King Kulture Chronicles: In Good Times and Bad, Family Means Everything

September 18, 2024

Working at King Aerospace can be a very different experience than at other companies. In this feature, King team members share their memorable moments, inspiring events and valuable lessons learned in their time with the company.

Sally O’Connor is known throughout King Aerospace not only as a company program manager, but also as its official “King Kulture Curator.” She has plenty of stories about fun, interesting and challenging experiences over her years at the company.

One such adventure was the company’s 30th Anniversary party in October 2022, which brought together more than 250 employees, friends, advisers, customers and supporters from around the world in Dallas.

“It was an amazing get together and the epitome of King Kulture,” says Sally. “There really was a sense of love and appreciation for everyone and the hard work that everyone did to get this company to the 30-year mark.”

Fast forward one year to October 2023, and the first aircraft to be serviced at the company’s newest King Aerospace facility located at Northwest Arkansas National Airport (XNA) near Bentonville.

KA Arkansas was already open for business and supporting other aspects of the company’s operations, but the arrival of the first customer aircraft put everything to the test. Sally notes personnel from across the company came together to coordinate each step of servicing the aircraft.

“There were a lot of late nights,” Sally says, “but everyone rolled up their sleeves to help the new site be successful. At the end of the day, our foundational culture and commitment to servant leadership is really what got us through those challenging moments.”

Thanks to the team’s efforts, “we delivered the aircraft back to the customer on time, just a few days before Christmas,” she notes with pride.

Supporting Each Other in Every Moment

While it’s easy to celebrate the good times, it’s even more important for the King Aerospace family to come together in times of sadness or crisis. That’s the mission behind Angel Watch, a company program that provides support to employees and their families during difficult times.

That can be something as simple as flowers or cards sent to the employee and their family members, to more direct support during trying times or a difficult medical situation. “Anything we can do to have someone know we’re not just here for the happy moments,” Sally explains, “but for every moment.”

That was something Sally herself experienced recently when her father was hospitalized in the ICU at MD Anderson. Throughout her stay with him in Houston, “my phone lit up with calls, emails and text messages,” she says. “People asked what they could do, if there was anything they could cover for me or anything else I needed.

“We almost lost him,” Sally adds. “It was a critical situation, and having such support and knowing so many people were sending their well-wishes and praying for him was extremely reassuring.”

Not surprisingly, Mr. King was one of those who checked in with her most often. “He is immediately notified whenever a situation like this arises for any employee or a family member,” Sally notes. “I’m not aware of any other program like Angel Watch, at any other business, led directly by the chairman.”

Which, of course, is yet another way that working at King Aerospace is different from most other companies. “We talk about family a lot, but it is absolutely true here,” Sally emphasizes. “Family means we go through thick and thin together.”