10/8/2021 – For Immediate Release – Inspired Flight Technologies, a San Luis Obispo, CA manufacturer of commercial sUAS (small Unmanned Aerial Systems) for government and commercial customers, is thrilled to announce the appointment of Rick Stollmeyer as the company’s new CEO.
Rick is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, a former submarine officer, nuclear engineer, and the founder and Executive Chairman of Mindbody, the world’s leading SaaS platform for the wellness services industry. Having taken Mindbody from his garage through multiple rounds of venture funding, IPO and acquisition by Vista Equity Partners for $1.9 Bn, Rick brings vast experience in the scaling of fast growth technologies businesses. “As an early investor and board director since Inspired Flight’s inception in 2016, I have watched this remarkable team prove product market fit in the important category of American made medium and heavy lift sUAS”, says Stollmeyer. “Our mission now is to manage the large growth opportunity in front of us, as we continuously improve our product lines, expand customer relationships and establish leadership in this lucrative and expanding market.” Inspired Flight manufactures sUAS ready to tackle complex and high value Commercial & Government applications. The company’s focus on mission-critical verticals mean its technology is used in life-saving and mission-critical ecosystems across North America. With customers spanning the power utilities, infrastructure, and Defense space Inspired Flight is well positioned to be a leading provider of UAV technology in the United States. Rick is Inspired Flight’s Board Chairman and has been a key influence in guiding its strategy since its founding in 2016. Over the past 5 years, IFT, led by Rick’s son Marc and 3 other Co-Founders, has executed in building a strong brand, standing up its production facility, and consistently delivering an ever-growing amount of UAV systems. Rick’s joining as CEO will further fuel the team’s mission to save lives, protect resources, and create jobs by leading the U.S. Unmanned Aerial Systems industry.