Billy Vickers understood at a young age the importance of being a team player, having a dedicated work ethic, and the value of strategic planning. From his years as running back at North Carolina State University on a football scholarship, while earning a Bachelor of Science degree, and throughout his professional business career, he’s been busy setting records.
At NCSU he ranked 14th of all time average yards gained in a single season, 10th in all-time career yardage gains with 489 carries for 2,189 yards, and is tied for 11th in all-time rushing attempts in a single game with 30 attempts.
In business, Mr. Vickers began his career as plant superintendent for Ironton Castings in Ironton, Ohio. In this role, he was responsible for the day-to-day operation of manufacturing operations, quality, and new product launches, including a successful launch of the Ford I-Beam suspension program.
Mr. Vickers next career move was as Director of Operations, and later General Manager, with New Haven Foundry (NHF). NHF was then the largest minority-owned foundry in the United States. Mr. Vickers was successful in guiding NHF and growing the business into a major tier-one supplier to Chrysler and General Motors. Under his guidance, the plant experienced dramatic improvements in quality performance and employee participation while increasing profitability.
Mr. Vickers then started his own company, Yale Inspection Services, an MBE-certified company providing quality-engineering services to an automotive supply base. However, this path led him to an offer he couldn’t refuse and in 2005 Mr. Vickers joined TAG Holdings as president and chief operating officer with responsibilities for the modular assemblies division which comprised approximately 80% of TAG Holdings’ revenue. Mr. Vickers handled manufacturing operations, planning and oversight, strategic growth, profit and loss, and new business acquisitions and development.
While at TAG Holdings from 2005 to 2008, Mr. Vickers launched three joint ventures with Midwest Express, Inc. (MEI) establishing Great Lakes Assemblies (GLA), Gulf Shore Assemblies (GSA), and Indiana Assemblies (IA). Under Mr. Vickers leadership, all companies became award-winning manufacturing operations.
In 2011, Mr. Vickers established Modular Assembly Innovations, LLC buying out TAG Holdings interest in GLA, GSA, and IA, becoming majority owner of the three JVs with MEI, a Honda-owned company.
As is the nature of Mr. Vickers for holding records, MAI companies continue to thrive as the largest privately-held, minority-owned company in Ohio at $1.2 billion in 2013.