Alex Mershon serves as the sales and IT director at Prattville Turbine Engines in Prattville, Alabama. In this role, Alex Mershon oversees software development initiatives to support internal operations and manages the sale of airplane engine parts. He also markets inventory to industry clients using platforms such as Parts Base and ILS and attends national aviation conferences to stay informed on trends in aviation parts and sales software.
Before his current role, Mr. Mershon worked as an IT and logistics coordinator at Mode Transportation in Birmingham, Alabama. There, he provided staff with on-site technical support and created tailored solutions for customers’ logistics needs.
His earlier experience includes working as an IT specialist at Prattville Turbine Engines, where he implemented custom software solutions for purchase and repair orders and learned about sales techniques and processes under company leadership. Mr. Mershon began his career in logistics and manufacturing at Southern Blocking, LLC in Lanett, Alabama.
Alex Mershon holds an undergraduate degree in computer science with a minor in business from Auburn University. His technical proficiencies include experience with Java, C++, Python, and Salesforce, alongside operational knowledge of Windows 10 and 11, versions 10-12 of macOS, Microsoft Office Professional, and Adobe Photoshop.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
On a typical day, I wake up around 5 to go to the gym and then catch up on emails before breakfast. After breakfast, I go to the office. I quote parts, ship them out to customers/vendors, receive inventory, and handle any IT or software issues that occur throughout the day.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I develop a concept, brainstorm with the team, implement a plan, and adjust it as needed.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The development of tech that allows for remote working. I travel to meet clients or attend conferences. Technology is allowing me to stay productive while on the go.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Waking up early to start my day. If I can work out and catch up on emails first thing in the morning, it starts my day in a productive headspace.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there to make connections. Growing your personal and professional network is one of the most important things you can do when starting a new chapter of your life.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
I think it’s better to watch the Super Bowl with just a couple of friends instead of going to a watch party. The majority of the people at watch parties are just there to socialize and usually care more about the commercials than the game. I’d rather watch it with a handful of people who actually enjoy watching football.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I have a daily step goal of 10,000 steps. This motivates me to move and walk more throughout the day, which is good for my physical health and overall well-being.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I take a break from whatever task I’m working on. Stepping away from my current task and working on something else can help to spark inspiration or improve my focus.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
I’ve grown my network of connections in the industry. Making connections with other people in your field can provide others to learn from and lead to potential partners or customers.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
One of the best learning experiences I’ve had was from a new client we had just started working with in South America. When we sent them the first engine, we also delivered forms/information piecemeal as requested by the customs officials. They would follow up every couple of weeks with a new document that needed to be submitted. After two months, it was eventually cleared. However, from that experience I learned that it saved time, money, and energy for both our client and my businesses if we put together and delivered a package of all the forms at the initial stage. Since then, I have been able to implement this with our other clients, and it has expedited these transactions.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
One of the benefits of my job is that I often get to travel to meet clients or attend conferences. When I have time, I like to explore the area that I’m visiting. I find it’s difficult to get a true experience in a city when I’m on a tight schedule. I think someone should create an app where locals can upload recommendations for experiences, restaurants, and events. These can be categorized and filtered by budget, season, time restrictions, etc. and then voted on by locals, so users can have the best experience while in that city/area.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
We use AvSight. It keeps track of our inventory, sales/repair/purchase orders, invoices, and allows us to run reports on any data we might need. It also has a mobile app that allows us to work from anywhere. This is a huge advantage. For example, if I’m at a conference and someone asks if we have a certain engine model, I can pull up the app and search our inventory on the spot.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
I paid to register for the Aviation Week’s MRO Americas conference in Atlanta. This conference is a show for the international aviation maintenance community that brings together airlines, suppliers, and maintenance specialists from all over the globe. It’s a great opportunity to network and meet other people in our industry.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Atomic Habits by James Clear has helped me develop more productive habits that have vastly improved my life.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I recently finished Full Swing on Netflix. As a fan of golf and a novice golfer, I enjoyed seeing the behind the scenes of the PGA tour. I enjoyed seeing interviews with my favorite golfers and being introduced to new players.
Key learnings
- Getting out of your comfort zone is important for achieving your goals.
- Implementing healthy habits and daily routines helps you become your most productive self.
- Staying curious and open-minded creates more opportunities for growth and learning.