In The Male Dominated Worlds of Helicopter Aviation and Finance, CFO Nancy Armstrong is Pilot in Command
Nancy Armstrong was born in McKinney, Texas and raised in Prescott, Arizona by a single, working mother with five children. Her mother, an elementary school teacher, instilled in Nancy the values of education and working diligently towards her goals.
After attending Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, Nancy worked for several years in accounting, finance, and human resources. When her daughter was born, she and her husband returned to Prescott to be near family and to start their own businesses. Together, they built a successful construction company and bookkeeping service. Nancy has spent the last 18 years as an independent accounting and business consultant.
In March 2008, Guidance Aviation was in search of part-time bookkeeping assistance and their CPA recommended Nancy for the job. Guidance has grown exponentially since that time, also earning the Small Business Administration’s top award in 2013 in Washington, D.C. The national SBA award was based on numerous criteria including financial strength, sustained growth, sustained hiring, and response to adversity. In May 2013, Nancy accepted her appointment as Chief Financial Officer at Guidance Aviation. As CFO, Nancy manages all financial aspects of the nation’s leading collegiate helicopter flight training facility with two locations, 99 employees, and 20 aircraft.
“Guidance Aviation’s incredibly fast paced environment and rapid growth are what I find most challenging. Each day brings something new – there is never a dull moment! Being one of the few females in a male dominated industry is challenging, but is also one of the things I find most enjoyable. Pilots in general seem to have very outgoing, creative, and fun-loving personalities which make Guidance a wonderful place to work,” says Armstrong. “I had always hoped that hard work and persistence would help me reach my goals someday, but becoming CFO of a nationally recognized business is an honor that I never imagined possible. I am extremely proud to be a part of the Guidance team! Helping our students, including our U.S. Military Veterans, achieve their dreams of becoming professional helicopter pilots is incredibly rewarding,” remarks Nancy Armstrong, CFO, Guidance Aviation.
