Professionals across all dimensions of our industry were nominated by their co-workers, industry experts, mentors and supervisors for their commitment to the job, industry involvement, positional achievement and innovation in the field.
Winners of this year's awards represent the diversity that makes up the GSE industry and community. The Future Five represents young professionals ranging from those making a brand new mark on the industry to those who've spent their entire adult life in it, from a marketing director to a fuel storage facility general manager.
While the recipients of the 2016 Future Five have already begun to establish their place in the industry as directors, general managers or senior executives, the young leaders reflect those in the industry that aren't just confined by their job title. They're risk takers, innovators, contributors to industry standards and humble leaders.
If there's one take away from the five young professionals serving the aviation industry across the country, it's that the GSE industry is complex and constantly changing. To succeed in this industry, you have to be on your toes, eager to learn and ready to lead—something all five winners seem to have in common.
The challenges of the industry were, to each of the Future Five, a challenge they were happy to face.
Bryan Hubbard, General Manager, ASIG
Age: 31
Years in Aviation: 14
Bryan Hubbard says he enlisted in the military for the experience, travel and independence, and that's where he found the "tight-knit community" of ground support.
Hubbard studied at the U.S. Air Force Technical School for Liquid Fuel System Maintenance and the Buckley Air Force Base; later, he was an ASIG mechanic at the Denver International Airport (DIA) Fuel Storage Facility before becoming General Manager of the Nashville International Airport (BNA) Fuel Storage Facility three years ago.
As General Manager, Hubbard directs daily operations and said there's a good balance of office work and work out in the field that makes every day different and rewarding. The best thing about working in ground support, Hubbard says, is the feeling of community. That community is made up of people he said he owes a lot to for their constant support.
"...the people that have and continue to help me the most are the folks who work for me," Hubbard said in an email. "I may make the decisions, but they are the ones whom have to go out and execute the hard work on the ground."
In his down time, Hubbard spends his days on Nashville's lakes, swimming and boating. And, when he gets the chance, he hops on a plane to satisfy his itch to travel.
Wayne Ingle, Director of Maintenance, Global Aviation Services
Age: 38
Years in Aviation: 20
For his entire professional life, Wayne Ingle has been in the ground support industry. He says it started as "just a job" at 18-years-old, but quickly led to a fast track of promotions. He found himself in a new position almost every year, until finally he landed in his current position as director of maintenance for Global Aviation Services in April 2015.
Before his time at Global Aviation Services, Ingle worked for Aircraft Service International Group (ASIG) in several positions from ground support equipment (GSE) supervisor to his last position with the company—director of technical services, where he oversaw around 200 employees.
Ingle says the "sense of urgency" and constant, daily change are what keep him in ground support. Although he says "ground support technology changes faster than you can learn" a lot of the time, he finds challenge in keeping his "team sharp" by pulling the "pencil away from the paper" and trailing the things that work.
Ingle holds credentials in GSE and fleet training from nine different manufacturers, and is certificated in 5S, a shop efficiency certification, and leadership development training.
When Ingle isn't overseeing 67 locations and around 250 employees at Global Aviation, he brings it back to where it all started: cars. Ingle got into automotive mechanics in high school before finding his way to the ground support industry, and now in his spare he restores old cars.
Nicole Romeo, Senior Account Executive, Xced Aviation Services
Age: 37
Years in Aviation: 1
With just over a year in the ground support industry, Nicole Romeo may be a newbie, but she has found her place and gained industry understanding through her position as Senior Account Executive of Xced Aviation Services.
"I truly love GSE—being a part of the industry," Romeo says.
But the ground support industry is ever-changing and complex, Romeo says, and there's no one place you can go to learn it all. She said the challenge (and fun) of emerging in this industry starts with feeling comfortable in learning as you go and noticing yourself start to "speak the GSE language."
Romeo started at Xced when William Long, president of Xced, contacted her and got her on board.
"Xced was a unique opportunity," Romeo says. "We take the extra step, and are with the customer from beginning to end. We're customer-focused and family owned. It's a positive place to be."
Romeo is the top rated account executive at Xced, according to Long.
"Her commitment, continued development in the industry and her drive in a male-dominated industry has earned her a wide range of respect from her colleagues across the industry," Long wrote in his nomination.
Derek Rose, Director and Vice President of Marketing, AERO Specialties
Age: 34
Years in Aviation: 12
Growing up around pilots, from his brother to his grandparents, it was almost expected that Derek Rose would follow suit. But despite completing ground school and heading down the path to receiving his own pilots license, he didn't see himself in the air. Still, Rose couldn't seem to shake aviation even after a college baseball scholarship and graduating with a degree in politics and economics.
Twelve years ago, around Christmas, Rose accepted a part-time position as an assistant for international marketing at AERO Specialties. Fast forward to present time, Rose is now the Vice President and Director of Marketing at AERO Specialties, where he oversees sales and marketing, and has a hand in both product development and international exporting. Rose says the benefit of working in a smaller company with emphasis on customer service is getting to wear "a lot of different hats." He finds challenge in working in what he calls a complicated industry, where there is always something new to learn and no one knows it all – even if they think they do.
Rose travels internationally for work, and for pleasure, but when he's not overseeing AERO Specialties' marketing or attending conventions, he's paddle boarding on the Rock River in his hometown of Boise, Idaho.
Tom Boriack, Director of Product Management and Innovation, BETA Fueling Systems
Age: 36
Years in Aviation: 20
When Tom Boriack stepped inside an airplane for the first time in high school, he says, it "sealed the deal" for him and he never looked back. Since then, he's always jumped at the opportunity to get involved in aviation in anyway he's needed, from shuffling around trash cans at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as a high school volunteer to contributing to various documents in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)'s Aviation Ground Fueling Systems Committee.
Boriack, who considers himself a pilot by trade, has been in aviation for 20 years now, 16 of which have been in the ground support industry.
"His range in the aviation industry is multi-faceted: ground support, inflight (commercial pilot), dispatch/scheduling, accident investigation, sales and general management," Sandra Greinke, BETA Fueling Systems Administrative Assistant, wrote in her nomination. "[It] only serves to demonstrate his passion and commitment to the industry."
Boriack is currently the Director of Product Management and Innovation at BETA Fueling Systems, where he creates products and contributes to industry standards. In addition to his position at BETA, he serves on several committees. Boriak is a member of SAE AE-5C, where he has contributed to at least five aviation fueling-related documents, the National Fire Protection Association 407—which outlines standards for aircraft fueling services—and participates in the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Boriack was also nominated by a service member and BETA employee for the Patriot Award. The award, which Boriack received, is given through the ESGR, a U.S. Department of Defense office, to recognize supervisors who make special efforts to support service members and their family "through a wide-range of measures."
"They give a lot to us," Boriack said of service members. "We owe everything we have to them."
