{"id":824,"date":"2025-07-15T15:59:50","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T15:59:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/?p=824"},"modified":"2025-07-15T15:59:50","modified_gmt":"2025-07-15T15:59:50","slug":"the-power-of-presence-why-face-to-face-still-wins-in-mro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/the-power-of-presence-why-face-to-face-still-wins-in-mro\/","title":{"rendered":"The Power of Presence: Why Face-to-Face Still Wins in MRO"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>While aviation MROs are evaluated for their technical capabilities, aviation industry experience, parts availability and performance record, potential customers often still desire the \u201csecret sauce.\u201d So, what can truly set an MRO\u00a0 services company apart from the crowd?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn today\u2019s fast-paced business world dominated by technology and the rise of AI, it\u2019s invaluable to find an MRO that still prioritizes the \u2018power of presence\u2019 and strongly believes in face-to-face, interpersonal communications in business,\u201d emphasizes Stanley Kowlessar, Jr, vice president of sales and marketing . Thrust Tech Accessories (TTA), an experienced MRO services company based near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in South Florida.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt TTA, we honestly believe that one of the best ways to achieve that \u2018power of presence\u2019 is via firsthand, interpersonal interactions with customers, potential customers, vendors, and partners at industry trade shows,\u201d he says. In fact, TTA hopes to do just that soon at the 2025 Air Carriers Purchasing Conference (ACPC) in Atlanta, scheduled for August 16-19, 2025.<\/p>\n<p>And rest assured, many other opportunities for one-on-one trade show business interactions with TTA\u2019s executives are just over the horizon, both this fall and in 2026.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Face-to-Face, Different Philosophies<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>So, why should companies participate in trade shows? Kowlessar, Jr., says there are differing corporate philosophies. \u201cBig companies may send trade show staff who are talented and knowledgeable but they&#8217;re not necessarily the people who can either affect change or who are the ultimate decision makers for new business relationships in those companies,\u201d he notes. \u201cThey\u2019re there at the show primarily for brand recognition and to advise potential clients or partners of an executive\u2019s name who the potential client might connect with after the show.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For those attending the show, that approach may or may not be effective.\u201cIn contrast, smaller or mid-sized companies proactively send the same team members that clients or potential clients have come to know, respect and deal with on a regular basis,\u201d says Kowlessar. \u201cSo, they can push the right buttons to create change.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In addition, small or mid-sized companies such as TTA often bring their top executives to staff the trade booth, work the trade show floor, meet with existing or potential clients and partners, and engage in mutually productive discussions. \u201cMost notably, these executives can make important decisions on the spot,\u201d he stresses.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Trade Show Expertise <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not surprisingly, TTA\u2019s leaders are experts in how to effectively do business at trade shows. On occasion they\u2019re asked by customers, vendors, and potential clients to share their tips and best practices. \u201cWe\u2019re happy to share our trade show experiences to assist our clients or vendors,\u201d says Kowlessar, Jr.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, \u201cat times, we too learn something from customers or vendors that we hadn\u2019t thought of \u2013 something that could benefit our next trade show appearance,\u201d he adds. It\u2019s a win-win all around.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Benefits of Trade Shows <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Beyond fostering good business relationships, face-to-face trade show interactions can do the following:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Build business trust with both existing and potential new clients<\/li>\n<li>Help companies build a customer-focused, internal corporate culture<\/li>\n<li>Drive business growth by enhancing brand visibility<\/li>\n<li>Network in a cost-efficient manner<\/li>\n<li>Gather real-time market intelligence<\/li>\n<li>Enhance participants\u2019 professional development<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Even a trade show\u2019s opportunities for lighter moments \u2013 such as at a show-hosted party, off-site dinner or sporting event \u2013 can foster socialization that leads to bonding for participants.<\/p>\n<p>Thus, people who think they have nothing in common may find threads that change their viewpoint. Shared experiences via face-to-face interactions can create a foundation for either a future business relationship or a strengthened partnership.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Beyond Phone, Video, Email <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Certainly, day-to-day business communications via phone calls, video conferencing and emails are great. After all, they got people through the COVID era. \u201cBut people by nature are naturally social, and their deep-seeded instinct to connect face-to-face is highly conducive to good business,\u201d says Kowlessar, Jr.<\/p>\n<p>So, if you\u2019re planning your company\u2019s aviation trade show schedule for 2026, keep these dates in mind: look for TTA\u2019s top leaders on-site at MRO Americas in Atlanta on April 21-23, 2026, and Verticon 2026 in Dallas on March 9-12, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Also, TTA executives will attend EBACE (European Business Aviation Convention); the location and dates are expected to be officially announced soon.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Small Matters Too<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The value of trade shows can transcend a company\u2019s size or the scope of its public recognition. \u201cAt TTA, we believe that trade shows are more than a great way to meet with the biggest players. Yes, that\u2019s valuable, but we also desire to meet and get to know executives from smaller, less-well-recognized companies as well,\u201d stresses Kowlessar, Jr.<\/p>\n<p>Some large companies may staff the top trade shows simply to show that they have managers traveling the world and to continue to build the firm\u2019s already strong brand recognition. And yes, that\u2019s important. But those managers may not be the top decision-makers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn contrast, aviation has such a large base of small-to-mid-sized companies that send the right people, and often at the highest level,\u201d he emphasizes. \u201cFor us, that truly makes our trade show efforts worthwhile.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Power of Presence <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This fall, aviation leaders who desire to mix and mingle with TTA\u2019s executives should head for the 2025 NBAA Business Aviation Convention &amp; Exhibition &amp; Exhibition (NBAA-BACE) in Las Vegas on October 14-16, 2025. \u201cGive us call at 800-935-0875 or 954-984-0450 in advance to set up a meeting time or just drop by our booth to get acquainted,\u201d says Kowlessar, Jr.<\/p>\n<p>He continues: \u201cWe look forward to talking with you one-on-one, whether you\u2019re a big or small company, an existing customer or one that simply wants to know more about our services, or a vendor or supplier who sees positive partnership potential.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Most of all, though, \u201cplease know that we\u2019re eager to learn more about your business and you as well,\u201d he says. \u201cWe truly value those face-to-face, interpersonal business conversations. Nothing beats the \u2018power of presence.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>While aviation MROs are evaluated for their technical capabilities, aviation industry experience, parts availability and performance record, potential customers often still desire the \u201csecret sauce.\u201d So, what can truly set an MRO\u00a0 services company apart from the crowd? \u201cIn today\u2019s fast-paced business world dominated by technology and the rise of AI, it\u2019s invaluable to find an MRO that still prioritizes the \u2018power of presence\u2019 and strongly believes in face-to-face, interpersonal communications in business,\u201d emphasizes Stanley Kowlessar, Jr, vice president of sales and marketing . Thrust Tech Accessories (TTA), an experienced MRO services company based near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":825,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-824","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","post--single"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=824"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":826,"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/824\/revisions\/826"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/825"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=824"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=824"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thrusttech.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=824"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}