Expanding Customer Expectations

In 1989, Custom Aircraft Cabinets (CAC) was founded in a single-car family garage. Partners Paul Reesnes and Mike Gueringer recognized a special niche market in an exceptionally demanding field of business: aircraft interiors. Since then, the once fledgling company has evolved through need-based growth remodels and has encountered many industry changes and challenges. But, the foundation of CAC remains the same…uncompromising quality and unmatched customer satisfaction.

Mike and Paul wanted to create a faith-based, family-oriented company culture, and have been very successful in that effort. Most of the leadership team has been with the company around 20 years. Co-owner Mike Gueringer said, “Our goal is to exceed customer expectations. We take special pride in meeting delivery schedules with the highest quality product...and under budget.  This keeps customers returning to CAC, even though the competition in our market is fierce.”

The core mission of CAC is simple: deliver the finest manufactured cabin interior components for the private, corporate and head-of-state aircraft interiors market. Driving the success of this mission is a CAC leadership team with more than 300 years of combined experience.  It is easy for employees as well as customers to embrace the CAC company philosophy:

• Treat each customer and employee honestly and with integrity.
• Deliver exceptional quality products priced fairly.
• Exceed all expectations in customer service.

“We credit employee dedication for our success in this competitive market,” stated co-owner Paul Reesnes. He continued, “CAC was started because we wanted our craftsmen to feel pride in working together for a common goal, while working in a dependable and trustworthy environment.”

In December 2012, CAC moved into their state-of-the-art, 146,000 square foot facility located in Sherwood.  After gutting the old National Home Center building, their team had the opportunity to create a fully functional, manufacturing-flow system throughout the property that in turn generated a multitude of capabilities, providing a model of consistency in their custom cabinetry. Additionally, they further augmented these newfound efficiencies with additional capabilities in Thermwood routers, a cutting-edge metal fabrication facility for precision manufactured parts, and separate high-quality finish and upholstery departments. This reconstruction phase allowed CAC to enter large aircraft interior production for the first time. Meaning, in addition to their staple customer Dassault Falcon Jet, CAC could now provide high-quality interior products to aircraft such as Boeing Business Jets and Airbus Business Jets. 

CAC has been a supporter of Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance (AADA) since the beginning and currently sits on the Board of Directors. They have always searched for ways to promote the growth of the aviation, and aerospace education markets within Arkansas, and the AADA has become a driving force for growth and change for the entire region.

Their hope is that the continued growth of AADA from an Arkansas-based organization to a truly regional and national organization will expose CAC to new business opportunities and network growth possibilities. Relationship development is vital in marketing, and of course the aerospace and aviation market is no different. In the coming years, the valued partnership with AADA will continue to grow and flourish.