Today we’d like to introduce you to Tony Ferina.
Tony, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I became a motorcycle enthusiast around the age of 10 when my dad bought me a little Honda 50 dirt bike for Christmas. I rode that bike everywhere for years. As I got older, other interests took more and more of my time, but I never lost my affinity for motorcycles.
At the age of 20, I joined the United States Coast Guard, and was stationed on a Coast Guard Cutter (a large ship) out of Virginia, where I spent almost two years touring the Caribbean. After attending the USCG’s Aviation Machinist Mate’s tech school, I got new orders to be stationed in Hawaii to perform maintenance and fly on their HC-130s airplanes. Hearing that EVERYONE in Hawaii had a motorcycle, I didn’t want to be the only one not owning one so I bought one. It was so special being able to ride in Hawaii, the weather was perfect for it year-round. We would ship our bikes to other Hawaiian islands and enjoy long weekends of camping and riding. I enjoyed it so much, I bought a second motorcycle which was more relaxed and comfortable for longer rides. Those memories in Hawaii on my bike are some of best of my life.
I decided to get out of the Coast Guard and continue to pursue an aviation career, but on the civilian side. I spent the next 18+ years learning aviation maintenance, both airplanes and helicopters, earning my FAA Airframe and Powerplant license, then going back to college and earning my Professional Aeronautics degree. Also in that time, I got married and started a family. It was always a challenge to balance the priorities of raising a family and developing a career. Over the past few years it became evident that in order to keep a balanced life between my family, the career I had chosen, and anything else I loved to do, I may need a change. This change came in the form of business ownership. I was lucky enough to find a business that involved one of my passions (motorcycles) and is small enough to be manageable by a first-time business owner.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Probably typical to all new owners there have been many challenges, but most of them due to my lack of complete knowledge and understanding of the industry and changes that the regulatory agency (TXDPS) is initiating this year. There are places we hold classes that are no longer going to be a sufficient size space based on the changes, and that means locating replacement sites and spending additional resources that were not anticipated. There is also a recertification going on this year for all the rider coaches in the industry, that doesn’t seem to be accepted by all, which has created a bit of a shortage of qualified rider coaches to teach. We’re working through all of it though and are executing our action plans to set us up for success once we’ve transitioned to all the changes. We’re also doing our best to recruit new coaches in hopes to solidify our ability to run more courses and ultimately giving our customers more options.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Lone Star Bikers – what should we know?
We are a Motorcycle Rider Training School. In order to get your motorcycle endorsement, folks are required to complete a State approved motorcycle safety course. We also specialize in intermediate and advanced rider training for those who look to continue to hone their riding skills.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
From a personal standpoint, I have to thank my wife and family for their support as we are taking a leap of faith to venture into small business ownership. On a professional level, I’ve been fortunate to have worked for/with some incredible leaders over the past few years. They helped guide me along the way on how to work constructively with people, the importance of a cohesive and aligned team, the importance of communication, how to properly measure the different aspects of a business, but most importantly, the value of leading with passion. It’s from their time, stories, and example, that led me to where I am today – with the confidence that no matter the challenge, with hard work, dedication, and passion for what I do, I’ll be successful. I’ll be forever grateful to these people in my life who came in the form of bosses, mentors, colleagues, and friends.
Contact Info:
- Website: Lonestarbikers.com
- Phone: 940-594-8144
- Email: LSB.Customerservice@gmail.com
- Facebook: Lone Star Bikers
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