Ground Support Worldwide - 17

COVER STORY

we built with Alaska is now in its 15th year and
has never been challenged. It was built with
transparency and trust on both sides and is
the same today."
He appreciates the airline treating ELS as
a full partner, adding a 15-year partnership
that has never been bid tells the story of this
successful partnership.

Influential and Supportive
People
When Kulzer joined the aviation industry, stalwarts like Bob Six, Frank Borman and Bob
Crandall were "building empires."
"I was fortunate to sit in on a few Frank
Borman staff meetings," Kuzler points out.
"Bob Crandall drove American from a dying
carrier to the largest in the world. It was a time
of growing, conquering and making the impossible happen. It was beyond exciting."
Kulzer thrived on the excitement and sought

to learn as much as he could about ground support and the aviation industry, as a whole.
"At American Airlines, I was very fortunate
to have two outstanding mentors that believed
in me and truly taught me," Kulzer says. "Dennis McKaige and Bob Baker took the time and
invested in me. I have been trying to pay that
back by investing in others ever since."
McKaige and Baker weren't the only ones
supporting Kulzer. He is quick to point out his
that wife Lois has always stood beside him, and
his children DJ, Sara and Stephanie were open
to moving around the country.
"We've been rolling stones," Kulzer says.
"It started with having a fantastic woman at
my side that has supported and followed me
as I dragged our family from one side of the
country to the other. Without that, none of the
rest would have been possible."
Kulzer emphasizes Lois' support was critical
to his professional success, providing support

at home and standing alongside him when
decisions to relocate were made.
"I've been lucky to have a son that drank the
Kool-Aid, listened to the stories and wanted
to follow me into GSE and make a difference,"
Kulzer adds.
DJ Kulzer, who now serves as manager of
GSE programs at ELS, says his family moved
approximately 15 times before he was in the
third grade. But seeing his father's work up
close prompted him to get involved in the
industry.
"I grew up learning the equipment by running around and playing on it," he points out.
"Then watching him build the different divisions and watching the airlines and the way
they've grown has been fun."

Personal Management, Not
Personnel Management
Kulzer believes that with the rise of "manage-

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AviationPros.com/10017892

MAY 2019

AviationPros.com

17
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Ground Support Worldwide

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Ground Support Worldwide
