AXiNsider by Airport Experience® News

Mar 27 2024 100 ep. 31 mins 24

AXiNsider by Airport Experience® News Podcast artwork

AXiNsider is an interview-style podcast featuring in-depth discussions with the professionals, leaders and wave-makers working to steer the airport and concessions industries toward growth and innovation.

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Ep. 20 - Pauline Armbrust, Founder, Airport Experience News and Airport Experience Conference

Mar 27 2024 26 mins

Pauline Armbrust started Airport Retail News, an eight-page newsletter, in 1995 after hearing a soundbite about how much revenue airports in Europe were generating from their retail shops. American airports at the time were just discovering the potential in concessions, making it the perfect time to launch. As the industry evolved, so did ARN. Armbrust transitioned her newsletter i

Ep. 19 - Courtney Thornton, EVP, Governmental and External Affairs, Avolta

Mar 20 2024 17 mins

When the opportunity arose for Courtney Thornton to become in-house legal counsel for the board governing Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, she didn’t even realize it had lawyers outside the city attorney’s office. That role exposed her to many opportunities in the industry. As Thornton began transitioning into a more customer-centered role, she’s had a front

Ep. 18 - Elizabeth Dwernychuk, Director of Passenger Experience, Edmonton International Airport

Mar 13 2024 23 mins

Liz Dwernychuk is responsible for ensuring an exceptional passenger experience for travelers at Edmonton International Airport (YEG). In recent years, YEG has evolved - in its concessions program and overall design - to a venue that is reflective of its region. It’s an airport willing to pilot new ideas and seek non-traditional solutions. And, from an Indigenous Interpretive and

Ep. 17 - Tracy Harris, Vice President, Concessions, Orlando International Airport

Mar 06 2024 27 mins

As vice president of concessions at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Tracy Harris combines her skills in data analysis with her creativity and desire to help exceed passenger expectations. MCO’s evolution from a utilitarian concessions program into a passenger-focused venue offering a broad variety of brands and services culminated two years ago with the opening of Concourse

Ep. 16 - Derryl Benton, Chief Development Officer, North America, Avolta

Feb 28 2024 25 mins

Derryl Benton was a banker in central Florida when he met the late Bill Jennings, then director at Orlando International Airport, at a chamber event. Soon he was running the small business program and then concessions at the airport. Over his 30 years in the industry, Benton has seen concessions offerings industrywide changing from minimal, drab and dull to vibrant and customer-foc

Ep. 15 - Roddy McOwan, Chief Development Officer, WHSmith North America

Feb 21 2024 44 mins

Retail in airports has changed significantly in recent years. Space that previously may have been set aside for a newsstand or a bookstore has grown into large retail marketplaces that give operators more flexibility on term. That, in turn, allows them much more flexibility on being able to follow trends and understand consumer preferences. It's part of an ongoing concessions wide

Ep 14: Nick Crews, CEO & Manager Partner, Crews Companies

Feb 14 2024 28 mins

Nick Crews never planned to join the family business in airport concessions. But, while finishing law school, Crews was also working part-time at LAX overseeing his parents’ news and gift locations. He built relationships, gained an appreciation for his parents’ work and has never left. Crews Cos. has become a leading ACDBE operator nationally, with 35 locations across LAX, ATL

Ep. 13 - Gregg Paradies, President and CEO, Paradies Lagardère

Feb 07 2024 31 mins

The Paradies family was just starting its airport business as Gregg Paradies was graduating from college. He went to work for Macy's in its buying office for a few years before returning to the family business. As airport retail evolved, Paradies became known for bringing brands like Brooks Brothers and Brighton on board. Now, in addition to getting into food and beverage, Paradies

Ep. 12 - Rick Piccolo, President and CEO, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport

Jan 31 2024 37 mins

Rick Piccolo, the longtime president and CEO of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, has devoted his career to the aviation industry. Fresh out of high school, he started as a janitor at Buffalo Niagara International Airport (SRQ). He worked his way up through airfield maintenance into management before moving on to different jobs at airports in Florida. He gives credit for hi

Ep. 11- Paul McGinn, Retired CEO, Marketplace Development

Jan 24 2024 38 mins

Marketplace Development Co-Founders Paul McGinn and Bob Weinberg started the company upon learning the Port Authority of New York-New Jersey wanted a private developer for the Central Terminal Building at LaGuardia. Marketplace became one of the first companies to focus on private sector businesses and practices to the airport. The ability to hand off filling and operating concessi