Many companies find success by settling into an underserved niche. But, unlike J. Brent Wood, not many entrepreneurs transform their industry as they build their businesses.

Wood is founder and chief executive officer of Aero Technologies Group, a six-company business headquartered in Springville that provides various parts and services for the aircraft industry and military. The company supplies everything from fasteners and repair kits to individual digital video players for in-flight entertainment.

But offering so-called "parts manufacturing approval" equipment has helped Aero Technologies change its industry.

Before Wood entered the industry, replacement parts for aircraft were supplied by the planes' manufacturers — at a high cost.

Believing in the potential of alternatives to "original equipment manufacturer" parts, Wood banded together with other small companies across the country to gain acceptance for the high-quality alternative parts.

Eventually Kitco, the first of Wood's six companies, was the first to ink a parts development contract with a major airline, Delta. This type of contract has since become the worldwide industry standard.

Wood's innovative approaches don't end there. Founded in 1975 by Wood and his wife, Kathryn, Kitco was early to recognize the potential of working with developmentally disabled people. The company contracts with Central Utah Enterprise for simple counting and packaging of aircraft parts, resulting in meaningful work for an underserved population.