Matt Weitzel: 0:18

We'll see you next time. Xcēd adapts to your unique operational needs. Whether you're ramping up for peak season or planning for long-term growth, we provide the right equipment to keep your operations running smoothly. This anniversary, we renew our dedication to empowering your ground operations with efficiency and innovation. With Xcēd, you're equipped for success today and prepared for the challenges of tomorrow. Xcēd driving excellence on the ground year after year. Explore more at xcedgse. com. This is Jon Pfister. I'm Brian Yoder. This is Mathias Moulinier. This is.

Matt Weitzel: 1:00

Willy Martinez and you are listening to GSE Podcast, All right. Well, welcome to the GSE Podcast. I'm Matt Weitzel and I'm here with Max Gosney and Sophie Skinner-Jones.

Max Gosney: 1:16

Hello.

Matt Weitzel: 1:16

Matt, How's it going guys?

Max Gosney: 1:19

Fantastic and great to be back with you on the podcast. Thanks for having us back on.

Matt Weitzel: 1:23

I think that, and I don't even think I have to think. I think Max has appeared on my podcast more than any other person, Sophie, what do you think about that? Is that a good thing?

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 1:35

Well, Max wants the sound of his own voice.

Max Gosney: 1:39

It's true. Why do you inflict this on the great world of GSC and aviation? Matt, it's down to you, not me.

Matt Weitzel: 1:45

I don't know.

Matt Weitzel: 1:47

I bet the moment you met me, you never thought that we'd be talking as much as we've ended up talking over the last few years, but I remember I came and introduced myself and I was like, hey, I'm Matt, I'm doing this podcast or whatever and anyway. So we've been fast friends ever since and you've been on the podcast a lot and I really appreciate you. You're always coming on to talk about the conferences that you're doing and everything you're doing over at GHI and we launched your podcast on this podcast and hope that's going really well. I've been lucky enough to come on your podcast with David Farias on an episode. I think it was that episode three of your podcast or two.

Max Gosney: 2:26

Yes, I think it was. It's for GSE, expo Europe. Yeah, I think it was episode two or three. I think it was three.

Matt Weitzel: 2:33

I want to go with three. I really feel like we should have been first, but you know three's fine, you know, and I have you know, like I just said, I kind of have had you on a lot. So I was hoping for episode one, and now I have, you know, jennifer telling me that she's the number one guest and that I'm not, and I have to hear that all the time. So I have to give you a heck about that. I just ran into her. And yeah, that's what she had to tell me.

Max Gosney: 2:57

I think I'll give you your dues. You've got a lot more grace than me, matt. You're not constantly WhatsAppping me like I did you. You said get me on the next episode. It's outrageous, I wasn't on this one. Start sending you abusive messages um so you need to just play nasty and I reckon you'll get some more airtime with us.

Matt Weitzel: 3:13

I do need to start bugging you more, I guess, on the on the whatsapp. I think is what I'm learning from this. So, sophie, is that what you do? Is you bother him on whatsapp?

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 3:21

all the Well even when Max was on holiday, he was bugging me properly.

Matt Weitzel: 3:28

I'm a professional so. Well, we are here to talk about the 9th America's GHI Conference that is going to be taking place in Orlando, florida, and is it the 2nd through the 5th? Am I right on those dates?

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 3:45

Yeah, so the Gulf is the 2nd and then the actual conference day, so the 3rd, 4th and 5th.

Matt Weitzel: 3:50

Okay, yeah, so that Monday we're going to be doing some golf. And where will the golf be? At Max.

Max Gosney: 3:57

That's taking place at the Rosen Shingle Creek, so the hotel has a course, so we'll be right there by the conference facility and where the majority of the guests are staying. So bring your caps and your sun cream and visors golf visors. It's going to be warm, which you've been filling us in on, matt, but yeah, we'll be getting the groups of warbles underway and, but also a lot of networking and icebreaking going on, um, and looking forward to a really productive day there and a lot, a lot of um, a lot of good golf being played as well, not least by yourself, matt.

Matt Weitzel: 4:33

Yeah, oh, yeah. Yeah, I've been talking at my golf game. Uh, no, no, I have not, uh, because nobody would believe it even if I did so. But yeah, I'm really excited about golf on Monday. And if somebody has not signed up for the conference registered yet, when's their last day, do you know when they can get into the golf so that way they can participate? You know, somebody may have decided the last seconds they want to come to the conference and participate in the golf. What does that look like, sophie?

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 5:00

So Monday, the 13th of May, is the last when people can sign up for the goal. Okay, but I'm sure you know someone signs up to the conference a week before. We can work some magic and try to get them to come to the golf. And also, if you don't have your own clubs, you can hire those as well, so you don't need to worry about flying those out.

Matt Weitzel: 5:19

Yeah, that's amazing I have. This will be the only year that, or the only time really, that I've ever been able to bring my own clubs to anything, because I don't fly with my clubs, you know, but because I live here, I'll be able to bring my own clubs, and then the only problem with that is that I don't have an excuse when I play terribly, because then you know, I've always been able to go well, they're not my clubs. I mean, obviously I'm not to, I'm going to spray balls into the woods.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 5:48

I mean because they're not my clubs. I don't know how to play with these, but that's not going to work.

Matt Weitzel: 5:50

What's that?

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 5:51

It's your handicap.

Matt Weitzel: 5:53

Oh, no, no, my. I don't even know what my handicap would be, maybe like a 14 or something, I don't know. I I played briefly high school and the only reason I played was that, both like my best friends in high school, both were on the golf team and I was like, well, I'll join the golf team. We're at a small school, so they needed me anyway, and I just got to travel around with them and play, but I was. I'm horrific. I mean, honestly, it's not a good scene, but we have fun and that's what it's all about.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 6:23

That's exactly.

Max Gosney: 6:24

Home advantage, matt. Home advantage there, with your own clubs. You know the course, yeah, know the course. Know the weather it's this afternoon. You're practicing every day. I think this is all a ruse? Yep, it is.

Matt Weitzel: 6:37

Yeah, no, you figured me out here, so I don't know how the attendance numbers are working out, but I will say that the GHI conference is always an amazing opportunity to meet up with your colleagues. I hope that this is a very well-attended show. I know we have a lot of things going on with tariffs and economy and all the things right, but being able to see all your GSE colleagues in Orlando, florida, in June and being able to make those connections with everybody and listening to the panels and learning about the industry and about what's happening and the innovation, and then the one-to-one meetings, where you get the opportunity to meet with people that you may not have had the opportunity to ever be able to sit down with. Maybe you've been trying to get that meeting for months or a year and you've never been able to secure it, but they're going to be at the GHI Americas Conference. You can schedule a one-on-one meeting with those people, and I think that's what makes the conference really special for me. The reason that I've always enjoyed it and always attended them is because of those very reasons.

Matt Weitzel: 7:40

Then there's we just recorded a podcast your podcast before this and we were talking about. I'm a big fan of the fact that everybody kind of stays in the same hotel and you know you get to have those one-off meetings with people where you're just seeing them walking down the hallway or down to breakfast in the morning and you know you can connect with those people. Maybe you saw them on LinkedIn and you're like, oh, that's that guy that I've been trying to reach or trying to meet and you get to see him. And there's a high likelihood of that because everybody's staying at the same resort and they're all going to the conference. So I would say if you haven't signed up for the conference, then now's a great time to get in there and register and see all the exhibitors, because everybody's gonna be there.

Max Gosney: 8:28

I echo that. And the timing's really good because we just launched the one-to-one meetings planner, so they're just opening up for people to send their invites through. Diaries are still empty at this point but they're going to fill really quickly, so it's a great time to get yourself registered, start sending invites, because you're going to be busy and we hope to go around to that sort of 600 delegate plus mark in Orlando this year. So there's going to be an awful lot of meetings taking place and maybe you'll catch someone at breakfast. But anyway, you're going to catch that person for real if you do it and schedule it through us and we'll make sure that you get that appointment with that target business prospect in a place that suits you and a time that suits you 100%.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 9:11

We scheduled 2,300 meetings for the Americas last year Wow All individually scheduled by us. So hopefully we'll beat that this year.

Max Gosney: 9:19

That's crazy. People think all the magic resides at Disney and Orlando, but it's going to be happening there. It's actually at GHI Americas.

Matt Weitzel: 9:27

Yeah, exactly, that is right. Yeah, but the other thing is, it's such an intimate show, right and this is what I was saying on your podcast as well is that it's not humongous, right? We don't have this huge expo, so the likelihood of you know, just if you're on the show floor, you're going to see those people that you've been trying to connect with. So, yeah, I think it's a great show. I'm really looking forward to it, looking forward to those conversations, those panels. Can you all give me a hint about the delegate dinner? I know it's not you know 100%, but if you wanted to, kind of, you know, throw me a hint about what we're looking at, I would really appreciate it. My listeners, they've been asking me. You know I can't help it. I got to do what the people want. I got to ask the hard questions. Well, I've seen some photos.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 10:12

It's not to invite me back as well.

Max Gosney: 10:14

They've been asking that one. I was going to tell you to get dinner, but we can hint, sophie, right, we can hint.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 10:20

Yeah, it's on a lovely. I've seen some photos on a lovely terrace outside palm trees, lights. I like palm trees.

Max Gosney: 10:31

Yeah, the outside alfresco, take it outside. Um, I like that once I make sure that the entertainment and the theme uh, tbc, but definitely looking to go outdoors and totally take advantage of the good, warm climbs out there in orlando I know you've been asking me to sing at the event and I'll just say right now I just, I just don't think it's right.

Matt Weitzel: 10:49

You know I get enough stage time as it is, I don't need any more. So I appreciate the offer, max, but I'm going to pass.

Max Gosney: 10:56

I was wondering why your screen name has come up as Matt Sinatra, and I might reveal that. So, please, you can't say that without giving us a little rendition.

Matt Weitzel: 11:05

Oh, some karaoke. No, that's our friend Abby from Malahan. She's the karaoke queen. From what?

Max Gosney: 11:13

I hear now have you seen it? I've heard her sing. She's absolutely fabulous At at GSC Expo Europe. And didn't she sing a month ago? Because she did? Yeah, some Cranberries songs, unbelievable voice.

Matt Weitzel: 11:27

Yeah, that's what. That's what I hear, and I've actually never witnessed it. But a bunch of the people that I know are like oh, abby's the best You've got to hear karaoke. So maybe we can find a good karaoke bar in Orlando.

Max Gosney: 11:37

Maybe we can get Abby v Sophie, because, sophie, you've got quite a voice on you as well.

Matt Weitzel: 11:43

Oh wait, I didn't know this.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 11:47

Sophie, let's dive into that, all right.

Max Gosney: 11:50

I don't know, but.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 11:51

I, but I love singing. So everyone just says I've got really good voice. But I am quite terrible, but I just love singing, I love karaoke.

Max Gosney: 12:00

So she does some brilliant ABBA numbers is that heritage in Sweden, and Scandinavia is where Sophie hails from, so don't let her trick you with their face shyness. She can belt them out.

Matt Weitzel: 12:12

So, sophie, what's your go-to karaoke song? Jolie by Dolly Parton.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 12:21

Dolly Parton. Yeah, when I went on holiday a couple of years ago, I had to be saying it by myself on the stage in front. My boyfriend put my name down and I just thought I've got to do it.

Matt Weitzel: 12:31

That is awesome awesome crowns of thousands do you get nervous when you're when you're in front of a bunch of people singing, or do you just you feel comfortable?

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 12:40

no, like I am terrible, I am terrible. And no, if I'm in the car or something, still not, but I can't say I like standing up on my own. I was on the panel in Barcelona at the GHI annual. I'm so nervous. Honestly, I wasn't singing, I was just on the panel as I'm a Gen Z, but yeah, I was so nervous, I was tossing and turning throughout the night so I thought, oh no, what if I mess up?

Max Gosney: 13:10

You're brilliant. You're brilliant. A lot of people you said. You said, matt, when we did the podcast, people get nervous about going up on stage, but it's, which is totally normal, but it's once you're up there. I think you're in the spirit. You know, you just do your best and people in the audience just want to listen and learn, don't they? And understand they're not expecting anything other than kind of an honest, frank account and some advice, and that's what the conference forum is all about. The GHI Not so much on the singing. Singing is left to the delegate dinner. We haven't done singing on stage.

Matt Weitzel: 13:41

Remember, there's a new developer for us. Yeah, exactly yeah, that's the next thing.

Max Gosney: 13:44

That will drive them out of the room.

Matt Weitzel: 13:48

So tell me a little bit about the panels this year. You know of cover them on your podcast, but let's go ahead and just refresh, just in case.

Max Gosney: 13:53

Yeah, so we'll kick things off, as in our style, with that. We're looking at a sort of big debate around what the market trends are at the moment and we really want to discuss this issue around impact of tariffs, of a more protectionist economic environment, trade environment, the impact that has we're hearing analysts you are as well talking about. Is there a risk now of a global recession? What's that going to mean for flying in a market that otherwise has been so buoyant since the pandemic has led the world, that America's market and growth? We do seem to be at this tipping point between let's hope and we want to see ongoing more people flying and cargo moving around, but we have to be aware, I guess, that there is this risk of a slowdown and what will that mean for the market. So we want to get our discussion from leading industry lights, airlines and handlers, airports, around where they see this crucial period taking us. Is it going to be a little blip and we go on to volume growth in this America's market, or are we going to see recession? And in those two scenarios, what's the best strategic approach for a ground handler, for an airline, because they're very different scenarios to react to. How do you design your game plan for success according to brighter skies or a gloomier outlook for the market. So that will be a big central theme in that opening big debate.

Max Gosney: 15:18

We want to talk about the latest developments in electrification the airports there in the Americas and around coordination in the supply chain for the adoption of new GFC charging infrastructure. We spoke heavily about it last year in Toronto. We want to see what's happened and if anything has changed to enable that step change in operators being able to implement practical, sustainable equipment. And we've got some really good sessions lined up on safety, with some case studies from the guys at Primes Light and Donata talking about real incidents on the apron and how adoption of equipment, particularly wireless headsets, has helped them eradicate some of the risk factors and risk points and what other operators can learn, which is what's so great. They've got competitors there, I'm sure, but they're prepared to get out and talk about. You know, we had a really big safety issue here and this is what we learned is how we've addressed it, because the most important thing for us at the end of the day is that the men and women on shift on the ramp go home safe to their families.

Matt Weitzel: 16:14

Yeah, for sure. Yeah, that's great. So a bunch of good panels this year, just as there always is, and we'll be able to hear directly from the people about their struggles, about their achievements, and that's what I always enjoy about the show is listening to the panels.

Max Gosney: 16:29

For sure, yeah we really want to play this year to say to the audience tell us what the issues are, what you think about the tariffs, sustainability, safety. We'll be trying to make it much more interactive, both on stage and in the run up to the conference, to say this is your chance to ask your questions, get it out there and talk to the community about some of what you see as the big challenges and let's talk those issues through and hopefully give you some advice yeah, on day three we're going to try to do more of like a round table style session.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 16:59

So, yeah, I'll definitely be more interactive and that'll be interesting.

Matt Weitzel: 17:05

Yeah, talk to me a little bit more about that. What? What is that?

Max Gosney: 17:30

So yeah, that's absolutely correct in putting that forward as an innovation from us really this year. To look at, you know, making smaller groups on that from passive presentations, questions, through to getting people together into groups and getting to work through challenges together and address them and talk to them in a much more informal, proactive environment. So it becomes learning through doing rather than just learning through listening, which is also important. But by that last day I think you can come out as a regular attendee. People just perhaps need a different style, different format to energize them and to work things through as a group might be a bit more productive. For that last day.

Matt Weitzel: 18:08

I actually love that idea. I don't know how you came up with that, but I think you're right. I think by the end people kind of have been listening to those panels and coming up and formulating their own questions and their own thoughts about what they've heard throughout the week, and then by that day they're ready to kind of have open discussions, and I think that is perfect. I'm so glad that you all recognize that and I hope that is a success. I hope that everybody sticks around to listen to that and be involved in those conversations, because, yeah, that'sa at the end of each one of them. But that's fantastic and I love how you're constantly innovating on your end and trying to make it better and listening to the feedback, and that's really important.

Max Gosney: 19:03

Indeed, yeah, we'll talk about innovation in the industry on one of those panels and what Brown Handling is doing, what it means. But yeah, we need to practice what we preach. So, yeah, building in some innovation and changing the way that we present the, the panels, the discussion and the contents um, all really important to us and we'll look to try a few new things there in orlando and looking forward to doing it?

Matt Weitzel: 19:23

yeah, for sure. So so, yeah, a bunch of great exhibitors this year, as always. All the big players, what's that? Exceed being one Exceed will be there, which is you know what is on everybody's mind. Yes, we will be there. We sprung for one of the larger booths this year, so that, what is that guy's name that sells for you guys? His name is George. I think is what he calls himself.

Max Gosney: 19:53

Didn't he promise to dress up as princess elsa? Yeah, that's frozen while we're listening on your podcast.

Matt Weitzel: 19:59

Previously, I'm sure he said something like that, yeah, that there was a promise of of dressing up as a disney character. If we got to the mark of what is it? 700 plus attendees or something like that, we'll have to go back and listen to the tape, because we have the recording and I have bought a size extra small for him. Princess Elsa costume.

Max Gosney: 20:24

I'm sure Contractually agreed to do that for the golf as well as the conference days.

Matt Weitzel: 20:28

That would be nice for golf yeah. I hear he's not that good. So you know, maybe that'll distract people from his game, right, which I'm sure is what he was what he was hoping. But uh, why do we give george so much? Heck, I don't understand. Or is that just me? Am I the only one doing that?

Max Gosney: 20:45

he's got such, but he he's got such broad shoulders he could take it.

Matt Weitzel: 20:48

Can he take it okay?

Max Gosney: 20:49

yeah yeah.

Matt Weitzel: 20:50

So, anyway, where I was going with that was that. Uh, that george. George got me early at the end of the last conference and I signed up for one of the premium booths. You've got a premium location so as soon as you walk in you'll be able to see Matt and the Xcēd team. But yeah, what I was going to say was that great exhibitors this year I think there's some new ones as well.

Max Gosney: 21:13

Just on 660, mark has just been hit, so it's going to be busy in that exhibition hall. There's going to be a lot of exhibitors, which is great to see, and a lot of delegates coming around to understand and speak to them about what they have to offer. So I'm really pleased with how that's developed.

Matt Weitzel: 21:26

Yeah, I completely agree. So I was just looking at the floor plan this morning and, yeah, a lot of good people are going to be there. I'm very excited about it. So love the location. The Rose and Shingle Creek will be great. That's awesome that the golf is going to be right there. That makes things really nice. So, yeah, and then what else is going on? Anything else that I need to know about the 9th America's GHI, or have we covered it?

Max Gosney: 21:50

What else? We've obviously got the um, you know, alongside those formal meetings will have the, the speed networking events, uh, with the kind of five minute uh chance to break the eyes with either a meeting, the airline session with a number of representative airlines offering a chance to, to, for a meet and greet with the uh, the key contacts there, and we'll have a session for um meeting the ground handlers as well. So that will balance nicely with those more structured formal one-to-ones and it takes place direct, just in that exhibition hall area towards the back of the hall. So it's a good bit of theater and energy in the event as well and it, you know, sometimes what we hope and what we've seen by introducing it is that sometimes a connection will be made through that icebreaker. Five minutes then leads to more formal conversation at the next GHI and a face has been put to a name and helps flourish and develop a substantial business relationship. There's another way of getting in front of what might be a busy airline or a busy ground handler, ensuring that you get that airtime and the chance to meet and explain what you do and hopefully generate a further discussion as a result. So we've got that going on.

Max Gosney: 22:55

We'll have the welcome party, as is tradition at GHI, at the end of the opening day, with entertainment and a chance for the exhibitors to kind of meet and greet as people move around within that exhibition hall. We'll serve the drinks and the boo. We're talking to the team at Donata. We are hopeful when Lansys once confirmed that we will be able to offer a chance to team up and see the station of tomorrow up the road at Orlando International Airport. So that's something TDC, but something we're hopeful we can confirm with the Donata team and offer a select number of delegates a chance to do that whilst they're in town really. So that'll be great and we'll be hearing all about that future station in the conference room on one of the panel sessions too. So watch this space. But we're excited if we can pull that one off and provide that little bit of added value in terms to walk around and see it after you've heard about it in the conference room.

Matt Weitzel: 23:49

Yeah, so everybody stay tuned on LinkedIn. I'm sure y'll be posting as soon as those kinds of new opportunities are available. Yeah, absolutely.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 23:58

Oh sorry, Spirit Airlines If you haven't booked your flight already. You can get 20% discount if you book your flights with Spirit Airlines, so we'll share that with all delegates as well. Yeah, so they'll be the official carrier for the e-conference.

Matt Weitzel: 24:11

Oh, that's amazing. No, I didn't know that. Oh yeah, shul carrier for the conference. Oh that's amazing. No, I didn't know that. Oh yeah, so people go out and book your flights on spirit get your 20 off and and make it down.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 24:19

Yeah, email us for the commode and um, yeah, get 20 off there you go, there you go.

Matt Weitzel: 24:23

That's what you got to do. So is anybody bringing um friends or family with them to orlando to experience the magic or no?

Max Gosney: 24:33

not on the team, unfortunately for me. Obviously I've got two young ones, but it's clashed with school term time and taking them out Again. Of course it's been a bit tricky, but I'm sure there'll be many who do. Yeah, I think so. There's so much on the road, so much to see Disney and everything else, so you know family's welcome.

Matt Weitzel: 24:54

Yeah, families are definitely welcome. Yeah, so my son grew up, obviously, in Orlando and we would go to Disney so much that some of the face characters knew his name. So, like Aladdin and Jasmine would be like hey, stafford, how's it going? And they would walk around the park with him. He was, yeah, he was a fan favorite. So that's it's his second home, basically.

Max Gosney: 25:19

You're just rubbing us in now, Matt, with Sophie and I being deprived of a trip in our childhood to know that you took your son. We're sort of in tears here.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 25:27

Yeah, we're just actually sitting down and crying.

Matt Weitzel: 25:31

Another thing that'll bring you to tears. Is our buddy George in the Elsa costume? That's going'll bring you to tears. Is, uh, is our buddy george in in the elsa costume? That's gonna bring you to tears. I think it'll be brought to tears if it's an extra small oh man. So and then I do have word that you're not playing golf, but you will. You will be attending max. Um, you just haven't got your golf game quite where your football game is.

Max Gosney: 25:55

Yes, I like to think that I'm sort of the broadcast team going around in the media buggy reporting on the best plays of the day and no, my golf game is not up to it. But I am looking forward to going around and witnessing some of the excellent games that will be on display and I will be putting something together to report some of the best action in GHI post-conference. It's always a fun thing. It's always good to see the competitive spirit burn strong in a lot of our delegates and they want to win it, which is great.

Matt Weitzel: 26:25

There's a lot of great GSE golfers.

Max Gosney: 26:28

There are yeah.

Matt Weitzel: 26:30

So you know, if you want to go see a good golf game, all you do is head down there on Monday and check it out. There's, I'm sure people will be very competitive and want to win that, and yeah, so it'll be. It'll be a really great event. So I'll be there on Monday checking out the golf and then, obviously, there throughout the week. So, but yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Thank you guys for coming on and talking about it you guys for coming on and talking about it.

Max Gosney: 26:53

It's been a pleasure, as ever. Man, thank you very much.

Sophie Skinner-Jones: 26:57

I look forward to seeing you there in Orlando very soon. All right, thank you all, so much Appreciate it, Thank you.

Matt Weitzel: 27:03

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of the GSE Podcast. We hope you found it informative and engaging. If this episode resonated with you, please share it with your colleagues and peers in the ground support equipment community. Your support is invaluable to us. We'd appreciate it if you could take a moment to rate and review our podcast. Your feedback not only encourages us, but also helps expand our reach within the GSE community. Keep an eye out for more episodes as we continue to explore the dynamic world of ground operations, bringing you the latest trends, insights and stories from the industry. Thank you for listening to the GSE podcast. Until we meet again, stay grounded and keep pushing forward.