In Episode 52 of the Killer Growth podcast, Samuel McVay sits down with David May, CEO of Trinity Precision and co-founder of robotics automation consulting firm Akeratos. David's career spans nearly three decades in aerospace supply chain management, starting from the bottom-literally "pushing parts" at Cessna-and evolving into leadership roles across commodity teams, supplier relations, and strategic business development.
The conversation covers David's unusual career trajectory through major aerospace suppliers like Honeywell and Rockwell Collins, his COVID-era pivot that launched Akeratos alongside Trinity Precision, and the distinctive company culture he's built. What sets Trinity Precision apart isn't just operational excellence-it's David's deliberate approach to people-first leadership, rooted in faith-based values and family-first principles. He reflects candidly on the tension between loving the people aspect of business and struggling with people management, emphasizing patience and accountability as core leadership principles that have shaped his 107-person team.
David May's entry into aerospace manufacturing wasn't the result of a grand strategic plan-it was family connection and necessity. Fresh out of college with a young family, an uncle's referral landed him an interview at Cessna, where he started at the bottom of the supply chain world. "I was literally pushing parts," David explains. "We'd coordinate with suppliers, track delivery status, and follow up when schedules slipped." What could have been a dead-end role became invaluable education in business relationships, problem-solving, and reading people.
That early position taught David something critical: how to develop what he calls a "BS detector." When suppliers are behind schedule, they're not always forthcoming about why. Learning to distinguish between honest communication and excuses became a superpower that would serve him throughout his career. After proving himself as an expediter, David moved into buying positions and eventually joined a commodity team led by Mike Kazori, who pioneered cross-functional supply chain teams at Cessna. This role exposed David to the full spectrum of aerospace suppliers-from giants like Honeywell and Rockwell Collins to one-person operations run out of a garage in Park City.
Nearly 25 years later, David had moved through several major aerospace companies, building deep expertise in supplier relations, quality management, and supply chain strategy. But the COVID-19 pandemic forced a reckoning. It also sparked an opportunity. Rather than stay the course at a traditional employer, David co-founded Akeratos, a robotics automation consulting firm, while simultaneously building Trinity Precision into a manufacturing operation that now employs 107 people.
Building a Company Culture That Puts People First
What makes Trinity Precision distinctive isn't just operational capability-it's the intentional culture David has built. Drawing from his faith-based values and family-first philosophy, he's created an environment that genuinely prioritizes people. This isn't corporate HR speak; it's embedded in how decisions get made, how conflicts get resolved, and how employees experience their work.
David acknowledges the paradox: the aspect of business he loves most-people-is also where he struggles most. Managing 107 employees means daily decisions about accountability, patience, and grace. He reflects on being patient with others the way he's been shown patience, particularly through his faith. "I have to look over my life and see all the people who were patient with me," David says. "How can I not do that for other individuals?" Yet he's honest about the difficulty: sometimes he has to step back, account for his own actions, and re-engage in a more constructive way.
This approach to leadership-grounded in accountability but tempered with patience-scales differently than traditional command-and-control structures. For growing service businesses and manufacturers, the lesson is clear: sustainable growth depends on building systems and culture around your people, not just around production targets or profit margins.
How did David May grow Trinity Precision to 107 employees?
David May built Trinity Precision through strategic leadership, operational scaling, and consistent business development. While the full strategy is covered in Episode 52 of the Killer Growth podcast, his growth demonstrates the importance of reinvesting in team expansion, systems, and client acquisition-all areas where digital marketing plays a critical role in attracting qualified leads.
How does precision manufacturing and industrial services benefit from digital marketing?
Manufacturing and industrial service businesses like Trinity Precision benefit from digital marketing through targeted local SEO to dominate search results for industrial services, Google Ads to reach decision-makers actively searching for suppliers, and professional web design that showcases capabilities and certifications. Strong online visibility builds trust with B2B buyers and generates consistent qualified leads.
How does KillerGrowth help manufacturing and industrial service businesses get more clients?
KillerGrowth helps industrial and manufacturing businesses through local SEO to rank for high-intent searches, Google Ads campaigns targeting decision-makers, professional website design that converts visitors, GoHighLevel CRM to manage and nurture leads, and social media management to build authority. We specialize in helping service-based and industrial businesses dominate their local markets online.
What makes KillerGrowth different from other Wichita digital marketing agencies?
KillerGrowth is laser-focused on local service businesses and manufacturers-we don't waste time on generic strategies. We combine local SEO expertise, paid advertising management, and CRM implementation into one integrated system. Our founder Samuel McVay hosts the Killer Growth podcast featuring real business owners scaling their companies, giving us direct insight into what actually works for growth-focused businesses.
How can I get started with KillerGrowth?
Book a free strategy call with Samuel McVay at killergrowth.com/booking. We'll discuss your business, your current challenges, and a custom plan to get you more qualified leads and clients online-no obligation, no sales pressure.