Iwona Korpalska, Cargo & Mail Bureau Director (pictured left with Danuta Gorecka right) hosted an evening that was held inside a soaring converted space that used to serve the Polish National Railway but now in a clever bit of adaptive reuse has become both the trendy Club Space Disco and noble lounge.
     While people relaxed on comfortable white sofas they were given that all too brief opportunity in air cargo today to be part of a stylish scene while comfortably watching the world go by.
     As Advent 2007 heralded the beginning of the holiday season, guests were greeted by a sumptuous buffet filled with delicacies served for centuries in Polish homes, indicating welcome and tradition.
     Two very large whole poached carp known throughout the land as the “Christmas fish,” were surrounded with warmed root vegetables and salads presented atop a beautifully decorated crimson red velvet table cloth.
     The evening continued with music and fun along with several awards recognizing the effort of LOT Cargo service partners.
     There were also drawings for prizes, and some excellent local bands including a redux of ABBA that played on for partygoers until the wee small hours of the morning.
     Earlier in the day heavy rains had washed across Poland’s capitol but on Civil Aviation Day the weather could not ground the spirit of partnerships forged by the fast growing LOT air cargo enterprise.
     “We just want to say thanks,” said Marek Kasiak (above) LOT Cargo Director, North America.
     “We must spend most of our time communicating by internet and phone, so face to face is tough.
     “But at this time of year it is good to share our appreciation of our service partners in a friendly social atmosphere.”
     “For example we are looking at a freighter in the U.S. market.
     “The opportunity to talk to our partners in this encounter helps us determine where and in what frequency that service may be needed.
     “LOT Cargo is a great partner,” said Kevin Madden (right) who is president of Global Airlift and also serves as Chairman of The Atlanta Airport Cargo Association and had journeyed from Atlanta to join the festivities.
     “We expect and get total service cooperation from LOT Cargo.
     “The proof is customer satisfaction.
     “These people are very hands on about their business and it shows.
     “That the airline thinks enough to greet us in this manner is just icing on the cake.”
     Danuta Gorecka, LOT Manger Cargo salesm Northeast Region is ecstatic.
     Having moved from the passenger side (ex-stewardess) to air cargo some time ago, Danuta said that she is part of a growing force of female transportation professionals at the carrier.
     “It is definitely about the human touch with us.
     “What we are is a family where all of us work together.
     “We like each other and also management allows us to utilize our strengths which not only expands possibilities, but also creates a stronger brand in the marketplace.”
     “Very good people to work with,” said David Bridges of Total Cargo Security Company TCSC, a cargo security company based at O’Hare Airport in Chicago.
     Bridges, an ex-cop said TCSC works closely with several airlines aiding carriers and other air cargo companies to keep up to date with TSA and other security mandates and also in close monitoring of shipments with an eye on total security.
“Working with LOT for example we have developed a good two-way conversation as to what works best while stressing total transparency in our mission.
“There were some customer complaints of damaged consignments when we as part of our mandate opened up sample shipments to check the goods.
“Customers especially did not like that some crates and boxes looked as if they were not intact after being opened for security inspection.
“So we developed a method to bore a small hole into a one way shipping container and inserting a tiny camera and light to inspect shipments without having to rip them open.
     “LOT Cargo stands out because that kind of cooperation can be impossible without an aggressively enlightened approach.
     Asked what kind of safeguards the TCSC “hole in the box”, has for say lap top computer or LCD television shipments, Bridges laughed.
     “We are very careful in any case.
     “Our inspectors all utilize the system that includes various size drill bits depending on the shipment.”
     But Iwona Korpalska, beautiful, smart and one the small handful of female top airline cargo executives in the world says it all proclaiming:
     “Our customers are very personal to us.
     “GSA’s, Freight Forwarders and airlines partners increasingly respond to women in a business that is dominated by men.
     "But most people accept that change is inevitable and the ability to do the job and make things work while reaching goals and delivering profits is the real criteria for leadership.
     "Putting people first is just the natural thing to do.
     “In my view more women in air cargo will just make this industry better.”
Geoffrey Arend