WHM Aeroforce
Celebrating Women’s History Month: Client Profile
Learn more about events, tools, and resources to help women entrepreneurs and executives accelerate their exporting journey by visiting our Women’s Global Trade Empowerment webpage. For more information about any of the services mentioned below, or to get help exporting your product or service, contact your local U.S. Commercial Service office!
Heather Varney
President & Co-Founder
Company: Aeroforce Logistics
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Web: www.aeroforcelogistics.com
About Aeroforce Logistics: Aeroforce provides parts and services to domestic and foreign militaries, operators, and repair stations. We accomplish this by using our OEM, fabrication, and machine shop partnerships. We also sell a large inventory of previously owned U.S. Government material, which is always in demand. We specialize in finding alternate solutions for hard-to-find, long lead-time and high-priced military aircraft parts and tooling. Lastly, we provide consulting services for program management, product support, warehousing, and managed repair/overhaul services. We have been exporting for two years.
As a women-owned or women-led business, what unique challenges has your company encountered with exporting?
“Creating processes , procedures and safe guards that enable our company to efficiently and profitably market and sell to international customers”
How has the U.S. Commercial Service helped you overcome exporting challenges?
“In late 2021, I graduated from the Exportech program, so we are in the infant stages of working with this team. They have been great at answering questions about market data and daily questions about vetting customers and import/export.”
What is your favorite thing about being a woman exporter?
“Diversifying our customer base, portfolio, adding employees , which in turn means selling more!”
What advice would you give other women-owned or led businesses looking to expand their international sales?
“Make sure your business has processes and procedures in place with all of your departments involved in exporting. Attend Exportech. Lastly, market your company using the resources provided from Exportech. Get your company’s name out there!”
What would you consider your greatest export success?
“The ability to delineate NLR items and items that required Export License on a large, 50-line order to the Netherlands. It allowed us to send a partial shipment early while we waited for the licensing on the other items. The customer was happy to get some items right away!”