April 2023

Welcome to April! 


Here's to a new month of beginnings. May the warmth of the sun bring prosperity, hope and happiness! Have a very happy Easter, and let's have a round of applause to our April Employees of the Month - Mandy Wood, Josh Collins, Lance Brown and Kevin Willyard!


Thank you for reading Airways Insider, and as always please feel free to visit us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter!

"Employees of the Month"

Airways Road Warriors!

Mandy Wood, Josh Collins, Lance Brown and Kevin Willyard!

Our trade show travelers, aka The Road Warriors, had one of the busiest months on record in March. In order to cover the business requirements of the month, the fabulous foursome worked back to back to back shows, including ConExpo (the largest trade show in the U.S. in ’23).


Our travelers represent us in every convention city in the nation, providing on-site logistics and customer service. The sacrifices of their time and the dedication to Airways makes them an invaluable ingredient in the success of Airways Trade Show Division. Mandy Wood has been with Airways 19yrs, Kevin Willyard 34 years, Lance Brown 11 years, and Josh Collins is finishing up 9 years on his second stint with Airways. The best in the industry and this month’s Employees of the Month. 

"We definitely ask a lot of our 4 main onsite travel reps. Many months they are on the road more than they are in the office. Some people think they want to travel for work but only certain people can actually handle the crazy schedule and the pressure that comes with it.


"In addition to their responsibilities in the office, they are faced with long, tiresome hours at show site. All the while keeping a smile on their faces and taking care of our customers in the way that they have become accustomed too. It’s not unusual for them to spend 10-15 hours a day running all over the show floor taking and entering orders, passing out labels, answering questions from exhibitors, and palletizing boxes. What ever the need is, they take care of it.


"Their attentiveness and ability to go above and beyond is what makes our shows a success.


"Congratulations to you and thank you for representing Airways so well!" 


~ Brock Wood, Director of Operations, Trade Show Services

In Memoriam

We find ourselves in the position of sharing some bad news. Many of the readers of this newsletter may already know, however, for those that do not know, we have lost a long time Airways Agent, Mr. Rik Lowry. Rik passed away Sunday the 19th in the early afternoon with his wife, Mary Fran Lowry, as always, by his side. Rik had suffered a couple strokes that created the basis for other issues to lay claim to his life. He will be missed by all that knew him. 

 

Rik started with Airways as an agent back in 1992. While still acting as a major booking agent for North American Van Lines, he felt he needed an expedited carrier to serve his client base. During those first few years we often worked with Rik in concert with North American in representing Trade Show Associations and Trade Show Management Companies in their efforts in getting the exhibitors safely moved in and out of Trade Show events. We often served as the Official Carrier on these shows. Over the years as our relationship grew, Airways became the majority provider of transportation solutions for Rik and his clientele. Rik eventually would need to take on a partner and thus with a substantial customer base hired Michael Hogan, Jr. Michael soon had the opportunity to buy into the business and by the time Rik had retired, he owned Lowry and Hogan out right. 

 

Back in the early 90’s, we were accustomed to serving as the official carrier on events all over the country. Rik pushed us to take on bigger projects. We soon were the official carrier for The Super Show, a role we served for several years. He also made it possible to have Airways apply for and eventually be recognized as the official carrier for CONEXPO. Rik always went after the biggest and the best in the industry and so went Airways. 

 

Over my thirty plus years in the industry, I have had the opportunity to work with many great salespeople. Rik was a great salesman. He really believed that a salesman had the highest calling of bringing two parties together and both benefiting with the salesman acting as the bridge in that relationship. Rik took pride in, and worked hard at, his calling. Rik taught a lot of us on how to take care of the customer and think outside the box when it was necessary. Though there were times when he would drive me and others a little crazy, it was that same drive that ran through his veins in every objective he pursued and allowed him to be so successful. 

 

Many of us at Airways had the benefit and pleasure to know Rik on a personal level too. Dale Caudle and I introduced him to the motorcycling world, where it was not unusual to travel anywhere on a two-wheeler. We spent a lot of time becoming close friends on those trips as well as many times working on new business. In this endeavor, again, Rik was all in, earning several awards as an endurance rider. One such award was riding coast to coast in 72 hours. 

 

Simply put, we have lost one of the giants of our industry. Rik became, by his own will and tenacity, one of the best salesmen of air freight, truck freight, ocean freight and highly expedited shipments for the nuclear power industry that we have ever worked with. We have lost one of our own. We have lost a great friend, mentor and one of the biggest characters to ever pass through the doors of Airways.  

 

If you are one of the many to have met Rik, or counted him as a friend, please take a minute to reflect on the positive impact Rik had on you and our company.                      

 

Ken Center

CEO


Rik Lowry 1941-2023

Our Airways Reps sent some pictures to share of last month's shows PBExpo and ConExpo. Thank you Mandy, Kevin, Lance and Josh for all the pictures and a big shout out to all of our road warriors who worked tirelessly from open to close, ensuring all of our freight made it in and out!

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