ORLANDO, Fla. – GroundFlights – an Orlando-based executive transportation company and winner of the 2011 Orlando, Inc. B.I.G. Award – recently welcomed New England Patriots’ Bret Lockett as an investor/partner.
After promoting GroundFlights for a year, Lockett – a safety for the NFL team – came on board as a partner in January, according to Chief Executive Officer Thomas Duffy.
“Bret was a part of GroundFlights long before we officially launched services; he was constantly promoting us to friends and associates. However, before Bret would partner with us, we had to prove our business model and show him the long term potential in a company such as GroundFlights,” Duffy said.
In an interview with Business Insider, Lockett elaborated on how he became involved with the innovative transportation company, explaining his current entrepreneurial endeavors as well as his plans for when his football days are over.
“I love football, but I also have a passion for music and business,” he said. “The average career for a professional football player is 3½ years. You figure that after three to four years, you’ll have to get a new job.”
Lockett said when he met Duffy – a pilot – he saw the potential in what he was trying to accomplish with GroundFlights, a business client of the University of Central Florida’s Business Incubation Program in Orlando.
He said the statewide ground transportation – technologically advanced Lincoln Navigator SUVs – houses mobile executive offices (MEOs) that include all the amenities you would expect in an executive office suite.
Because clients don’t have to worry about going through baggage and security with GroundFlights, Lockett said it’s much more convenient than flying.
“It's essentially a jet on wheels for business executives”, he said.
About GroundFlights:
GroundFlights is an executive transportation company that provides on-demand, door-to-door mobile executive office (MEO) service throughout Florida. The MEOs are specially constructed and technologically advanced Lincoln Navigator SUVs that are equipped with all of the amenities expected in an executive office suite and driven by a trained and certified ground pilot. The company’s goal is to alleviate stress and maximize productivity for those traveling on business.
About the UCF Business Incubation Program:
Since its founding in 1999, the UCF Business Incubation Program has helped more than 200 emerging companies (including more than 125 current clients) create over $200 million in annual total economic output and more than 1,600 new jobs with an average salary of $59,000. With nine facilities across the Greater Orlando community, the Business Incubation Program is a collaboration in economic development between the University of Central Florida, Orange County, the City of Orlando, Seminole County, the City of Winter Springs, The City of Sanford, Lake County, the City of Leesburg, Osceola County, the City of Kissimmee, City of St. Cloud, Volusia County and the Florida High Tech Corridor Council. The UCFBIP will open its 10th incubator in Apopka in Spring 2012. Please visit www.incubator.ucf.edu and UCFBIP on Facebook, on www.facebook.com/ucf4bip.
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