James Jim E. Lara

About James Jim E. Lara

James (Jim) E. Lara is a passionate aviation professional and business leader. Combining…

Experience

1. Business Aviation Consultant and Principal

   Gray Stone Advisors

   Jan 1996 — Present · Knoxville, TN, US

   By “simplifying the business of business aviation,” members of the Gray Stone Advisors team work with all levels of aviation and host organizations to help their business aviation operations achieve the highest level of performance excellence. They do this by helping business aviation leaders align flight department operations with corporate expectations, quantify and express the value provided by aviation operations, establish impactful performance metrics, communicate effectively with all executive users, develop flight department leaders and create both long- and short-term business and fleet utilization plans.Key Achievements:• Conceived, initiated and now oversees a highly successful worldwide consulting enterprise.• Completed 17 major turnarounds to desired financial and operational results in the specialty retail, business and commercial aviation, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and transportation/logistics industries, among others.Responsibilities:• Transforms under-performing organizations and companies, as well as helps solid enterprises take their execution prowess to the next level.• Sets the overall strategy, tone and vision for the firm, while maintaining a thriving entrepreneurial culture.• Serves as a strategic business partner to corporate executives and board members.• Developed and leads a management team with responsibility for serving clients of all sizes.• Identifies and develops superior individual talent and high-performance teams.For nearly two decades, Jim Lara and his team at Gray Stone Advisors have combined their experience in business and aviation to support flight department leaders and company executives who continually strive to achieve “best in class” performance. Their goals are simple – to share their industry perspective, become a trusted advisor and operate as “force multipliers” for their clients when needed.

Education

• San Francisco State University

  Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Skills

• Program Management
• Flights
• Leadership Development
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Entrepreneurship
• Airlines
• Aircraft
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Executive Management
• Problem Solving
• Marketing Communications
• Business Planning
• Operations Management
• Team Building
• Strategic Planning
• Recruiting
• Profitable
• Coaching
• Commercial Aviation
• Mergers
• Process Improvement
• Contract Negotiation
• Start-Ups
• Leadership
• Management Consulting
• Business Strategy
• Consulting
• Business Process Improvement
• Project Management
• Aviation
• New Business Development
• Business Development
• Capital Raising