Story ID: 360
NBAA Show Memories: Jack Olcott
By: AIN Staff
Caption: Former NBAA president Jack Olcott remembers the mandate to boost attendance at the general session and the spirit of the 2001 convention.
Word Count: 378
John "Jack" Olcott, founder of General Aero Company and former NBAA president

Although I had been attending NBAA’s Annual Meeting and Convention since the early 1970s, I had always gone directly to the exhibit hall and never attended an Opening General Session that the association held as its kickoff event. My first convention as NBAA’s president was 1992, where I had to be at the General Session. It was indeed an eyeopener. Attendance by convention-goers was sparse, perhaps for good reason. Everyone wanted to see the new products on display within the exhibit hall. Our NBAA Board made it clear that the lack of attendee participation had to change.

For the 1993 event, held in Atlanta, the convention staff headed by Dave Franson and Kathleen Blouin (neé Hull) initiated a new format. We scheduled a special speaker who we thought would draw attendees, and we kept the exhibit hall closed until the Opening General Session concluded. 

The featured speaker in 1993 was Fran Tarkenton, an all-star quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants, and we launched the "No Plane. No Gain" advocacy program with our associates at GAMA. That format, along with cooperation from Ed Stimpson, Stan Green, and others at GAMA, remained a hallmark of subsequent NBAA conventions and I believe characterizes the relationship between NBAA and GAMA today.  

Attendance expanded steadily from 1993 through a high point of more than 33,000 (if memory serves me correctly) when NBAA held its first annual event in Las Vegas. The final attendance figure ended in the number 666. I announced the number as 33,662 since I felt the number 666 was somewhat disturbing considering the venue we selected that year.

My favorite convention was the event we held in New Orleans in 2001, moved from early September to a week or so before Christmas because of 9/11. Some exhibitors boycotted the event, but others joined into the spirit of resilience and support for Business Aviation. The companies that did participate said it was one of their best since attendees were enthusiastic and business was particularly rewarding. Dick Koenig, the publisher of Flying, said that was understandable. Anyone who would interrupt their holiday schedule so close to Christmas had to be a dedicated buyer.