Laurans Mendelson

Early Life and Education

Laurans Adam Mendelson was born in New York City on July 7, 1938. He attended public schools, including Brooklyn Technical High School, before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Columbia University in 1960 and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia Business School in 1961.

Career and Rise to Success

Mendelson's career began at Arthur Andersen & Company after graduate school. In the mid-1980s, his son, Victor, showed interest in HEICO Corporation. Laurans, along with his sons Eric and Victor, acquired HEICO in 1990, a small public company with a market value of approximately $25 million. Mendelson served as Chairman, President, and CEO of HEICO, transforming it into a major international company in the aerospace and electronics industries. Under his leadership, HEICO expanded significantly, offering a wide array of parts and components and employing approximately 10,000 team members across multiple countries. Forbes magazine featured the Mendelsons in a 2020 cover piece: “The 47,500% Return: Meet The Billionaire Family Behind The Hottest Stock Of The Past 30 Years”.

Key Business Strategies

The Mendelsons focused on reverse-engineering parts for jet engines, selling FAA-certified items at competitive prices. They also acquired numerous companies over the years, growing the business through strategic acquisitions. Laurans emphasized a long-term outlook in niche businesses and a focus on strong management within the acquired companies. His leadership helped HEICO achieve double-digit growth annually and gain favor on Wall Street.

Philanthropy

The Mendelson family actively participated in philanthropy. The Mendelson Center for Undergraduate Business Initiatives was established at Columbia University in 2016 with a gift from the Mendelson family.