New CEO continues VMI’s mission

PHOENIX - For Kyle Norton, a former officer in the U.S. Army, twice deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Vantage Mobility International’s mission is extremely personal. 

“I wanted to be part of a company that, ultimately, helped others,” said Norton. “I knew fellow veterans who relied on accessible vehicles in their daily lives, and it really resonated.” 

Here’s what Norton, VMI’s new CEO, had to say about market growth and dreaded supply chain issues. 

HME News: What’s the importance of being a veteran-led business? How does that impact the company? 

Kyle Norton: Being a veteran-led business is something that we’re proud of. It improves our ability to understand, empathize with and support our veteran customers. It acts as a strong invitation to all veterans that this is a place where they can make a positive impact in peoples’ lives, while also building a career to be proud of. As a leadership team, we’re instilling the principles we learned in the military, such as respect, discipline, integrity, honor and commitment. 

HME: How does VMI plan to leverage growth in the wheelchair van market? 

Norton: There is immense opportunity for growth in the mobility industry, namely due to an aging baby boomer generation, an overall increase in mobility awareness and inclusivity, and emerging products and services that leverage newly available technologies. Our plan to leverage this growth revolves around building quality products that meet customer needs, providing an unmatched customer experience, and having a team of highly engaged teammates who want to make the world a more accessible place.  

HME: What are some of the challenges in the market and how is VMI overcoming them? 

Norton: Our industry strongly correlates with traditional auto, which has been under substantial supply chain pressure. Given the needs-based nature of wheelchair vans, we need to mitigate the effects of this on our end-users and dealers. We’re proud to have avoided any factory shutdowns related to supply or the pandemic, so that quality vans could continue being built for those who need them.