Tag: SDC

Categories
General Trade Show

Meridian Exhibits at Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference

Team Meridian is ready to start Schedulers & Dispatchers in Charlotte, NC.  (Left to Right: Phil Boyer, Chris Battaglia, Jenny Deitschman, Jeremy Ojerholm, MaKayla Gorski, and Kirk Stephen)

Meridian sent a team of six associates to work their exhibit at the National Business Aviation Association’s (NBAA) 31st Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2020) held at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, NC, from March 10 – 12.  The company sent representatives from Aircraft Management, Charter Sales and Operations, Customer Service, and Marketing.  The show ended with positive marks among exhibitors and attendees for the show’s timely content, new products and features and quality attendees.
The event ranked among the top 10 editions of Schedulers & Dispatchers, as measured by participation from exhibitors and the 2,500 registered attendees.  It began by addressing a difficult challenge confronting business aviation: the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, a particular concern for a highly mobile industry.
In the opening keynote address, Dr. Clayton Cowl, chair, preventive, occupational and aerospace medicine with the Mayo Clinic, provided an update on the rapidly evolving situation, along with practical tips for reducing community transmission of the virus. Don Chupp, president and CEO with global emergency-response firm Fireside Partners, offered advice regarding communications and business planning in light of the situation.
The opening keynote concluded with an inspiring presentation from Warren Macdonald, Australian environmentalist, adaptive mountain climber and bilateral above-the-knee amputee, who shared life-changing lessons learned after surviving a traumatic climbing accident.
Once the event got underway, attendees were on hand for education sessions covering a host of timely topics, including integration of unmanned aircraft systems into flight departments, combating cybersecurity threats, and the latest considerations for operations in areas ranging from America’s Eastern seaboard to Eastern Europe and Asia.
More than 90% of confirmed exhibitors were on hand, eager to share their perspectives. “We’ve got fixed-base operators from all over the country here exhibiting with us,” said Meghan Allen, associate brand director with SDC exhibitor Phillips 66 Aviation.

An aerial view of the trade show floor at the Charlotte Convention Center.

Bringing added energy to the show were first-time features, including an inaugural SDC New Products Showcase, which introduced 13 products and services new to the business aviation marketplace. “The showcase was very well received,” noted Tyler Austin, NBAA senior manager of certification. “It not only offered these new entrants an opportunity to build relationships with customers; it underscored the innovative spirit characteristic of business aviation.”
With a nod toward the industry’s future, a group of SDC participants gathered before show-start at Charlotte Douglas International Airport with 45 students from Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, a local STEM high school, where industry professionals offered the students a first-hand look at the career possibilities available in business aviation.
SDC participants also displayed their pay-it-forward spirit, gathering more than 1,000 pieces of professional business attire for local charities Dress for Success-Charlotte and Suit Up Charlotte.
Despite the event’s momentum, organizers concluded the full SDC program one day early, when the exhibit floor closed on Thursday, March 12.
NBAA’s public statement about the decision noted that the association’s highest priority remains the health and well-being of participants. With that in mind, the SDC organizers added that their planning was informed in part by a series of continually evolving announcements from several authorities, including the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health and aviation-safety experts – all of which were impacting travel planning and other decisions.
“As with all NBAA events, we view our participants as partners whose health, safety and security is always our foremost concern, and that was the guiding principle behind this decision,” noted NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “We thank all SDC participants for their support in this challenging environment, and we look forward to welcoming them back for an even better conference in 2021.”

Downtown Charlotte at night.
Categories
General

Meridian Presents Strong Showing at SDC2019

The 8 members of the Meridian SDC team pose for a photo.

This past week, Meridian took part in the 30th Annual National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2019) in San Antonio, TX. We sent 8 associates from different departments and offices, including our Hayward FBO, to represent Meridian.  Bob Platten, who has been attending the conference since its inception said “the event gets bigger and better every year. I would have never imagined what this conference would become.”
This year not only marked the 30th anniversary but also the highest attendance in the event’s history, with nearly 3,000 attendees representing every US state and over 40 countries, this year’s event was an important milestone in the Business Aviation industry.
The conference offered a diverse catalog of professional development sessions, allowing for anyone in the industry to build and nurture their professional knowledge and increase their awareness of where Business Aviation is headed, most notably, the change in the Business Aviation workforce. Many courses focused on the influx of young professionals entering Business Aviation, and how the industry is changing to meet and take advantage of the latest technological trends.
“Think of each other as a resource and share ideas, listen to people who have a different point of view than you,” advised Day One Keynoter, Karen McCullough. “We have to be open to continuous learning and new opportunities.”
Furthermore, SDC2019 also put emphasis on its charitable contributions and scholarships. NBAA hosted student visits to the San Antonio Airport where they learned about various professions in the aviation industry, and to gain valuable insight into entering Business Aviation. In keeping with tradition, NBAA collected business attire throughout the event and donated to local charities to help those in need dress for interviews and new career opportunities.
This year’s SDC event was the largest in its 30-year history.

Overall, the event was a tremendous success. It provided an invaluable opportunity for us to learn and connect, and network with industry peers. We were pleased with the event’s exciting environment and the overwhelming amount of positive energy that surrounded it. Special thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by our booth and to those who made this event possible.
Meridian will be at the West Palm Beach Regional on February 6th. Be sure to stop by our booth!

Categories
General

Meridian Exhibits at 2018 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference

The Meridian Team at S&D in Long Beach, CA. (Left to Right): MaKayla Gorski, Kirk Stephen, Chris Battaglia, Mike Moore, Bob Platten, Amber Salvatore, and Phil Boyer.
The Meridian Team at S&D in Long Beach, CA. (Left to Right): MaKayla Gorski, Kirk Stephen, Chris Battaglia, Mike Moore, Bob Platten, Amber Salvatore, and Phil Boyer.

This past week, Meridian proudly participated as an exhibitor at the 2018 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2018). This year’s conference was held in Long Beach, CA, from Tuesday, February 6 through Friday, February 9. The event demonstrated once again its continuing value as the premier educational and networking event for professionals involved in business aviation logistics.
The special 4-day show featured more than 550 exhibitors on a sold-out floor and more than 2,900 attendees (150 first-timers). Both numbers set new records for SDC. In addition, the program included dozens of innovative education sessions, various networking events and ample opportunities to give back to the local community.
“This is the place for a scheduler or dispatcher to go for professional development and education,” said NBAA Vice President of Operational Excellence and Professional Development Mike Nichols, “Especially for someone brand new to the industry, it’s one-stop shopping for what they need to know, not only with great education sessions, but also with peer-to-peer learning that happens outside of the education sessions on the trade show floor.”
SDC2018 included many new features, most notably an increased focus on educational opportunities. With more than 30 education sessions offered, SDC2018 had something for everyone. Tyler Austin, Manager of Professional Development at NBAA, made it clear that they were, “strategic in thinking through what we should offer in our 33-session program, and we listened closely to what attendees said they wanted- from the basics of scheduling to operating internationally, to starting their own business.”
Furthermore, SDC2018 also put emphasis on its charitable contributions. This year alone, three charities received support through the Pay It Forward Campaign, including Dress for Success, Pacific Gateway, and Clothes the Deal, all of which help less fortunate men and women in the Long Beach Community. In addition, dozens of monetary training scholarships were awarded at this year’s show.
In order to create brand awareness and draw traffic to our booth, the Meridian team held a raffle with a grand prize giveaway of an Apple iPhone X! Other prizes included Amazon gift cards. The raffle was a huge success as it drew a very large crowd of business aviation professionals to our location. The entire raffle was captured on Facebook Live.
The lucky winners were:

  • Dean Lynch of CTP Aviation (Grand Prize)
  • Shane Yuknis of Lyon Aviation
  • Rob Swan of Harrods Aviation

Congratulations to the Meridian raffle winners at S&D last week! The Grand Prize winner was Dean Lynch of CTP Aviation (3rd from left), with other prizes going to Shane Yuknis (left), and Rob Swan (2nd from right).
Congratulations to the Meridian raffle winners at S&D last week! The Grand Prize winner was Dean Lynch of CTP Aviation (3rd from left), with other prizes going to Shane Yuknis (left), and Rob Swan (2nd from right).

Overall, the event was a tremendous success. It provided an invaluable opportunity for us to learn and connect, as well as network with industry peers. We were pleased with the event’s exciting environment as well as the overwhelming amount of positive energy that surrounded it. Special thanks to everyone who took the time to stop by our booth and to those who made this event possible.
The next Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference, which will mark the event’s 30th anniversary, is set for January 29 – February 1, 2019 in San Antonio, TX. We look forward to seeing you there!

Categories
Aircraft Management General Private Air Charter

Meridian Exhibits at S&D’s 25th Anniversary

Team Meridian at Schedulers & Dispatchers 2014 in New Orleans. Pictured from left to right are Bob Platten, Phil Boyer, Amber Salvatore, Jamie Labocki, Mike Moore, Emil Iannone, Kirk Stephen, and Anthony Banome.
Team Meridian at Schedulers & Dispatchers 2014 in New Orleans.
Pictured from left to right are Bob Platten, Phil Boyer, Amber Salvatore, Jamie Labocki, Mike Moore, Emil Iannone, Kirk Stephen, and Anthony Banome.

Meridian, the award-winning private aviation company based at Teterboro Airport, was proud to exhibit at the 2014 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference (SDC2014), which was held in New Orleans, LA, last week. The company was well-represented by eight associates from various departments, including Charter Operations, Charter Sales, Aircraft Management, FBO Fuel Sales, and Marketing. This year marked the 25th anniversary of the conference, which broke attendance records measured by both registrants and exhibitors. A record 2,671 attended the four-day event, and a record 495 exhibitors participated in the event. “We are thrilled by the momentum this show has gained through the years,” said Mike Nichols, NBAA’s vice president, operational excellence and professional development. “This conference is always high-energy, and this year’s exhibitors and attendees were clearly excited to be in New Orleans to get down to business, share ideas and learn from one another.”

Interestingly enough, Meridian’s own Bob Platten was among the handful of people to attend the first event held 25 years ago. Mr. Platten says, “I can’t believe how much things have changed from then until now. Twenty-five years ago, there were about 60 of us standing in a room and asking ourselves, ‘What do we want this thing to be?’. Now we look around this convention hall, and we see over 2,600 people who are networking and conducting business. It’s great to see how far this has come.”

Adding to the significance of the event, Jamie Labocki, a Meridian Air Charter dispatcher, was among an elite group of recipients to receive the 2014 Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarship Award. The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and its Schedulers & Dispatchers (S&D) Committee recognized the 12 recipients of the Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarships at the show. These training awards promote the career development of current and aspiring schedulers and dispatchers. The Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarship Program, initiated in 2004, offers opportunities for scholarship recipients to gain access to hands-on teaching initiatives.

The Schedulers & Dispatcher’s Conference is the business aviation industry’s premier event for schedulers, dispatchers and their suppliers. The conference provides exhibitors the opportunity to meet the individuals who are directly responsible for the scheduling and dispatching of aircraft and procuring services for aircraft operations for flight departments and on-demand charter operations throughout the world.

Next year’s S&D Conference is scheduled for February 3-6, 2015, in San Jose, CA.