By HARRY HURLEY
Political Columnist
This week, in honor of our great community, we’ll take a week off from the hard-hitting electoral politics, which I promise you will still be here when we get back!
The 17th Annual Atlantic City Airshow, “A Salute to Those That Serve” was one of the most iconic events ever staged in Atlantic City history.
A mind-boggling 540,000 people attended on Wednesday, August 21, 2019. This transfers into many millions of dollars, when you factor how the velocity of money plays-out in terms of overall patron spending, etc.
Kudos to outgoing The Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Joe Kelly. For more than two decades, Kelly has served with integrity, honor and distinction. We have a had a very close working professional relationship that I will miss very much.
Kelly is the ultimate “Team Player.” Rarely will you come across someone who possesses all of the characteristic traits that you want to see in a chief executive officer. Kelly always gives all of the credit to everyone else, yet, shoulders direct responsibility when any challenge arrives. He never passes the buck. That’s true leadership.
The Chamber has also shown exactly how succession planning should be done. Kelly’s announced departure came with more than 1 1/2 years advanced notice. Michael Chait, the talented Executive Vice President is ready for prime time and has been properly groomed to become the next Chamber President, effective January 1, 2020.
Kelly will remain at The Chamber in a consulting role for six additional months into the new year, to help ensure an orderly and smooth transition. All organizations should take a “page” from The Chamber’s Playbook. It has been masterclass to watch this transition unfold.
Regarding Chait. He is a fantastic executive and a very hard-worker. He has demonstrated the self-initiative drive, attitude and overall work ethic required to follow in the great tradition of Joe Kelly. I have no doubt that Michael Chait will succeed. He’s already a winner and he’s up to this new challenge at this stage of his professional development.
A whole lot goes into putting on the largest mid-week airshow in America each year. David Schultz Airshows is simply amazing at what they do. Airboss David Schultz is as focused and committed to success as anyone that you will ever see in any vocation.
Schultz is an absolute pleasure to work with. His level of communication before, during and after each airshow is outstanding. Even after 17 years and his vast knowledge as to how the Atlantic City Airshow best works; he never “mails it in.” Schultz takes nothing for granted. He’s nimble and effective.
I also want to to my broadcast microphone to the official airshow announcer, Howdy McCann, Jr., who is the best in his business.
Because of my broadcast perch right at “Show Center,” (directly across from Historic Atlantic City Board Hall) it is such a privilege to have a front row seat to the inner workings of how this event has become so iconic, family-friendly and enjoyable.
From the loyal sponsors, who return year-after-year, to the amazing chalets on the beach that look so great, this event works perfectly in Atlantic City and all along the entire down beach areas.
You simply can’t ask for a better viewing venue. It’s perfect. The back drop of the boardwalk, beach and Atlantic Ocean for viewing the finest aerial apparatus in the world is breath-taking.
The United States Army Parachute Team, The Golden Knights open the airshow with a streamer drop and flag jump with the National Anthems of The United Kingdom and The United States of America. It was so powerful and majestic.
From there, the Atlantic City Airshow just grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go for more than four hours. And, like when you were a child, as soon as it’s over, you wish it could start all over, again!
The International flavor added this year with the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, The RAF Red Arrows was phenomenal. They added an enhanced degree of excitement, class and elegance to this year’s other stellar performances.
The aircraft that they fly (since 1979) is the BAE Hawk. They have performed in 50 countries since this team was formed in 1964. Their precision, formation skills and overall technique was electrifying. They honored the “Special Relationship” between our two countries in honored fashion.
The RAF Red Arrows August 21, 2019 performance during the Atlantic City Airshow is arguably the greatest performance ever in the 17 year history of this iconic event. I say this with all dues respect and gratitude that I have for The Golden Knights, The United States Air Force Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron and The United States Navy Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron.
Our great American assets are the greatest that the world has ever known and all inspire the culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach. They take a second seat to no one.
My remark about The RAF Red Arrows, is only that on this day (August 21, 2019), they stole the show, just like the band “Queen” stole the show at Live Aid back on July 13, 1985 in an epic dual-venue concert held at Wembley Stadium in London England (72,000 people attended) and John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia (attend by 100,000 people).
It was a global jukebox, once in a lifetime happening; yet 368,000 more people attended the Atlantic City Airshow! Take a moment to process that.
I want to take this opportunity to thank my employer, Townsquare Media Atlantic City. My President, Michael Ruble and Executive Program Director Chris Coleman have offered their unconditional support regarding all of our broadcasting efforts.
Our various station program directors: Joe Kelly, Gary Guida, Heather DeLuca and Mike Gill are all fantastic, high-quality partners to work with.
Townsquare Media Atlantic City is the official media and broadcast partner with the Great Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce and The Atlantic City Airshow.
Our Townsquare Media Marketing and Digital Directors, Jennifer Smith and Ashley Surkin are also “all in” regarding our many station efforts to bring a quality broadcast to our many thousands of over-the-air and digital listeners at WPG Talk Radio 95.5 FM, 1450 AM and our WPG smartphone app.
Townsquare Media, with the direct support of our loyal sponsors provides uninterrupted on-air coverage from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (or, whenever the airshow ends). This is a great community service and exactly what Townsquare Media is all about.
Here are my fabulous sponsors and good friends who made it possible for our non-stop, live broacdast special event:
United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew; Stockton University, Dr. Harvey Kesselman; Michael Testa, Esquire; Brian Fitzherbert; Resorts Casino Hotel, Mark Giannantonio; Shore Medical Center, Ron Johnson; MEET AC, Jim Wood; Vhuck Malmaut, Morgan Stanley; Jim Malamut, Greentree Mortgage; New Jersey State Senator Chris Brown; The Paul D’Amato Law Firm; The Auto Plaza at English Creek, Charles and Ann Marie Cain; East Coast Roofing, Siding and Windows, Larry Stitler and Somers Point City Councilman James Toto.
I also want to thank Mark Giannatonio for providing some of his fabulous airshow photos that he took (for our column). They are professional high grade quality, including a “Top Gun” inverted photo in crystal clarity, at such a high rate of speed (645 MPH).
Finally, I want to thank my Airshow day, onsite Executive Producer, Jennifer Costabile. She is a tremendous, dedicated and hard-working colleague. We arrived before 6:00 a.m. on Airshow day, 2019.
During our live, 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., live on-air pregame show, we endured torrential rain for one hour and stifling 90-plus degree heat, with a 100 degree heat index for many hours.
Not-to-mention that Jennifer was onsite the day before for many hours to make sure that our live broadcast the following day would run smoothly.
Even with all the craziness that goes on, I hope that you take time every once in a while to realize how blessed we all are to call this region our home. Great things happen here on a fairly routine basis, that just don’t happen anywhere else.
The Atlantic City Airshow is everything that’s right about our great marketplace.
Harry Hurley is the president of Harry Hurley Consulting and Communications, LLC. He hosts the daily talk radio program “Hurley in the Morning” 6-10 a.m., weekdays on Townsquare Media, WPG Talk Radio 104.1 FM & 1450 AM, where he also serves as the senior programming consultant. Harry was elected to both the Philadelphia (2013) and New Jersey (2015) Radio Broadcasting Hall of Fame. Harry Hurley has also been selected (2015-2019) as one of the Top 100 Most Important Talk Radio Hosts in America by Talkers Magazine. Hurley is the inaugural recipient of the New Jersey Broadcasters Association “Broadcaster of the Year” (2019). Hurley was also selected by The Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia as the Broadcaster/Person of The Year for Philadelphia (2019). Hurley is performing national fill-in, on-air talent work for FOX News Radio on their nationally syndicated platforms. He has hosted various television programs in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware and is the editor and publisher of his news and information website,www.harryhurley.com. Send comments to HarryHurley@aol.com
