AviationPros Podcast

In this episode of The AviationPros Podcast host Joe Petrie sits down with Bryant Francis, Director of Port Control for the City of Cleveland, to explore CLEvolution — the bold, $1.6 billion modernization campaign at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. As CLE marks its 100th anniversary, Francis shares how the airport is evolving to meet the needs of today's travelers, attract local business engagement, and compete with peer airports across the Midwest. From sustainability and design to operational phasing and economic impact, this conversation delivers powerful insights for aviation leaders shaping the future of infrastructure.  

In this episode of the AviationPros Podcast, Airport Business Editor Joe Petrie speaks with Jeff Kloska, director of Colorado Air and Space Port, about the facility's evolution from a regional general aviation hub to a nationally designated airport and emerging aerospace ecosystem. Kloska shares insights on infrastructure development, public-private partnerships, and long-term vision for supporting both aviation and commercial spaceflight. With over 126,000 operations and 500 based aircraft, the port is preparing to anchor Colorado's innovation economy for decades to come.

Ground Support Worldwide Editor Jenny Lescohier speaks with Grupo Eulen COO John Jones about the company's plans for growth using a proactive strategy of competitive bidding, as well as the latest tech and training to increase employee retention.  

Ground Support Worldwide recognizes the high-caliber individuals and forward-thinking companies making a difference in the ground support industry with its annual Leaders of the Year awards program. Nominate a worthy candidate for Ground Support Worldwide's Leaders of the Year program in one of four specific categories by Friday, April 25, 2025 by clicking here.       

Sacramento County Department of Airports Director Cindy Nichol talks with Airport Business Editor-in-Chief Joe Petrie about the latest updates on infrastructure investments and how they're seeing success growing air traffic into their system. 

ACI-NA President Kevin Burke discusses the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on airports and the progress of improvement projects.

Fulton County Director of Public Works David Clark talks with Joe Petrie about major improvements at Fulton County Executive Airport and how they're preparing to serve an influx of travelers for the 2026 World Cup. 

Delaware North Travel COO Robert Thormeier discusses the current state of airport concessions and how technology and changing traveler preferences are recreating the way airports are serving the public. 

Boingo Vice President of Engineering Bill Marino discusses wi-fi needs in airports and how network connectivity can deliver next-generation in technology to airport operations. 

Go Rentals Co-Founder and CEO Kaye Gitibin talks with Editor-in-Chief Joe Petrie about how new technology like AI will transform private aviation car service while reflecting on the company's 30 years of success. 

Airports Council International World Director General Justin Erbacci talks with Editor-in-Chief Joe Petrie about the organization's future, challenges facing the airport industry and how technology is going to reshape how the world travels in the near future.  Erbacci joined ACI in his current role in September 2024. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer – Airports at NEOM in Saudi Arabia and as Chief Executive Officer of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). He also excelled as Chief Operating Officer, Chief IT and Commercial Strategy Officer and Chief IT and Innovation Officer at LAWA. Prior to his tenure at LAWA, Erbacci was Vice President of Customer Experience and Technology at the airline alliance Star Alliance Services GmbH. His ability to drive innovation and leverage technology was developed during his IT leadership roles at major global companies such as Credit Suisse and United Airlines. Earlier, he gained experience at management consultancies including Cambridge Management Consultants and Deloitte and Touche. Erbacci also practiced law as a civil rights defense litigator.

How do you rebuild an aviation system from the ground up after a devastating war? Ukrainian aviation leaders, alongside their North American and European partners, face this monumental challenge. In this special episode focused on Ukraine, we dive deep into the strategies and realities of rebuilding airports and the aviation network in a post-war landscape. Editor-in-Chief Joe Petrie sits down with Tonci Peovic, the expert who led Dubrovnik Airport's revival after the Balkans War. Peovic shares firsthand insights into the obstacles Ukrainian airport officials will encounter on the ground, the dangers of restarting operations in a war-torn environment, and the critical role Western leaders can play in supporting recovery efforts. This episode offers powerful lessons in resilience, leadership, and international collaboration for aviation professionals. Whether you're an airport leader, consultant, or aviation enthusiast, this conversation is essential for understanding the future of Ukrainian airports and global aviation recovery efforts.

Editor-in-Chief Joe Petrie talks with Ukrainian aviation officials to explore the challenges and opportunities in rebuilding Ukraine's airport network amid and after the ongoing conflict and how North American and European aviation leaders are spearheading efforts to help the nation. From infrastructure damage to international collaboration, discover the critical needs and strategies shaping the future of aviation in Ukraine and their goal of building deeper into the European air system. 

Brian Podsiadlik and Paul Neely of Task Force Tips join the podcast to discuss how deicing and anti-icing nozzles vary and other key considerations for selecting components for ice control.

Lift-A-Loft's Doug Jeurissen and Braedon Stark-Abbott join the podcast to discuss ground handling duties performed at elevated heights and the features engineered into GSE to make these tasks safer.

Jerry Crump, sales director - GSE at Green Cubes Technology, joins the podcast to discuss how the right battery technology can enable eGSE growth in the ground support industry.

As winter weather sets in throughout the Northern Hemisphere, the AviationPros Podcast revisits a conversation with Jo Alex Tanem, CEO at Aviator Airport Alliance. He discusses his company's sustainability achievements, offers advice to other ground handlers looking to implement green processes and the challenges that come with handling aircraft in cold climates.

Josh Smith, editor of Ground Support Worldwide, reflects on this year's winners of the Leaders of the Year program, describes the ideal candidates for each award category and encourages nominations for 2025 candidates. Visit AviationPros.com/LeadersoftheYear for more information about the program. Click here to nominate a deserving candidate for the 2025 award program.

Matthias Moulinier, product and customer success director at Adveez, explains how telemetry and data analysis is improving the way ground support equipment is utilized on the ramp.

From NBAA-BACE 2024, Keith Clark - senior quality control and technical rep at Phillips 66, discusses how the Safe a Life, Verify Fuel Type is growing and making a positive impact on the aviation industry. 

Appleton International Airport Director Abe Weber discusses business growth at the airport and why leaders are expanding ATW's business park by 100 acres.

Terry Yeomans, director of the IS-BAH program at IBAC, spoke with Ground Support Worldwide editor Josh Smith during NBAA-BACE about the importance of safety management systems in the business aviation industry as well as the IS-BAH program's 10th anniversary.

Scott Cutshall, Clay Lacy's President of Real Estate and Sustainability talks about the company's ongoing investments into sustainable practices and how it earned NBAA's Sustainable Flight Department Accreditation.

Joe Griffith, chief commercial officer at Mallaghan GSE, joins the podcast to discuss the latest technology serving the industry and highlight the company's upcoming charity golf event, the Mallaghan Shamrock Classic.

Director of JPB Systeme Poland Katarzyna Kalisz talks about the company's investment and growth in the Aviation Valley and how companies there are leveraging resources to grow the future of aviation. 

Connor Hart, senior director at Unifi Aviation YYC, joins Ground Support Worldwide editor Josh Smith to share details about team's achievements at Calgary International Airport that earned them the 2024 Ground Support Team of the Year recognition.

David Fernandez, Swissport's Global Head of Fleet, visited the Ground Support Worldwide booth at the GSE Expo Europe to discuss ground support equipment trends with editor Josh Smith.

Tim Fulton, CEO and founder of Ramper Innovations, shares his experience as a ground handling agent and how it influenced him to design equipment that improves working conditions on the ramp.

NATA's Steve Berry and Brandon Popovich join Ground Support Worldwide editor Josh Smith and highlight the 8th annual NATA Ground Handling Safety Symposium, taking place in Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 17-18.

Abbie Hepler, Laura McGrath and Karla Harrington chat with Josh Smith and share details about the newly formed Women of GSE organization, its goals and upcoming opportunities to network with the group.

Suffolk's Sam Sleiman discusses the recently completed Terminal E project at Boston Logan Airport and the challenges of completing the efforts inside a working airport. 

Alberto Rocha, director of sales – the Americas at ITW GSE, joins Ground Support Worldwide editor Josh Smith to discuss the latest battery technologies enabling the electrification of GSE and power solutions to support additional eGSE on the ramp.

Vantage Group Chair and CEO George Casey discusses the successes and challenges his company is seeing in North America and the vision behind the recent rebranding of the company.

Ground Support Worldwide editor Josh Smith speaks with Gabe Sampson and Brian Lesch from Averest, Inc., to discuss the company's 20th anniversary and examine current and future eGSE trends.

Amadeus Executive Vice President of Airport & Airline Operations Rudy Daniello discusses the 2024 Airports Travel Investment Trends report and why airport leaders across the world are ready to embrace advanced technologies like AI and machine learning. 

Steven Fox, managing member of Virginia Aviation Associates LLC talks discusses the latest $10 million investment into Hampton Roads Executive Airport and how they're building for the future of air travel. 

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport CEO Candace McGraw was recently named the first female Chair of Airports Council International World. She discusses her vision for the organization and the success of CVG under her tenure. 

Doug Backinger - senior vice president of solutions, engineering and innovation at Aerol, and Alex Harden - Aerol's technical product manager, join Ground Support Worldwide editor Josh Smith to discuss best practices for spec'ing GSE components like casters and running gear.

Mukesh "Mookie" Patel was named  Director of Aviation at San José Mineta International Airport in March 2024. He discusses the challenges, opportunities and future growth of the airport and how he sees it fitting into the aviation system in the San Francisco Bay area.   

Nominate a ground crew worthy of being named the 2024 Ground Support Team of the Year by June 24. Nominations can be submitted online at AviationPros.com/teamoftheyear.

Cyrus Callum, Director of Aviation and Economic Resources for Daytona Beach International Airport shares the airport's embrace of technology to grow its air traffic and improve the passenger experience. 

Monika Mejstrikova, IATA's director of ground operations, joins Ground Support Worldwide editor Josh Smith to recap the 2024 IATA Ground Handling Conference. The 36th edition of the IGHC took place at the Harpa Conference Center in Reykjavik, Iceland, and focused on improving safety in ground handling, implementing global standards and the industry's sustainability.

At the IATA Ground Handling Conference in Reykjavik, Saunon Malekshahi, co-founder and CTO at Moonware, joins Ground Support Worldwide editor Josh Smith to discuss how automated ground services can help overcome current challenges.

At the IATA Ground Handling Conference in Reykjavik, Iceland, Menzies Aviation's Chief People Officer Juliet Thomson discusses personnel opportunities with Ground Support Worldwide Editor Josh Smith.

Mobile Airport Authority President Chris Curry talks with Airport Business Editorial Director Joe Petrie about moving commercial operations to the Mobile Downtown Airport and how they're building for the future.  

President and CEO Torrance (Tory) Richardson discusses the scope of the Terminal Enhancement Project and what to expect for the future development of the airport. 

Uschi Schulte-Sasse, senior vice president of Aviation at INFORM Aviation, joins Ground Support Worldwide editor Josh Smith to discuss how ground handling companies can optimize operations while reducing their environmental footprint.

Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority President and CEO Douglas Kreulen talks about the recently completed project at Nashville International Airport, BNA Vision, and the start of a new project called New Horizon. 

John Vollbrect, general manager at Menzies TPA, joins Josh Smith to share his team's experience of winning the innaugural Ground Support Team of the Year Award in 2023 and highlights the qualities that make ground crews stand out among their peers. To nominate a team for the 2024 Ground Support Team of the Year, visit www.AviationPros.com/TeamoftheYear. 

Jo Alex Tanem, CEO at Aviator Airport Alliance, discusses his company's sustainability achievements and offers advice to other ground handlers looking to implement green processes.

William Blair recently released their quarterly aviation services and industry update. The report highlighted concerns and trends in the FBO space including the continuation of embracing electric aviation, hangar shortages and commercial travel delays and cancellations. In today's episode, William Blair Managing Director Josh Ollek joins us to talk more about the report, which can be found by visiting www.aviationpros.com/53099766.