TIMCO Invitational Champions Enjoy VIP Visit To Timco Aviation Services

GREENSBORO, N.C. – The champions of the 2012 TIMCO Invitational presented by NewBridge Bank, the Page High School women’s team and the Greensboro Day School men’s team, visited the home of title sponsor TIMCO Aviation Services this morning for a championship celebration and VIP tour of the The teams arrived at TIMCO on school buses which were driven onto the tarmac to the entrance of a TIMCO hanger. Upon entering the facility, the teams arrived at the reception area surrounded by multiple commercial aircraft at TIMCO for various types of maintenance allowing the high school students to see parts of planes rarely seen by the general public.

After brief remarks from Kip Blakely, TIMCO vice president of industry and government relations, Page High School women’s coach Deborah Jones, Greensboro Day School men’s coach and athletic director Freddy Johnson and Dan O’Shea, TIMCO Invitational co-chairman, the teams enjoyed a championship cake adorned with the tournament logo and both schools’ names. Following the reception, Blakely led the group on a tour of three of the TIMCO hangers in which aircraft maintenance is performed.

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2013-02-02-Timco1 by Greensboro Sports

Page senior captain Debrisha Barnes and Greensboro Day senior captain Reggie Dillard cut the TIMCO Invitational championship cake at TIMCO Aviation Services. (Photo courtesy Greensboro Sports Council)

“We wanted to expose these young leaders to aviation as a potential career,” Blakely said. “And having them at our facility showed them a little about the aviation industry and the hard working employees here who strive to keep our airways safe. We are proud of both teams for winning the inaugural TIMCO Invitational, and we wish them the best of luck in the rest of the season.”

“It was really a “wow” experience for everyone involved,” Jones said. “It was a lot bigger than we thought, and it was actually an excellent learning experience for the kids and really for all of us. We learned a lot about TIMCO itself and how they do business. It was very nice for us to be able to visit TIMCO, and we appreciate the opportunity.”

“It was really great, and we all enjoyed it very much,” Johnson said. “Our players were so excited about this event that they were all at our school about 15 minutes before we were scheduled to leave, and while we were there, they were telling me, ‘you were right, coach. This is great!’ They were amazed to learn all they did about how planes are built and then maintained. It was an eye-opening experience for them. I understand how much is involved in getting a group of people into TIMCO, but it was really a great experience for all of us; we appreciate TIMCO’s hospitality and thank them for everything they are doing for this tournament.”

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2013-02-02-Timco2 by Greensboro Sports

Page coach Deborah Jones, right, addresses the crowd as Dan Oâ??Shea, Greensboro Sports Council, (far left), Greensboro Day coach Freddy Johnson and TIMCO vice president of industry and government relations Kip Blakely look on. (Photo courtesy Greensboro Sports Council)

For more than two decades, TIMCO Aviation Services has proudly provided aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services and aerospace manufactured products to a broad array of commercial, government and military customers. TIMCO is recognized as one of the largest independent providers of airframe MRO services around the globe. Over the years, the company has grown beyond its core airframe, base maintenance business by adding engine MRO services, aircraft seat manufacturing and PMA parts, comprehensive engineering design and interiors manufacturing through its TIMCO Aerosystems division and line maintenance services at a large number of airports through its TIMCO LineCare network. Headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, TIMCO businesses operate at locations throughout the United States.

The TIMCO Invitational presented by NewBridge Bank is an annual high school basketball tournament in Greensboro, N.C. Founded in 1976 as the Little 4 Invitational, the tournament features men’s and women’s teams representing eight Guilford County high schools playing at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. Tournament proceeds are donated to local charities and the participating schools; the TIMCO Invitational is planned and implemented by the Greensboro Sports Council.