A Passion for the Air Show Industry

 Ramona Ostrander is the founder of GVS Concierge Services. 

A volunteer-based service created to support her passion for the Air Show Industry's continued success in delivering unparalleled, family-centric adventure, across North America.

Her interest in aviation has early-beginnings. 

From the age of 5, she preferred her parents to take her plane-spotting over heading to the playground or park.

This was replaced with her attendance at as many air shows as she could squeeze into her yearly calendar.

Ramona stepped behind-the-scenes of air shows, as a volunteer, 13 years ago; in a concierge role partnered with the POC of Canada's Military Demo Teams. 

Opportunity to embrace a broader range of knowledge and skills, specific to the aviation industry, came in her role as Business Development Officer for a Fixed Base Operator; at an international airport. This role encompassed a full suite of training in airport and aircraft safety, Transport Canada regulations and line crew activities such as marshalling, towing and supervised maintenance on various warbird jet and prop aircraft. 

She also held a RAIC clearance for the airport, during her tenure with the company.

In the air show industry, Ramona has been lucky to apply her skills and knowledge in various areas, including:

Performer Crew Member, Performer Team Coordinator, 

Performer Team Announcer, Administrative Liaison and 

Booking Agent, Concierge Partner to Military Demo Team POC, Military Demo Team POC, Fuel and Smoke Oil Liaison to Air Show Board Chair, General Admissions VIP Area Lead, 

Sponsor Area Lead, Hospitality Lead and Air Show Executive Director. She has held the role of Sponsor/VIP Area Lead for the last decade with Air Show London.

Membership with NECAS and ICAS have offered her extensive insight and knowledge to the industry, its trends, challenges and the ever-changing landscape of reaching the public and sponsors.

Ramona produced an air show, with evening, twilight and night show elements, involving Canadian and US military and civilian demo teams to the point of its launch, in 2020. Regrettably, it was shortly after ticket sales began the world was struck by Covid 19, and the show was utlimately cancelled. 

Historically, Ramona's career experience is anchored to her 40 year background in community leadership roles, corporate, not-for-profit and entrepreneurial business operations, sales, marketing, fundraising, public speaking, volunteer management, and domestic and international event planning.  

The company's approach to delivering exceptional 

experiences is guided by this set of core values: 

professionalism, integrity, collaboration, trustworthiness, reliability, courtesy, grace, and honour.

The  program and initiatives offered strive to support an air show's efforts to deepen rapport with community representatives and business owners; while securing long-term financial commitments from sponsors, year after year.