More than 1,200 people and 89 exhibitors took part in the GSE Expo Worldwide, March 10-11, at The Sands Convention, Las Vegas. The attendance figures bear out our "Worldwide" coverage of GSE with attendees coming from 21 countries as well as 43 states to see the show.
This year's show was a return to what many readers of Ground Support Worldwide may remember back when the magazine was still called GSE Today. Gone fra rom the show was the maintenance sector and the Skills Competition and renewed emphasis on ground support equipment.
According to an attendee survey conducted after the show revealed the following:
- Some 60 percent deemed the show either "Best," "Good," or "Fair."
- More 77 percent considered the show to a "value-add" to their business.
- Some 8 out of 10 attendees are likely to come back to next year's show.
- While details for next year's show are continuing, Las Vegas remains the most popular destination along with the current Spring time.
As for the exhibitors, a separate survey showed the following
- More than 67 percent said the show either "exceeded" or "met" their expectations.
- Some 2 out of 10 exhibitors were first-time exhibitors.
- The majority of exhibitors rated the quality of their show leads highly.
One of the show highlights, however, was our Ground Support Leader of the Year Awards, which has been a part of the show for many years. During our Opening Night Reception, we honored the following:
- Gerald (Jerry) Eberle was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, which goes “to the person who has demonstrated commitment to the industry through numerous years of dedicated service.”
Eberle invented, engineered, manufactured and marketed products through PAGE Industries, which he founded in 1976, or through an outside marketing firm. Many of these product advancements are now considered common place, such as the baggage chute, slot filled designed PCA adapters and180 kVA reactive load banks – the most used gate park systems in the world. (We'll be doing a cover story on Jerry in our May/June issue.)
- WASP Inc. was named Product Leader of the Year for its “New Standard Dolly.” (For more on WASP and its product, turn to page ??.)
- Matthew Sheehan, AERO Specialties, was named Team Leader of the Year, an award that honors an “individual who has taken a leadership role with personnel.”
Sheehan started AERO Specialties in 1987 from his attic with just $1,000. The company currently operates with 50 employees and 30,000-plus sq. ft. of manufacturing space selling to more than 16,000 customers. (Look for our cover story on Matt in next month's issue.)
During the award festivities, the magazine also congratulated LEKTRO on celebrating 70 years this year. LEKTRO was founded in 1945 and has been located in Oregon the entire time, with Eric Paulson as president and a second-generation owner of this family business. LEKTRO built their first electric towbarless aircraft tug in 1967 which they named the AirPorter. LEKTRO’s tugs have always been and still are today all electric and can tow an aircraft ranging from piston engine to narrow-body airliners.
The magazine started the Leaders awards in 2005 as actually one award; Ground Support Leader of the Year. The award was created to spotlight an individual or company that had made a significant contribution to the industry.
Our first winner was Jim Houck with Continental Airlines.
For more information on next year's event follow us on Twitter @GSEexpo2015 or go to our show's website: gseexpo.com
