Episode 4- "Dinner on a Beach": GHI Americas Recap

Matthew Weitzel: 0:16

This episode of The GSE Podacst is brought to you by Xcēd ground support equipment leasing your trusted partner for GSE solutions. We specialize in tailored operating leases for ground handlers and airlines, offering top notch equipment and flexible terms to suit your needs. Partnered with the industry leaders are committed to bringing you the equipment offerings that keep your operations running smoothly and efficiently. Choose Xcēd for competitive rates and exceptional customer service. Visit xcedgse.com today, and soar to new heights with Xcēd ground support equipment leasing. Hello, and welcome to the GSE podcast. I'm your host Matt Weitzel from Xcēd. Today we have a special episode for you coming right off the heels of the seventh America's GHI conference in Punta Cana. The GHI conference is known for its excellent networking opportunities and its broad scope of educational offerings, making it a must attend event for professionals in the ground support equipment industry. In this episode, we dive into the conference's atmosphere and networking opportunities through the perspectives of four key figures in the industry. Max Gosney, the GHI portfolio director and conference Chairman David Kennedy, Chief Customer Officer at Quantum aviation solutions. Suzanne Woodward, Global Marketing Manager for JBT Aerotech and Raven Honsaker Director of Aftermarket for Textron GSE. All join me in this episode to share their unique experiences and insights from the conference. We delve into what they found most valuable at the event, particularly focusing on the networking opportunities and how the event has shaped their approach to the industry. Also, in a lively twist, each guest reveals their personal peak and pit, the high point and the low point of their conference experience. So whether you're a seasoned GH AI attendee, or considering attending your first conference, this episode provides a comprehensive inside look at what the GHI conference truly offers. So sit back and enjoy this special GHI recap episode of the GSE podcast. All right, we are back live at the seventh America's GHI Conference. And I'm with Max Gosney. How're you doing?

Max Gosney: 2:40

I'm good. Matt, thank you very much for having me on the podcast. Great honor. And thanks for being here at the the Americas conference. We appreciate your support.

Matthew Weitzel: 2:47

Well, I have been to every one of the Americas conferences. All of them haven't missed a one. I've been a big fan of this since since its inception.

Max Gosney: 2:57

Oh, fantastic. So you were you were there at the first launch event back in Miami 2014, 2015. So I think we back then, as I mentioned in my conferences opening, you know, the vision was to create this dedicated forum for the stakeholders here in the Americas. And it's just been amazing to see how it's developed in popularity and scale and growth. And as I said at the opening of this conference, that that doesn't happen because of ghci is because of the supply chain, getting behind the event, spreading the word, and it's just really rewarding to see how this has now become the undisputed, largest regional that we do. It's overtaken our Asian event and the sky's the limit want to see it grow and grow.

Matthew Weitzel: 3:37

It's a fantastic conference. And I think it's perfectly positioned as far as timing. You know, it's usually in the March timeframe. This time, it's a little bit later in June, but it's still perfect. It's before the large, you know, GSE expo or the one overseas and gives us time to connect with all of our customers at the beginning of the year. Yes, and see everybody and connect with them. And the venues are always fantastic. They're always somewhere where some people want to go, yeah, we've been in Miami, we've been in Panama, and now we're in Punta Cana. I mean, who doesn't want to go to those places, right? So it brings in the people because it's a great location. Yes, it's a small, it's an intimate show. And I can walk by people as I'm going to back to my room, I can walk by people's I'm going to get coffee people that I hadn't seen yet. And it's just a fantastic opportunity to make all those connections and reconnect with people who haven't seen throughout the year yet. And I just that's the reason I love supporting this conference.

Max Gosney: 4:38

Absolutely no, this is what it's all about, isn't me with we're sitting in here in this meeting room during the recording but it's so as well as those organized meetings which are such an important part of what we do it's about the ad hoc conversations are you describe on the way to the back from the conference to your hotel room or you know, in the bar afterwards that that's such a big element of when your business and opportunity comes up and we We will try and recognize that and provide as much opportunity through the the social events and the we will see, you know, like, you know, the real business sometimes gets done outside of the the formal meeting, doesn't it?

Matthew Weitzel: 5:11

Yes. And but the one to ones are are another fantastic thing that I think this conference has, you know that other conferences stone is that dedicated guaranteed time with with a maybe a customer or maybe somebody who you would like to be a customer, right? You want to make that connection or the vendor or something like that. And you sign up for that prior to the show, or conference, which is, which is a fantastic idea. And I love that part as well. Yeah, so

Max Gosney: 5:40

it's the real kind of, you know, the prestige element, it's the the crown jewels of what we do that one to one meeting service, you know, it helps set ghci apart as the event. You know, as an attendee, you're going to get that guaranteed face time in the quality, opportunity to engage with a potential existing customer, a new customer and my colleague, Alice does an exceptional job of bringing that together. And with the help of the rest of the team at ghci, you can imagine it gets quite stressful at times with several 1000 meeting requests, and we have to process those and it's handbill. I mean, it's not a it's not a computer program, they the team are exceptionally talented. They know the specific requirements, a lot of the key customers, because we've worked with in the industry for so long, and we have to handcraft that and make sure that schedules work to particular people's needs. And that, you know, if someone's not there at 1105, on the Tuesday morning, but we've seen them in the exhibition area, the team are all, you know, skilled and know people well enough that I can go and identify that person and bring them to where they need to be. So it just provides that little extra value that you don't get elsewhere.

Matthew Weitzel: 6:42

That is fascinating insight, because I just figured that it was a computer program doing that behind the scenes that is amazing is that,

Max Gosney: 6:49

I mean, it's supported by a you know, a database CMS system. But the real value is that it allows the team and they are such an important part of what we do to, you know, make those manual interventions to place particular meetings in particular areas to respond and craft it to a client's needs and tastes. So that's part of what we do. It's personalized it. It isn't done through a supercomputer is the human touch the personal touch,

Matthew Weitzel: 7:14

that's incredible. And I get in, you can see it when you hear that. And that's the reason you know, I've never had somebody not show up to one of my meetings, I'm sure it happened. But but at the same time, I've never had it happen when I have these meetings, everybody shows up. And it's it's it's just, like I said, it's a fantastic opportunity to meet with those people that you've been waiting to meet with, you know, for a long time, or somebody you've never been able to connect with. And then we have the panels.

Max Gosney: 7:38

Yes, that's my domain there in that in that conference room. And we've had some great discussions over the past sort of two and a half days around the shape of the industry here in the Americas. And some of the big challenges around, you know, finding the right staff in the right quantities. Digitization is a huge topic, the opportunities in cargo today. So there's an awful lot to get get our teeth into. We've had some great speakers from airlines from airports, from ground handlers associations, you know, it's nice for those people to be able to come together, share their market intelligence, get the input of your suppliers, like yourselves and audience members. And really, it's a forum. Yes, it's primarily obviously, the real driving force here, as we discussed is that one to one, and a new business generation opportunity. But alongside that is the community exchange of best practice. And, you know, we go about doing this in our business, you thought about trying it, someone can walk out the door with a new tool or technique that helps them solve a problem, then that's, again, what we look to deliver as part of the conference offer.

Matthew Weitzel: 8:38

Yeah, and I got to watch a couple of the panels and fascinating insights from these people, you know, industry leaders in all the experience that some on that stage, and you do such a good job moderating them. What else do we want to cover? I think, I mean, we had a, we had an event on the beach

Max Gosney: 8:54

and have dinner on a beach dinner on the beach, not what you do on a Wednesday night in England and Exactly.

Matthew Weitzel: 8:59

Right. And, and, you know, nobody had dinner scheduled during that time. Because I mean, I think

Max Gosney: 9:05

it shows Oh, no, thank you for saying that. But the commitment that you and the other delegates show to make sure you are here being with us taking part fully participating in everything that we do. Because, you know, one of the things I I thought here was you know, there are a lot of attractions out there is a lovely Sunkiss beach, you got about half a dozen swimming pools, with the pool swim up bars. So what you need to be able to retain and show that actually, despite all those things that the main driver, people want to talk, they want to network and they'll go and see those things after conference hours, of course, but the professionalism that there has been great and like but you'd like you touch upon them at the fact that everything is together in one place, just makes that networking hopefully a bit more sense a bit simpler and easier facilitates it so you don't have to wander around. It's all here. It's all under one roof. And that's one that's one of the launches event. It just tries to bring everything together so that our audience don't have to attend and fly around the world for those different meetings engagement. points is just, you know, it's here, it's there for them, they just need to kind of seize it over the time that they're here.

Matthew Weitzel: 10:05

Exactly. So, whereas it's going to be in Toronto,

Max Gosney: 10:09

yeah, we're taking the Americas, there furthest north we've ever done to Canada for the first time. So we're very excited about that. In Toronto. Looking forward to delivering another stellar event there next year and growing, we will have more than 400 through the door, which was a six second successive year. We've done that with Miami the previous year. So we're looking to see you know, how we can grow it would be definitely looking to expand the reach new customers, some airports would like to see the attendance from some of our airport colleagues increasing. So yeah, we're excited about taking it into Canada. And it's a beautiful country. And then our intention is always to kind of move this event around to engage people. We love Miami. I guess that's the kind of spiritual home of the event and I'm sure we were back there. But we like to vary a little bit just to keep it fresh and like you say, take you to new venues and giving you opportunities to experience different resorts. Yeah.

Matthew Weitzel: 11:02

So what is the plan to get more airports,

Max Gosney: 11:05

we'd like to work with our colleagues that are join us and attend to see how we can engage some of those airport attendees we've had. We had al on the panel this morning from Dallas Fort Worth, and we you know, it's great, just I think because airport, so we had a session on it. We've had colleagues from Giovanni from Punta Cana in Punta Cana International Airport. But there's such a big part of what the obviously the focus on the relationship, the ground handler in the airline, but the airport as the landlord, the facilitator there, they have such a big part to play in, in, you know, the delivery of efficient on time, grounds, safe ground services that we think that role has grown. And we have that big cohort of exhibitors or suppliers like yourselves, we have the the airlines representative force and the handlers, we just think, you know that we want to see more of those orange lanyards and engagement coming in from the airport community. So they will be invested in in in growing our reach into that area and try just trying to encourage airport colleagues that there's a lot of relevance to them to be here at the Americas at other GHS events because they need to understand and they're they're charged with getting the best out of those ground services out there. airports, if there's a delay, if there's, you know, the service level that people encounter through the airport, whether it's delivered by the ground handler, or through the airport. So I think the perception amongst the passengers, it's it's aviation, it's the airport, and the ground handler is at the forefront that the, you know, they represent that that service. So why wouldn't airports want to be here understanding and meeting with some of those ground support partners?

Matthew Weitzel: 12:36

Yeah, 100%. So, so what are the rest of the shows or conferences for the year? What do you have, we

Max Gosney: 12:41

have, we're very excited to do so we've got the African stakeholders conference in Cape Town in mid September 12, to the 13th of September. So that is the first time we've held that African conference since 2019. So it's the final of the regional events to come back after the brutal pandemic we all experience so we're very excited about that one, and, you know, actively seeking, you know, delegates and suppliers and partners to come along and support the event, which is in in, you know, again, a year's worst locations, and a Cape Town with the wind tools and wildlife, news and the shark cages and all that sort of thing. So it's gonna be a big one, I would like to work the guys global load control, who are the headline sponsors on that one. And, yeah, it's great that finally we're back up and running full power with all the regional events. And then we are really excited about this year's annual because it's the first time we've taken it to Lisbon. It's the 24th annual conference this year, and we had record attendance in Amsterdam last year, we want to build on that. And again, that emphasis as well, we're gonna be looking at some content around airports, as I mentioned earlier, and their role in grounded ops excellence, facilitating relationships with the key airports there around Europe and the world. So we, we want to see that you know, that attendance base going higher and add more and more value to the event. And it's it's absolutely DHI is for all the stakeholder groups in the community. We have ground handling in the title it absolutely about the ground handler and the ground handlers interest but alongside that of the the airline community, and the airports and all the suppliers like yourselves, because we were wanting to see the different supply chain groups were part of one single community in aviation. And we very much see our events business providing that forum where the different supply chain groups can come together, work on collaborative opportunities and growing a bigger pie for all and their new business and more opportunity for all which is, which is what we want to see haven't been through all the restrictions of the pandemic and the frustrations and not being able to engage with one another face to face. For us. Now's the time to kind of really provide big, large and value added platforms that offer all of the community the chance to to grow and to develop and succeed together.

Matthew Weitzel: 14:54

That's what it's all about. Yeah, it's

Max Gosney: 14:56

one team.

Matthew Weitzel: 14:57

It is in ours was telling another GUEST that I had on here about how I've noticed that this year in particular, competitors, were talking to competitors. And I don't know if that's due to the panels that they're that they're all on. And they end up having that mutual respect for each other. But it's just, I just never seen that before, where you would see one large, you know, manufacturer talking to another large manufacturer and having great conversations and laughing and thinking, and it's just, it's really great to see I mean, we have such a good community. Absolutely. So strong. Yeah. And it's just so great to see that camaraderie, even between competitors. And, you know, I'm sure it's a testament to, you know, like I said, the panels, I think, and then just getting up there together and realizing that we're all trying to you know, we're all trying to do the same thing, which is just, you know, make it better,

Max Gosney: 15:47

make it better, you're stronger, stronger together. And if you can grow that pie for everyone and address some of the challenges that you're facing alongside your competitors, then is a healthier industry for all but I think it is particularly strong that that sense of, you know, community within aviation rivals putting that outside the door and working together. And it's really inspiring to see.

Matthew Weitzel: 16:08

Yeah, for sure. So, so Cape Town, Cape Town, Cape Town, visit Lisbon

Max Gosney: 16:13

on the 28th to the 30th of November, at the Phil. You know, delegates always wanted a bit of a warmer weather and sunshine in the annual events. So this year, we have a better chance than ever to deliver it. I can't guarantee it, but we're certainly far so never guarantee that we'll ever guarantee the weather. And then we're off to it looking into 2023 We will be taking the Asian conference back to Southeast Asia and Kuala lumper. And that's I think fifth to seventh of March. And yeah, and then all back. And as we talked about earlier in Toronto for the Americas event next year. So excited about it. Oh

Matthew Weitzel: 16:48

yeah. We'll have to do a new podcast. gha as well. So well, thank you so much for No,

Max Gosney: 16:55

thank you. It's been an honor and a privilege. Thank you very much, and how to get you a special kind of loyalty, reward badge for your attendance of all the Americas conference. I'm

Matthew Weitzel: 17:03

not sure if you heard my conversation. But actually, somebody asked me that they're like, so you've been to all seven? Did you get some kind of Medallia? And I was like, You know what, I'm actually going to ask Max. That's I don't know if you've been listening outside the

Max Gosney: 17:14

door. But it's is now is in the public domain now. So I'm gonna have to think about,

Matthew Weitzel: 17:19

think about some sort of prize. Exactly. That's it, man. Well, thank you so much. No, no, um, we

Max Gosney: 17:24

appreciate your support man a lot and coming to all the events and helping us grow. And let's continue the journey together with you and with our other supporters in the industry.

Matthew Weitzel: 17:32

Completely agree, man. I'm here to help. All right, This has been Matt and Max, with the GSC podcast. Thanks a lot.

Max Gosney: 17:38

Thank you very much.

Matthew Weitzel: 17:51

All right. We're back live at the seventh America's ghci conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. And I'm here with Suzanne Woodward from JBT Aerotech. How you doing? Terrific. Thank you, man. Appreciate you having me on. Oh, no problem. What is your title? jvt.

Suzanne Woodward: 18:08

I am the new global marketing manager of JBT Aerotech.

Matthew Weitzel: 18:12

Wow. Okay, so is this your first conference GSE conference?

Suzanne Woodward: 18:16

Yes. First ever GHI conference and being with the company just about five and a half months now. First conference of the year?

Matthew Weitzel: 18:26

Wow. That's awesome. How was your travel down?

Suzanne Woodward: 18:29

Fantastic, easy, direct flight from Orlando, which makes it very nice and convenient.

Matthew Weitzel: 18:34

Yes, for sure. So how did you get into GSE?

Suzanne Woodward: 18:38

So actually a little bit about me, I joined FMC at 7300. President's drive in 1995. And worked for FMC for about 11 years, parted ways with the corporate world and have come back to GSE. Just this year, very exciting times to be part of GSE.

Matthew Weitzel: 18:58

For sure. So, so you haven't been to a GSE conference in a really long time than I imagined.

Suzanne Woodward: 19:04

20 something years. Yeah, yeah. So

Matthew Weitzel: 19:07

how was your experience of this one? Did you get to meet a lot of new people and, and really network?

Suzanne Woodward: 19:13

Absolutely great networking, a different platform than I had experienced before when I was in GSE with FMC. The GHI conferences weren't a thing. I had only been to the equipment shows, like a GSE Expo that we'll be attending later this year. But the GHI is a different platform. A lot of networking and connections with customers such as yourself, airline partners, ground handling partners, of supplier partners, so really good interactions and networking.

Matthew Weitzel: 19:50

Yeah, that's what I thought to really great show and I love how small it is. So you get to see everybody. People are constantly walking by you're having Lunch inside of the conference. So intimate setting, it's a very intimate setting. I also like how we were on a property that you really couldn't leave, right? So even if you're walking to your room at night, you might pass by somebody that you hadn't talked to that day, and you just happen to be walking in the same building as them. There's just so many touchpoints interactions with so many different people. I just thought was fantastic. Yeah, you're exactly

Suzanne Woodward: 20:24

right. A lot of opportunities for interaction. Yeah. And investment. Great for you

Matthew Weitzel: 20:27

just, you know, not having met everybody yet. You know, just in a few days, you were able to meet so many people that you would have taken taking you forever to go fly around all these people. Exactly.

Suzanne Woodward: 20:38

I'm sure it's still the tip of the iceberg. So I look forward to continuing to meet customers and vendor partners.

Matthew Weitzel: 20:45

Yeah, for sure. So and then we'll see you at the the GSE Expo in September, obviously. Yeah.

Suzanne Woodward: 20:52

A lot of exciting things in terms of product launches. Out there we go.

Matthew Weitzel: 20:57

Exactly. We'll have to we'll have to have you on to kind of go through all of that. So again, but I have a quick question for you. I've been asking everybody this. So what is your peak? And what is your pit? What was the best thing that happened to you at the show? And then what was the worst

Suzanne Woodward: 21:12

peak and pit that you're talking peak and ped in terms of height? So I peaked out just under six feet? And over age now probably more like 510s? Alright, so peak and pit at the show. Yeah. Pit 18 hour days and lack of sleep.

Matthew Weitzel: 21:31

There you go. I think that should be everybody's answer. A peak.

Suzanne Woodward: 21:35

Yeah. Numerous interactions, and just constant communication and networking.

Matthew Weitzel: 21:42

Yes, for sure. It was. Yeah, it was a fantastic show, obviously, in a set in a beautiful location. We can't really ask for anything better than that beach last night. Everybody's answer so far for their peak has been the dinner last night at the beach.

Suzanne Woodward: 21:57

It was it was an absolutely beautiful evening,

Matthew Weitzel: 22:01

I made a mistake. And I wore shoes rather than flip flops. So for next year, I don't have to worry about that. Because it's in. It's in Toronto. So I will not be wearing flip flops. But anyway, so Well, thank you so much for coming on. Is there anything else you want to talk about for the show? I

Suzanne Woodward: 22:17

appreciate your time and really enjoyed getting to know you and your team a whole lot more? Well, I really

Matthew Weitzel: 22:22

appreciate it. All right. This has been Susan and Matt at the gha conference. Thanks a lot. All right, man, we are live from the seventh America's GH AI conference in a conference room with David Kennedy. From quantum aviation solutions. How's it going?

David Kennedy: 22:52

Well, excellent. I've lost my voice. A bit, which is a sign we've been at a trade show for three days.

Matthew Weitzel: 23:00

You know what, if you have your voice at the end of a three day trade show, you've probably haven't done it rice. Right.

David Kennedy: 23:04

You've done something? Yeah, no, it's been really good. So, so far, the show has been from a new leads and catching up with old contacts. It's been really good.

Matthew Weitzel: 23:16

That's awesome. And so have you been to every DHI Americas conference?

David Kennedy: 23:22

I don't think I've been to everyone, but maybe all but one. Okay. Yeah. And so you were exhibiting here this year? Right. Correct. Yeah, yeah.

Matthew Weitzel: 23:29

And how was the how's the booth traffic?

David Kennedy: 23:33

It's been good. You know, I think, since COVID, I feel like everybody has a new appreciation for in face, you know, meetings, and I feel like everybody's still enjoying catching up with people, even though it's, you know, a year or so now, sort of post COVID. So the traffic has been good. It's always, you know, you always hope for bigger crowds with the combination of new leads and sort of reconnecting just with you know, all the the old customers and friends in the industry has been, it's been good.

Matthew Weitzel: 24:05

That's awesome. You know, the one thing that I liked about having it at an all inclusive resort, right, was that in especially in the Dominican, was it nobody could leave? Right, right. So you're constantly running into people. I mean, absolutely. If you are going to get coffee, if you're going to get lunch, whatever you are running into those people all the time, if you're walking into your room at night, you're running into people, so that was the advantage, right? Like you couldn't have people staying in multiple hotels, things like that. So there was an advantage to that where I feel like I saw everybody that was here at least once. Yes, I would agree. Yeah. So in the in the bar, the bar was always hopping at night, because there's only really one bar to go to. Yep. So there was there were some definite advantages to having it like in an all inclusive resort that we really honestly probably just didn't feel comfortable leaving. But but that's okay. Right. So and then so the booth were you catching up with new customers? Or were you kind of trying to close out deals with existing customers and stuff like that?

David Kennedy: 25:05

Yeah, it's a little of both, I mean, we have two different products. So they have generally different customer base. So it's a little both, you know, there's always a little traffic, that's just a net new business, you know, they don't know us, or in our case, we joke about the overlap and our name with quantum the ground handler. So when they see our banners, they it stops, and they say, and it's a great conversation piece. And that's where we meet a lot of new people who aren't familiar with us on the software side. But it's a mix, you know, that we, the booth is a good, a good place to host the meetings. And so we've got to two of us here with sales. And so we just try to schedule them appropriately. But yeah, I think it's been really good. We typically have the same size stand. So you know, we don't have these huge, so that

Matthew Weitzel: 25:52

I do think that's an advantage that I've been to all the conferences ever for the GHI Americas. And I think the biggest advantage for me is that everybody has the same size booth. Yeah. And you know, you don't have some some massive manufacturer having some 40 by 40. You know, they have the 10 by 10, or whatever, just like you do. And and I think that's an advantage to the show. And then I'd love the timing as well. You know, it's usually in March, this time they moved to June. But the timing of this show is perfect, because you get to see those touch points earlier on in the year before the big GSE Expo and stuff like that. So I always find that to be quite an advantage of the show.

David Kennedy: 26:35

Yeah, and it's kind of different field because of the location, the season, kind of different field to the GHI our annual, you know, is usually in the fall usually in Europe. So it's physically got a different field, but the tone is that seems a little more a little more formal, that seems a little more casual. And a good way, you know, breaks it up. Actually, people

Matthew Weitzel: 26:53

didn't. So people didn't wear suits this year. I wore a suit the first day and I was blazing hot. So then I ditched that for a polo the last two days. And I think a lot of people did that. And prior prior shows everybody was in was in suits.

David Kennedy: 27:09

Yeah, we were laughing. Some of those who had been doing this for a while, if you go back to the 90s, the IGHC, which is the IATA version of this, you know, format. The funny thing there was they had a very formal dinner, you know that some people would even go black tie are nice suits and everything. And that was always a, you know, a planning thing to take. And now it's funny how you know, 10, 15, 20 years later, we've kind of moved to this slightly more casual format. But I think from a work standpoint, it's great people are more laid back and have a conversation. And you know, I think I actually enjoy that.

Matthew Weitzel: 27:41

So I could have seen you in a top hat and tails. Possibly.

David Kennedy: 27:46

Very often right pictures

Matthew Weitzel: 27:47

floating around somewhere. So what was your What was your peeking pit? I think the

David Kennedy: 27:53

last night actually was from the dinner from the beginning, you know, we just catching up with so many people at the beach reception last night was just a lot of fun, there was just in that open setting was a little more laid back. And it was a case where the music wasn't too loud. Or to this, it was just I thought they they created a really great environment. And just the whole evening was so much fun, you know, crossing paths with in the way they you know, we've met new people this time. So we were able to kind of connect them with some of the guys that we've worked with for many years. I thought last night was great. Yeah, um, you know, I think the some of the sessions, which I think are always really interesting, I think, would be great to see more people and some of the sessions on the pit side of things. Yes, I was on one panel, which was great. I enjoy the interaction. I like to actually attend a lot of them myself. And like I said, they're part of the pit for us specifically was we'd like to have a little more bandwidth from quantum so that we have the flexibility to attend some of the sessions that we'd like. And as the good news, bad news for sales is if you're booked with, you know, the one to one meetings and things during the day, you really can't break away to attend the sessions and a lot of us in the industry would like to do both.

Matthew Weitzel: 29:05

Yeah. No, I think that's good feedback. Yeah. So well, awesome, man. Well, thank you so much for joining me. And we are going to have you on a full length podcast to talk about because you do do baggage tracking, right. And then you also do GSC fleet tracking, is that correct? That's right. Yeah, two main products. So we want to we want to go over those and learn more about those. And we'll do that at a later date. But for now, man, I just really appreciate you stopping by and having a

David Kennedy: 29:31

conversation. We know thank you. It's fun. Look forward to the next one. Yeah, awesome. And

Matthew Weitzel: 29:36

thank you so much. Thank you. Hey, welcome to the GSE Podcast. I'm Matt Weitzel. And I am here with Raven Han Sacher from Textron. GSE Yep. How're you doing?

Raven Honsaker: 30:02

I'm doing great. How are you?

Matthew Weitzel: 30:03

Good. This is live from the seventh America's GHI conference in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Raven Honsaker: 30:11

It's been a good time.

Matthew Weitzel: 30:13

Has it been a great time?

Raven Honsaker: 30:13

It has been a good time.

Matthew Weitzel: 30:15

So is this your first show?

Raven Honsaker: 30:17

It is my first show our conference. My first taste? Yeah, it's my first GHI conference. That is spectacular. I know. I'm really impressed. I'm very new to the industry. Okay, so

Matthew Weitzel: 30:30

we're what is kind of your history.

Raven Honsaker: 30:32

So I've been, I lead that aftermarket team for Textron GSE. been in this role for about a year, a little over a year. And so this is my first GHI conference. But my background is aviation. So working in the GSE space is not that far removed from the whole of my career, which has been primarily with Bell Helicopter.

Matthew Weitzel: 30:54

Nice. Yeah. Okay. So how so? You're over aftermarket? Yep. Has this show like, provided you like insight into the industry? Yeah, it could, because you're new. Yeah. So I imagine that you you met some new people, you get to learn some new things like how has it been overall for you? Yeah, I

Raven Honsaker: 31:11

think that's what has been really great for me as a person who is still newer in the industry, getting to meet folks from the airlines, getting to meet people from the ground handling side, getting to meet other service providers, whoever those people are, this has been a really great opportunity to do that, to meet with some of the customers that we have in the aftermarket space for texture on GSE as well as potential new customers. It's just really been a great opportunity there. And I think these things are great, too, for just learning about the industry and how things operate and and who the players are. I really had a good time. Oh, that's awesome.

Matthew Weitzel: 31:54

And you know, it didn't hurt that we were made to go to the Dominican Republic. Yeah. Terrible. Yeah. So what did we do last night?

Raven Honsaker: 32:03

We had a delegate dinner. It was out on the beach. Yeah, it was lovely. It was so nice. Yeah. Whenever you can eat on the beach. Yeah, I'm all in. It's far superior than eating indoors. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.

Matthew Weitzel: 32:17

And then we were currently at the Hard Rock Hotel in Punta Cana, all inclusive resort. I mean, it was it was done, right.

Raven Honsaker: 32:24

This space. This place is very spacious. I

Matthew Weitzel: 32:29

put in. Okay, so yes. Have you put in on yesterday, I went 10 miles, according to my watch.

Raven Honsaker: 32:36

So not only to walking not only good for your brain, but also good for your physical well being that's that's what GHI brings to you.

Matthew Weitzel: 32:44

You know what, I couldn't have said it better myself. You know, it's been a fantastic show for me. You know, what I decided not to do was take the golf cart around. So, you know, I didn't ever I never waited for the golf cart to pick me up and take me somewhere because I wanted to get in the exercise. Keep active because a lot of times these shows, you know, you're sitting in, in talking to people a lot having those great conversations, and you don't get in your steps.

Raven Honsaker: 33:08

Yep. Getting that movement in your body is very good. And being able to walk along the beach or run along the beach in the morning. It's perfection. It's

Matthew Weitzel: 33:17

yeah. So the first morning I woke up at 6am. It went right to the beach. Nice. Just to just to check it out. Say I'd been there. And I didn't get to see the sunrise. That's okay. I was hoping to do that. But maybe next time, so. But no, it's been an overall great show for me. I'm hoping you had a good time. I did I have time. So

Raven Honsaker: 33:35

it's been a it's been a really good, good show. Good conference. Okay. Conference, right. All right.

Matthew Weitzel: 33:41

So what was your peak? Give me your peak. What's the best thing that happened to you during the show? So we're gonna do peak and pit? Okay. Oh, wow.

Raven Honsaker: 33:48

Okay. Peak. I think last night for me was the delegate dinner was probably the peak. Because what I have learned in my brief time in this industry is people in this industry have been in this industry for a long time. So a lot of people know each other, and they've come to conferences together for years, they've known each other on a personal level outside of work, which I think helps build trust and communication and just I think makes working together a lot easier. So getting to be in a not conference room setting, and get to know some of the other people that I work within the industry a little bit better, for me was a peak. Yes, I can play the showery. So I'd say that conference dinner. Yeah,

Matthew Weitzel: 34:39

I agree. And you know what, I've noticed this show in particular, and I don't you know, I've been I've been to all seven by the way. This shoot you

Raven Honsaker: 34:46

get a you get a coin. I haven't got a badge and

Matthew Weitzel: 34:49

we're better we're gonna hurt you. No, I haven't got anything and then max is gonna count. No. Well, yeah. So Max is going to come on the show. And and I'm going And I asked him, Why don't have some kind of medallion or something spine? Yeah, for sure.

Raven Honsaker: 35:04

I was doing a percent. Yeah, that's people. I love hearing what his answer is.

Matthew Weitzel: 35:09

But what I wanted to say was, yeah, and I'll tell you, what you'll be able to hear it. What I want to tell you was that I saw camaraderie, even with competitors. Yeah, it was, it was crazy.

Raven Honsaker: 35:21

That's a fascinating thing to me about this industry is how competitors are also partners and things are also suppliers and customers. It's a unique, I think industry in that way that it's hard to say, this company is truly just our competitor, or just our supplier. I just don't think it the industry works that way. Or at least that's been my perception, you know, in my time here. And so it is neat to see that to get to see people who are competing for the same sale or, or competing for the same whatever, be able to just get together and talk and connect as people because at the end of the day, this is a job. But also it's a community and it's bigger than that.

Matthew Weitzel: 36:09

Anyway. Well, thank you so much for coming. Oh, oh, oh, the pit.

Raven Honsaker: 36:13

Oh, yeah. My pit. My pit I think was I don't I don't know that I feel like I prepared. Well enough coming in terms of I think scheduling, maybe being a little bit more intentional about scheduling with certain people. Time to just sit down and talk about work. I got to everybody that I needed to but so that's more on me not really on the conference. Gotcha. Awesome. Well, preparedness.

Matthew Weitzel: 36:40

Yeah, exactly. We can all we can always be more prepared. Absolutely. Yeah. Well, thank you so much for coming on the podcast for having me. I appreciate you so much. And that is it from Raven from Textron GSE.

Raven Honsaker: 36:51

Have a great day. All right, thank

Matthew Weitzel: 36:52

you. And there we have it, folks. Another fascinating episode of the GSE podcast comes to a close. I want to express my gratitude to all of our special guests today, sharing their peaks and pits and giving us all a vivid snapshot of the GHI Americas conference. If you found this episode helpful or enjoyable. Remember to give us a rating in review on your podcast platform of choice. It really helps us out and let us know how we are doing. Also, don't forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode. As always, this episode is sponsored by Xcēd GSE. The go to for tailored operating leases for ground handlers and airlines, offering state of the art equipment and flexible terms to suit your needs. Discover more about exceed GSE services and the latest inventory it exceeds gsc.com And finally, I'm Matt Weitzel from exceed GSE wishing you a smooth operations and blue skies until next time on the GSE podcast.