, Symetrics has provided the highest quality electronic manufacturing services and solutions to their DoD and International customers. They are the U.S. Government’s prime supplier of the combat-proven AN/ALE-47 Countermeasures Dispenser System, and manufacture several versions of Improved Data Modems (IDM) --- digital communications solutions for both air and ground systems.