AgEagle CEO is blown away by Wichita: ‘It’s really an impressive place’

For anyone who ever gets down about Wichita and the state of progress, or the lack of it, consider an outsider’s perspective.

“To be honest, I was blown away,” AgEagle CEO Michael Drozd said of the city.

The drone company is moving its manufacturing from Neodesha, where AgEagle started in 2010, to a new site likely at or near the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.

“I just think Wichita’s a great place for our business,” Drozd said.

The reasons he lists are most of the same ones that any other outsiders seem to say after investigating the area for a possible business.

One, of course, is how easy it is to get around.

Drozd said when tour guides from the Greater Wichita Partnership were driving him around, they apologized for the traffic at one point.

“Which kind of made me laugh,” Drozd said. “I think we slowed down once. Try living in Atlanta. That’s traffic.”

He mentioned the proverbial 15 minutes that Wichitans and others claim it takes to get somewhere here. When told it can actually be more like 20 or even 30 minutes sometimes, Drozd said, “It felt like 15 minutes in the car to me.”

Then, there’s the people.

“Just the friendly business atmosphere you have there was really appealing to me personally,” Drozd said.

Also popular on the likable list is that “Midwestern we’re-going-to-work-hard sort of attitude.”

The “great workforce” and “reasonable cost of living” are attractive, he said.

Drozd also marveled at Wichita State University, the National Institute for Aviation Research and aviation companies and suppliers.

“The innovation that’s happening there is absolutely incredible. . . . It’s really an impressive place.”

Drozd added, “I just think there’s great opportunities for us to work and collaborate.”

AgEagle is getting state incentives to locate in Wichita, but the state hasn’t shared details yet. Drozd said he’s leaving it up to the state to share them.

According to an AgEagle application with the state, the company could employ about 60 workers here in the next five years, but Drozd said that’s not an accurate number. He won’t say what he expects that number to be.

The company considered putting the manufacturing facility in Denver. It may put the headquarters there, where corporate executives — including Drozd — are located. Wichita may be an option as well. Drozd doesn’t expect to make an announcement on that for six to 12 months.

Drozd said the Air Capital of the World “really pairs well with the drone age.”

AgEagle applied for the trademark “The Drone Age” in May.

Drozd said there’s an unprecedented demand for drones, particularly with the coronavirus pandemic. For instance, he said drones can be used to get medicine to people, assist with social distancing and even help disinfect public spaces.

A lot of people nationally and beyond are watching to see what happens with AgEagle and a possible connection to Amazon.

In an April news release, AgEagle announced a contract with “a major ecommerce company.” The company is expanding beyond drones used for farming and last year announced it is branching into commercial drone deliveries.

Drozd won’t discuss the e-commerce company or even say when or if there will be an announcement about it.

Regardless of the connection with that company, he said the important thing is that the new Wichita facility is part of the company’s longer-term strategic planning.

“We’re going to be a leader in the drone age. That’s really where we’re coming from.”

Drozd said the company is in a great cash position, and he’s optimistic about partnerships and expansion possibilities.

“We’re really poised to grow.”

He added that “AgEagle is one of the few publicly-traded drone companies out there.”

Drozd, who has a doctorate in electrical engineering, joined AgEagle in May.

Though he’s not a scientist or someone who specializes in research or development, Drozd said he has a “strong technical background” and the ability to take technology-based companies to the next level.

“I consider myself someone who can take technology and leverage it,” he said. “My role really is to grow companies.”

According to the Business Insider, anticipated growth in the drone services market will jump from the $4.4 billion the industry had in 2018 to $63.6 billion by 2025.

The publication expects drone shipments to consumers to be at 29 million deliveries by next year.

Drozd said drone technology is incredibly exciting.

“We have this great vision of being able to instantly hit a button,” he said of quick home deliveries.

“That’s powerful. . . . Our lives are going to be directly impacted by drones.”