Ground Support Worldwide began its Leaders of the Year awards in 2005. At its inception, the award was a singular one: 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.
In 2008, Ground Support Leader of the Year was expanded into an award program aimed at recognizing leaders in several aspects of our industry, including safety, environment, engineering and processes. In 2008, the Lifetime Achievement Award also joined the line-up of annual awards.
The Green/Environmental Leader of the Year Award was presented to a person or a company that had introduced environmentally friendly equipment or processes. The Engineer/Innovator Leader of the Year Award was awarded to a company or a person that has introduced a revolutionary product. The Kaizen Leader of the Year Award was presented from 2008 to 2010. Japanese for “continuous and incremental improvement,” the award went to a person or company that had implemented a new business philosophy about business workplace practices, focusing on efficiency and improvement in productivity, performance or processes. The Safety Leader of the Year Award was presented to a person or company that had introduced a new method, procedure or product to improve industry safety records. The Team Leader of the Year Award, similar to the original Leader of the Year Award, was intended for an individual who had taken a leadership role with personnel. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a person who has demonstrated commitment to the industry through numerous years of dedicated service.
In 2012, the current format was introduced featuring the Product/Service Leader, Team Leader and Lifetime Achievement Award as cover story subjects in Ground Support Worldwide. The Product/Service Leader of the Year celebrates the products, services and manufacturers making a difference in the industry. The Team Leader of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award continues their tradition of honoring an individual who has taken a leadership role with personnel and recognizing a person who has demonstrated commitment to the industry through numerous years of dedicated service, respectively.
The following are the all-time recipients of Leader of the Year recognition.
2005
Ground Support Leader of the Year – Jim Houck, Continental Airlines
2006
Ground Support Leader of the Year – Tim Wix, Delta Air Lines
2007
Ground Support Leader of the Year – Greg Nist, US Airways
2008
Engineer/Innovator Leader of the Year – Joe Hart, Kersey Manufacturing (electric pushback)/Charlatte
Green/Environmental Leader of the Year – Jody Lonergan, Continental Airlines
Kaizen Leader of the Year– Mark Pollack, Sage Parts Plus Inc.
Safety Leader of the Year – Shawn Mack, Banyan Air Service
Team Leader of the Year – Larry Laney, Southwest Airlines
Lifetime Achievement Award – George Prill, GSE Today
2009
Engineer/Innovator Leader of the Year – Robert Engholm, Interphasic LLC
Green/Environmental Leader of the Year – TLD
Kaizen Leader of the Year – William Bohnett, Allegiant Air
Safety Leader of the Year – JLG Industries
Team Leader of the Year – Joseph Fuqua, Delta Air Lines
Lifetime Achievement Award – Henry Foster, Fortbrand Services
2010
Engineer/Innovator Leader of the Year – I.D. Systems
Green/Environmental Leader of the Year – Neil Bennett, eTug LLC
Kaizen Leader of the Year – Sean Hopkins, Allegiant Air
Safety Leader of the Year – Shawn Mack, Banyan Air Service
Team Leader of the Year – Joe Daniels, UPS
Lifetime Achievement Award – Louis Lombardi, Aviation Systems
2011
Engineer/Innovator Leader of the Year – Gene Velazquez, One Mile Up Inc.
Green/Environmental Leader of the Year – Ryan Gibson, AeroVironment Inc.
Safety Leader of the Year – Don Redwine, Southwest Airlines
Team Leader of the Year – Larry Laney, Southwest Airlines
Lifetime Achievement Award – Patrick O’Brien, MCM Engineering
2012
Product Leader of the Year – Flightcom
Team Leader of the Year – Gergory McDermott, US Coast Guard
Lifetime Achievement Award – William “Bill” Jacob, UPS
2013
Product Leader of the Year – Tronair
Team Leader of the Year – Travis Blair, American Eagle Airlines
Lifetime Achievement Award – Bill Biermann, Charlatte of America
2014
Product Leader of the Year – Rampmaster
Team Leader of the Year – Tom McCarten, Southwest Airlines
Lifetime Achievement Award – Alan J. Janis, J&B Aviation Services
2015
Product Leader of the Year – WASP Inc.
Team Leader of the Year – Matthew Sheehan, AERO Specialties
Lifetime Achievement Award – Gerald (Jerry) Eberle, founder, PAGE
2016
Service Leader of the Year – Xced Aviation
Team Leader of the Year – Johnathan Bluth, Atlantic Aviation
Lifetime Achievement Award – Dick Cloud, United Airlines
2017
Product Leader of the Year – LEKTRO
Team Leader of the Year – Robert Wright, Alliance Ground International and Cargo Force
Lifetime Achievement Award – Jean O. Raines, GAT Airline Ground Support
2018
Product Leader of the Year – Qtpod
Team Leader of the Year – Ricardo Carazo, American Airlines
Lifetime Achievement Award – Rich Boily, Fortbrand Services
2019
Product Leader of the Year – Mototok (Spacer 8600)
Team Leader of the Year – Bob Fleschert, Airport Terminal Services
Lifetime Achievement Award – Dewey Kulzer, Daifuku Elite Line Services
2020
Product Leader of the Year – ITW GSE
Team Leader of the Year – Dana Perry, Total Airport Services
Lifetime Achievement Award – Larry Laney, Southwest Airlines
2021
Product Leader of the Year – PrimeFlight Aviation Services
Team Leader of the Year – Brian Bourbeau, Premier Jet Center
Lifetime Achievement Award – Jim Gammon, Gammon Technical Products
