Airport Experience® News - Leadership & Culture Issue 2023

LEADERSHIP ISSUE 2023 / V21 N251

THE PATH TO LEADERSHIP

2023 DIRECTORS OF THE YEAR! COLLEAGUES HEAP PRAISE ON DOYS OPERATORS MENTOR NEXT-GEN LEADERS

SMALL AIRPORTS

LARGE AIRPORTS

MEDIUM AIRPORTS

Tory Richardson Gerald Ford International Airport

Cindy Nichol Sacramento International Airport

Kim Becker San Diego International Airport

Congratulations, Directors of the Year! We are honored to partner with such great leaders as Tory, Cindy, and Kim who are more than deserving of this outstanding recognition. We congratulate each and look forward to great success together in 2024.

paradieslagardere.com

for the restaurants

HUB OF THE UNIVERSE

a ‘wick

Boston Harbor Distillery Founder Rhonda Kallman (4th from left) pictured he with SSP America Director of Operations Jackie (3rd from left) and members of t SSP America tea craft beverage &

Oliver Wendell Holmes called Boston the “hub of the solar system” in the 19th century. With characteristic flair, Bostonians quickly modified this to “the hub of the universe.” Boston Logan International Airport now sports a wicked-smaht intergalactic red roof that might make drivers along the Expressway ‘bang a u-ey’—and Holmes proud. SSP America is also proud. We’re proud to be part of the BOS community with three new local restaurants that are sure to be wicked-awesome, just ask the Townies.

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12/20/23 8:22 AM

SSP America’s trio of restaurants in BOS is one of our latest, and wicked smaht, success stories as we live up to our pioneering mission of delivering cool and local restaurants to airports. This dynamic triad includes the Boston Harbor Distillery founded by Rhonda Kallman a craft beverage industry woman pioneer. Rhonda founded Boston Harbor Distillery to produce her first love, whiskey, in her beloved city of Boston.

ked smaaht’ matchup ere the am. & local restaurant pioneers

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LEADERSHIP ISSUE 2023

Dear Readers,

LEADERSHIP ISSUE 2023 / V21 N251

Welcome to the 2024 Leadership Issue of Airport Experience News, in which we celebrate the 2023 Directors of the Year and highlight other leadership activities underway in our industry. In a recent conversation with Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/ Northern Kentucky International Airport, the topic turned to the huge commitment - volunteer of course - many airport executives make in taking on roles within the industry’s trade organizations, notably Airports Council International-North America and the American Association of Airport Executives. McGraw, a former AXN Director of the Year who herself has devoted hundreds of hours to the broader industry, said such dedication by many airport leaders stems from a desire to give back to an industry that has given the executive so much. “They say, if I take care of my little corner and this person takes care of their little corner, et cetera, then we’ll figure out how to knit them together. You end up with this big, marvelous, magical quilt.,” McGraw said. “They want to make their little corners of the world better, and hopefully we all kind of fill in around them.” I loved the visual of the industry as a “big, marvelous, magical quilt.” Each airport, each company, is rightfully looking out for their own well being but also contributing to the broader industry. That’s one of the things that makes our industry so strong and interconnected. This issue of AXN helps to highlight some of the leaders and some of the strategies for reaching that goal. This year’s AXN Directors of the year are Kim Becker of San Diego International Airport in the large airports division, Cindy Nichol of Sacramento International Airport in the medium airports division, and Tory Richardson of Gerald R. Ford International Airport in the small airports division. Each has shown extraordinary abilities in leading their organizations toward excellence, and each also gives time and expertise to the broader aviation industry. Full features about each director can be found on the following pages. This issue caps 2023 for Airport Experience News. Next year, we will revert back to print for all issues of the magazine. We look forward to covering the industry for you in 2024!

THE PATH TO LEADERSHIP

2023 DIRECTORS OF THE YEAR! COLLEAGUES HEAP PRAISE ON DOYS OPERATORS MENTOR NEXT-GEN LEADERS

Happy Holidays!

Carol Ward Editor-in-Chief

Airport Experience News carol@airportxnews.com

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FEATURES

18 Becker’s Vision Kim Becker, president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and AXN’s Director of the Year in the large airports division, shares her goals and vision for San Diego International Airport and for the broader aviation industry. 24 Sharing Credit Colleagues of Kim Becker say she’s a consummate professional whose inclusive nature engenders loyalty and admiration. 26 Tackling Big Industry Issues Cindy Nichol, director of airports for the Sacramento County Airport System and AXN’s Director of the Year in the medium airports division, has a heavy lift with a major expansion plan underway, but she’s also hip-deep in helping solve a variety of industry issues. 32 Financial Whiz Those who have worked with Cindy Nichol over the years are uniformly wowed by her financial prowess. But they also praise her thoughtful approach and capacity for in-depth understanding of a variety of subjects. 34 Small Airport, Big Impact Tory Richardson, president and CEO at Gerald R. Ford International Airport and AXN’s Director of the Year in the small airports division, has steered his airport through a major redevelopment while also helping guide the industry through the Covid-19 pandemic. 40 Positive Approach Colleagues point to Tory Richardson’s steady management hand and positive nature, coupled with broad-based industry experience, as key attributes to his success in airports.

COLUMNS 1 Letter From The Editor 6 Data Check An AeroCloud study examines concerns about airport financial stability even as robust recovery continues. 11 Latest Buzz Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport is expanding the Mickey Leland International Terminal as part of a $1.4 billion redevelopment project. 46 Climbing The Ladder The path to leadership is never a straight line. Ten airport and concessions leaders share their unique experiences in getting to “the top,” and offer advice to those seeking a similar role. 52 Next-Gen Mentoring With the labor shortage continuing and top-tier workers more difficult to come by, the industry’s leading concessionaires are molding their top team members for future leadership roles.

14 Director’s Chair Perry Miller, president and CEO

of the Capital Region Airport Commission, which oversees Richmond International Airport, took the helm just prior to the pandemic. Now with his airport nearly fully recovered, Perry shares his vision for growth. 57 One-on-One Brandi Bynum, section chief of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign, shares how airports and concessionaires can assist in raising public awareness of human trafficking.

59 Advertising Index 60 Before You Take Off

Comfort food and international flavors are catching on in a big way, according to the latest trends report from the National Restaurant Association .

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Along with the Boston Harbor Distillery, SSP America’s newest BOS brand line-up includes two New England powerhouses considered household names to Bostonians. Sal’s Pizza is one the most recognizable pizza names in New England while Wahlburgers is the brainchild of the superstar family of Mark, Donnie, and Paul Wahlberg. SSP America’s BOS team is keeping up with the popularity of these three winning brands by serving up craft cocktails, pizza and burgers— one passenger at a time . Three BOSTON brands one passenger at a time

TEAM

Desiree Hanson Chief Commercial Officer Melissa Montes Vice President/Publisher Carol Ward

Editor-in-Chief Nicole Watson Business Development Manager

Andrew Tellijohn Senior Reporter Sally Kral Contributing Writer Sarah Beling Contributing Writer

Barbara McCarter Portfolio Manager Chad Wimmer Senior Editorial Art Director Rae Lynn Cooper Production Manager Amanda Gochee Vice President, Marketing Strategy Katy Welch Senior Marketing Manager Tessa Mullins Marketing Coordinator Tristan Lueck Marketing Coordinator

Airport Experience ® News Is a Division of CLARION Events 6421 Congress Ave., Suite 107 Boca Raton, FL 33487 Phone 561.257.1026 Fax 561.228.0882 To subscribe visit https://airportxnews.com/subscribe/ ISSN: 1948-4445 Russell Wilcox Executive Chairman Lisa Hannant Chief Executive Officer, Clarion Events Greg Topalian CEO, Clarion Events North America and Left Field Media Liz Irving President, Clarion Events North America Copyright © 2023 Airport Experience ® News, all rights reserved. Any reproduction of this magazine is strictly forbidden without prior permission from Airport Experience ® News.

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DATA CHECK

BIG GROWTH, BIG CHALLENGES Despite Growth, Financial Concerns Are Troubling Half Of U.S. Airport Leaders

BY CAROL WARD

However, U.S. airports face several hurdles in achieving this growth. Airport leaders reported ongoing labor issues, with 45% currently grappling with staffing shortages to cope with the increasing demands of flights and passengers. More than three-fifths (61%) of those surveyed identified staffing as a significant risk to their operations in the upcoming 12 months. Capacity is also a key concern, with 26% of U.S. airport leaders saying they are hampered by insufficient terminal space, preventing the addition of more airlines and posing a threat to their expansion and growth. Leaders also noted that disruptive events beyond their control - including delayed flights, air traffic faults or extreme weather – negatively impact their airport’s reputation. 45% of US airports are struggling to recruit enough staff to cope with influx of new passengers

The US predicts 150% passenger growth by 2040

irport leaders are apprehensive about their financial stability despite a surge in air travel,

A

according to a new report from AeroCloud , the intelligent airport management platform designed to improve collaboration and operational efficiencies. Findings from the Getting on the Runway to Growth report, a comprehensive survey of 100 U.S. airport leaders conducted as part of a global study involving 200 airport leaders, show that 51% of U.S. airports haven’t seen their revenues recover to levels seen pre-pandemic. Recognizing the importance of growth, U.S. airport leaders plan to prioritize two key initiatives including increasing growth margins (93%) and optimizing and increasing capacity for take-off and landing slots (95%) to capitalize on the current surge in air travel.

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DATA CHECK

capacity (95%). To facilitate these goals, airports are planning to enhance gate management to accommodate new entrants, provide airlines with access to airport operational data for improved visibility, and reduce upfront investment and ongoing costs through the implementation of common-use facilities, such as shared check-in desks. The upgrade of legacy technologies and systems stands out as a top priority for 92% of U.S. airport leaders, paving the way for increased operational efficiency and better management of disruptive events. Notably, 60% recognize the avoidance of investments in new technologies, including SaaS platforms, automation and AI, as a significant risk to optimizing airport operations over the next 12 months. “Numerous airports in the U.S., mirroring the global trend, still depend on legacy systems and technologies,” says Richardson. “This diminishes their efficiency in managing existing assets and their ability to onboard new airlines, a crucial factor in capitalizing on the increase in passenger demand for air travel. The final two areas of focus zero in on the passenger; namely, enhancing the passenger experience and increasing passenger spend. According to the study, U.S. airports acknowledge the significance of securing high rankings for passenger experiences to increase the number of passengers (92%). Their commitment to improving the passenger journey includes efforts to reduce security wait times, ensure a seamless experience throughout the airport, and introduce additional common-use self service tools for check-in and bag drop. Aiming to enhance revenue, 90% of U.S. airports aspire to increase spending in concessions, including duty free. Their strategy involves transforming the airport into a shopping destination for more pre-planned purchases, offering a diverse range of retail outlets, and reducing time spent in check-in and security processes to allow passengers more time in concessions areas.

Concerns about sluggish passenger spending also came to the fore. While U.S. airport leaders prioritized consumer spending as their number one revenue driver, 67% anticipate negative impact on passenger spending with concession partners and essential ancillary revenues due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. “The U.S. aviation outlook is robust, yet numerous airports are struggling with the challenge of meeting escalating passenger demand,” said George Richardson, CEO and co-founder of AeroCloud. “While 89% of U.S. airports underscore the importance of securing federal funding, such as the Biden Infrastructure Bill, as a key commercial priority for long-term growth, they still have immediate concerns surrounding staff shortages and terminal capacity 92%

of airport leaders say upgrading legacy technologies and systems is a commercial priority

limitations. Presently, airport leaders are prioritizing exploring strategies to optimize their operations and maximize existing capacity, aiming to accommodate more airlines and passengers and thereby enhance their revenue.” The Route To Revenue In the survey, airport leaders identified four areas where they see opportunities to boost their growth: As always, air service development is top of mind. Half of U.S. airports said they have yet to fully restore all routes served before the pandemic, and nearly all hope to increase flight numbers by attracting new airlines (93%) and optimizing take-off and landing slots to increase

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CONGRATULATIONS CINDY!

Director of the Year Award, Medium Airports

CINDY NICHOL

We are looking forward to growing our relationship and expanding our business at Sacramento International Airport. Sacramento Director of Airports

CONGRATULATIONS KIM!

Director of the Year Award, Large Airports

KIM BECKER

We are looking forward to growing our relationship and expanding our business at San Diego International Airport. San Diego International Airport

RETAIL. IT’S AT THE OF EVERYTHING WE DO.

LATEST BUZZ

MAKING A STATEMENT IAH’s International Terminal Expansion Aims For Five-Star Passenger Experience

BY SARAH BELING

ravelers passing through Houston’s busy George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH)

claim facility, while the new D-West Pier will accommodate 10-narrow or 6-wide body aircraft as well as new passenger seating, dining, and retail concepts. Jim Szczesniak, chief operating officer, IAH, says the need to update the airport’s international capacity stemmed from a solid three-plus decades of passenger growth, with more predicted on the horizon. “The existing international terminal opened in 1990,” he says, “and since then traffic has more than quadrupled through that facility.” In 2015, the team began analyzing “where we were at, and the forecasted growth for Houston, and it was pretty evident that we needed to expand international capacity for the airport,” he adds.

Above: Terminal upgrades at the Mickey Leland International Terminal will modernize and expand the facility, which is more than 30 years old.

T

will soon experience a significantly expanded international terminal, as work on the facility’s D-West Pier and International Central Processor (ICP) chugs toward opening. The updated spaces at the Mickey Leland International Terminal are part of the $1.4 billion International Terminal Redevelopment Project (ITRP), the most ambitious expansion in the history of the airport. The project’s International Central Processor will feature 66 new check-in kiosks, 24 self-service bag drops, a 17-lane security checkpoint and a new baggage

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LATEST BUZZ

Left: Paradies Lagardère will open Jetero Market, an artisan boutique named after the group of Houston businessmen who bought the airport land in 1957, as part of the expanded retail program in the international terminal.

After working with Fentress Architects on plans for the facility, construction began in 2020, with the D-West Pier slated for completion in spring 2024 and the ICP in 2025. One of the project’s central landmarks is a 380-foot feature wall designed to reduce unwanted afternoon sun exposure as well as to project ever-changing, localized displays for occasions such as holidays and local sports team events. “It’s a real statement piece for the airport system — we’ve got five-star infrastructure and five-star decor,” says Szczesniak of the large-scale piece. “When the Astros are in the World Series, we can do Astros colors. We can do Fourth of July red, white and blue — we’ve got a lot of options in that feature wall.” Using a Houston-riverway inspired palette of yellow, orange, blue and purple LED bulbs, the wall also displays the progression of time in the Houston skyline, while the intricately choreographed lighting is simultaneously designed to represent a circadian rhythm and gently ease jet-lagged travelers off their international flights. Another striking statement? The series of original artworks planned for installation throughout the ICP and D-West Pier. “The Houston Airport System was named the best art program in the world by Skytrax, and we’re continuing to build on that,” says Szczesniak of IAH’s commitment to

supporting local art. Triptychs by Houston based artists Emilie Duval, Gerardo Rosales, Reginald Adams, Lovie Olivia, Emanual Bean, Leslie Gaworecki, Marlo Saucedo, Nick Vaughan, and Jake Margolin will adorn the pier’s new gate houses, while the ICP will feature a large-scale oculus with decorative LEDs and art features for travelers to enjoy from security check-in to departure. Dining and Retail Plans As for new dining and retail experiences in the terminal, concessionaires SSP America and Paradies Lagardère — each having won 10-year contracts in Terminal D through a 2021 RFP process — will open several additional concepts in a mix of well-known national brands and cherished local businesses. “We’ll have a collection of places at both the pier and what we call ‘the knuckle’ — the area of connection between the pier and the main terminal,” says Szczesniak of the planned amenities. For the team at SSP, the chance to expand the concessionaire’s footprint was an attractive one. Kyle Phillips, vice president, concepts & development at SSP America says the company looks forward to debuting new eateries in a planned two-phased opening, including local concepts that create a sense of place. The company will operate new

Above: The Annie Café and Bar, a fresh take on Texas-influenced American cuisine, and The Kitchen, a chef-driven, global cuisine contemporary eatery, are two new local restaurants that will be built out in the expanded terminal.

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LATEST BUZZ

outposts of The Annie Café and Bar , a fresh take on Texas-influenced American cuisine by award-winning Executive Chef Robert Del Grande aims to provide Houstonians “with a well-rounded, approachable menu in a vibrant, sophisticated atmosphere;” along with Cedar Creek Bar & Grill from local restaurateur Gary Mosley’s, an eatery bringing “a bit of Hill Country to the city;” and The Kitchen, a chef-driven, global cuisine contemporary eatery with made to-order meals. The lineup also includes the well-known Einstein Bros. Bagels and Chili’s Grill and Bar as well as a new location of Urban Crave, SSP America’s proprietary brand bringing “street eats” to the airport. “We want to use some of the signature restaurants that we have in the community [in the new terminal],” says Szczesniak, “because locals always enjoy their familiar watering holes.” He adds that they also hope to lure travelers back to the popular connecting hub with new, top-notch local fare. “If you happen to be connecting that day and you eat at a good restaurant, you’ll want to come back to Houston, which has one of the best food scenes in the entire nation,” says Szczesniak. “We’re going to give you a little taste of it to get you hooked.” Below: An Oculus is part of the International Central Processor under construction at IAH. Once completed, the Oculus will feature 2,000 feet of digital display visible to passengers on two levels.

Right: A central landmark of the IAH project is a 380 foot feature wall designed to reduce unwanted afternoon sun exposure as well as to project ever-changing, localized displays.

Local retail will also have a prominent place at the new IAH terminal, as Paradies Lagardère plans to operate both the Houston Supply Co and Jetero Market , an artisan boutique named after the group of Houston businessmen who bought the airport land in 1957. “Knowing the IAH traveler as well as we do, we selected a unique yet very engaging range of concepts that would be welcomed and recognized but that also showcased the heart of Houston,” says David Bisset, executive vice president and chief development officer at Paradies Lagardère. “As such, Jetero Market’s interior showcases murals from one of the city’s premier artists, Jim Koehn, while the product lineup highlights items from Houston area and Texas artisans, including Frankie Jean, Exit 82 Art, Paris Texas Apparel Co., The Jewelry Junkie and so much more.”

“As always, our goal is to promote the culture, personality, and excitement of the city and the local businesses that are the backbone of the region,” Bisset says. Paradies Lagardère will also operate several travel-wellness spaces in Terminal D, including spa brand Be Relax and Houston-based Nap Bar rest suites. HAS Developments Looking ahead, the Houston Airport System will soon be home to additional upgraded facilities and new amenities. United Airlines is set to break ground on a $2.55 billion redevelopment for Terminal B in partnership with the Houston Airports system. That project is expected to complete in 2026. At William P. Hobby Airport (HOU), a $470 million, seven-gate expansion is in the works in partnership with Southwest Airlines . Szczesniak believes that the Houston Airport System’s investments — particularly in supporting the international travel experience — will be economically beneficial to the airport and city at large. “International travelers like to spend more,” notes Szczesniak, adding that “our most recent economic development study for the airport showed that for each dollar you invest in the airport, it returns about 1.9 times. With our investment, a 1.9 return is pretty good for us.” The system’s many improvements to Mickey Leland International Terminal are sure to bring a more “breathtaking experience,” for passengers, adds Szczesniak — but more than anything, he notes, they look forward to providing international travelers with a memorable moment passing through Houston. “We’re going to be up there with the best airports in the world.”

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DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

GAINING GROUND RIC’s Perry Miller Sets Course For Growth, Including International Service

BY CAROL WARD

ditor’s Note: Richmond International Airport (RIC) is one of the largest small hub airports in the United States, with fewer than 100,000 enplanements separating it from the smallest medium hub airport. RIC could cross that threshold soon if current trends continue. The airport experienced 29 consecutive months of record-breaking traffic prior to the pandemic and, after the pandemic pause, resumed that pace eight months ago. In 2022, the airport registered 2.04 million enplanements. In 2019, the Capital Region Airport Commission, which governs RIC, tapped Perry Miller to be its president and CEO. Miller previously served chief operating officer and interim CEO of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority. After joining RIC, Miller’s broad vision for the airport was interrupted by the pandemic but is now back on track. AXN’s Carol Ward checked in with Miller to get a pulse on his vision and progress at RIC. E

WARD: I’m sure when you stepped into leadership role at Richmond International Airport in 2019, you had a vision for the airport that was completely upended with the pandemic. Now that the industry has weathered that storm, can you tell me the state of play at RIC and share your key goals for the future. MILLER: When I arrived, I set a strategic plan for our organization, which had not had one prior to my arrival. They had been operating in the luxury of having a lot of traffic. In fact, they’d had 29 consecutive months of record-breaking traffic. Once I set the strategic plan, we needed a vision, a mission and some strategic initiatives. That vision was to move people, business and commerce to advance the Richmond region, and we certainly believe we were doing that. Our mission was to ensure that every passenger had an exceptional experience, and I believe we are doing that.

Then we made it very simple for people to remember our strategic priorities. We use this acronym “POWER”, where the P meant we were focused on enhancing passenger experience. The O meant we were focused on on-airport community connections and collaborations. The W pointed to renewing the workforce culture and practices for the Capital Region Airport Commission employees. The E meant we were focused on ensuring that our facilities and operations were efficient and innovative. For the R, we wanted to ensure we’re advancing the Richmond region by engaging the business community. Now that we are overcoming the COVID 19 impact on our business, we probably will shift from our vision - which is to move people, business and commerce - towards hosting international operations. I think we’ll be ready for that sometime in the first quarter of 2024.

Above: Perry Miller, president and CEO, Capital Region Airport Commission

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DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

WARD: What are you doing on the air service development front? What routes are most needed from RIC? MILLER: Richmond came out of the pandemic with more destinations than it had going into the pandemic. We have a very, very active air service development program. We were recently awarded a Small Community Air Service Development Program grant. It’s $1 million from the USDOT specifically for developing service to and from Seattle. We’ve been working diligently to enhance our number of destinations by at least one more in short order. We work very closely with business community to improve our air service options from this region. We partner with airlines for new destinations and cooperatively promote new routes. We work with our travel and tourism, the regional economic development groups

also. We have several destinations that we would like to see in addition to the Seattle route. We like to re-establish the U.S. - Canada transborder service we had some years ago, and there are numerous Caribbean spots that we’ve shortlisted for international operations, as well as several domestic mid- continental routes with potential. And in the not-so-distant future, we’re interested in developing nonstop service to major European hubs. Our [Federal Inspection Services (FIS)] facility will be completed in the first quarter of 2024. Once that’s done we will be capable of accommodating scheduled flights that need U.S. Customs and Border Patrol clearance. WARD: With overall traffic growing and aspirations for more, what are your terminal facilities like? Are you looking at expansion or renovation to meet needs?

Above: Richmond International Airport is experiencing rapid growth, building on strong gains made in the late 2010s. With burgeoning demand, airport director Perry Miller is now setting sights on service to international markets.

MILLER: I already mentioned our growth prior to Covid. Now, starting in March 2023, we’ve had eight consecutive months of record-breaking passenger traffic. We’ve also experienced growth in cargo by 25% for our fiscal year. As as we head in 2024, I’d like us to see us continue on a growth trajectory and there are some things we need do to accommodate for that growth.

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DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

Some of the things we’ve done already. We expanded Concourse A – that was completed in 2020 and provided us with six new passenger gates. We are currently renovating our FIS facility to bring it up to the standard to allow for international service. We recently completed the expansion of Concourse B apron, which will allow us to accommodate future expansion of the Concourse B building to add additional gates as needed. We will consolidate our security checkpoint. There are some restroom renovations we need [and] some signage to accommodate international traffic. There are a few airflow projects on the runway and taxiway aprons we need to do to accommodate international flights. And next year we’ll be undertaking the development of a new master plan. That sets a course for our capital development at the airport for the foreseeable future. WARD: Turning to concessions, who are your operators and how are they doing? MILLER: We have two joint ventures [with Delaware North the lead on the food and beverage contract, and Hudson the lead on the retail contract]. With our growth, there is increasing demand and that seems to outpace what’s available. Our operators do a very good job at providing services and making sure that our passengers have an exceptional experience. But they’ve been here a while and the look and feel is the same (both operators have been at RIC since 2006. Delaware North’s current contract started in 2020 and expires in mid-2027. Hudson’s contract expires in 2030). Frequent fliers and visitors want to see some change, so I think that’s probably what’s next on the horizon. WARD: So you’ll have brand or concept refreshes? And do you have anything new in the works? MILLER: When we consolidate the security checkpoint, that will provide an opportunity for us to expand operations, and perhaps even add a lounge. Right now, we have a lot of pre-security space that’s just unusable [or underperforming]. Both operators are extremely excited [about the consolidation] because they’ll experience significant increases in revenue as well.

WARD: Bigger picture, I know you’re the chair of the AAAE executive committee. What’s top of mind as we head into 2024. MILLER: We haven’t yet convened to develop 2024 industry policy recommendations (as of mid-November), but I doubt there’ll be a significant departure from our current priorities. At the top of the list is FAA Reauthorization. We certainly will be focusing on enhancing our ways and means of improving our infrastructures. We want to also eliminate the federal cap on the local PFC user fees. Regulatory reform is another area of focus for AAAE. We like to see full implementation of section 163 [of the Reauthorization Act], which would help accelerate airport land use development, and we should certainly focus on removing the costly hurdles to the implementation of the bipartisan infrastructure law. (Section 163 limits the FAA’s authority to regulate non-aeronautical property transactions.)

Above: Concessions are performing well at RIC, and a planned security checkpoint consolidation will open up more opportunities for airside concessions options.

Environmental issues are another big focus, such as PFAS - there needs to be a plan to assist airports in moving to the [new required] firefighting foam. There need to be federal funds provided for the acquisition of the new foam, disposal of the old foam and remediation of airports. The small community air service and workforce issues include modernizing the Essential Air Service program by increasing funding levels to at least $20 million. Then finally, we like to see the focus on FAA facilities and equipment and operations. There needs to be some attention directed to that to ensure that we’re operating safely and that we can safely integrate [unmanned aircraft systems] into our infrastructure.

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Congratulations Directors of the Year!

Kim Becker Director of the Year Large Airports Division San Diego County Regional Airport Authority

Cindy Nichol Director of the Year Medium Airports Division Sacramento County Department of Airports

With passionate and involved leadership, High Flying Foods is pioneering and innovating in the ever-changing airport world, bringing only the highest quality and delivering at the highest level. www.highflyingfoods.com

Tory Richardson Director of the Year Small Airports Division Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority

2023 DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR LARGE AIRPORTS

Left: Kim Becker is heavily involved in both the San Diego and national airport communities. She believes you have to be at the table fighting on issues of importance to keep ahead.

AIRPORT AFICIONADO With A Passion For Airports, Kim Becker Is Having A Big Impact At SAN

BY ANDREW TELLIJOHN

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2023 LARGE AIRPORTS DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

As president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Kim Becker is undertaking one of the most anticipated projects in the U.S. aviation industry - the expansion and renovation of Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport (SAN). Post-pandemic growth at SAN has been solid, and the airport has long been in need of an upgrade for space-constrained Terminal 1. Becker’s approach to this project and all projects at SAN includes a commitment to environmental and sustainability initiatives that rival other leaders on that front, making it a model for the industry. Even with a huge project underway, Becker devotes signifiant time to industry organizations including Airports Council International - North America, the American Association of Airport Executives , Gateway Airports Council and California Airports Council . Becker’s vision for her airport and her commitment to the broader aviation industry were key factors in her being selected as AXN’s Director of the Year in the large airports division. Finding Direction When Becker was a teenager, she was unsure about her career path. That isn’t particularly unusual, but what is remarkable is that her mother decided to enroll her in flying lessons. That didn’t stick exactly - Becker found she enjoyed the airport more than the actual flights.

Becker attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania and earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. As graduation approached, she still wasn’t certain what her career would entail. But she returned home, near Reading, Pennsylvania, and applied for an internship at Reading Regional Airport (RDG) where she met Kent George, then executive director, and asked for an internship. “He let me work summer and the Christmas holiday and, after I graduated, he kept throwing applications at me saying ‘apply here, apply here, apply here,’” Becker says. Six months later she was hired as operations coordinator at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey, where she did everything from training as a firefighter to logging hourly weather observations. The view of the New York City skyline and the occasional brush with fame made TEB “a really cool airport to work” she says. “All the stars would land there.” She made a four-year career stop at what is now Hollywood Burbank Airport (BUR), where she helped create an operations group, transferring it away from the local police department, before returning to TEB as assistant manager for three more years. Becker then landed at Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC) , where she would spend the next 22 years. “I worked my way through just about every division of the airport, managing and learning and growing,” Becer says. She was

Above: Through high school and college, Kim Becker wasn’t sure how she wanted to make a living. Flying lessons and an airport internship directed her to the airport industry.

assistant director when the new Terminal B opened and ascended to the aviation director role in September 2013. SJC, located within Silicon Valley, had earned the reputation of being cutting edge and tech friendly. The new terminal lived up to this. “When we opened it, we had all the latest equipment and gadgets,” Becker says. “Things change and the difference then to now is pretty significant, but they continue to innovate and they do a lot of pilot programs. It’s a fun airport to work at, being right in the heart of the tech industry.” Pondering A Next Move After 22 years at SJC and with the new terminal project behind her, Becker began pondering what to do next. She wanted to try an authority-run airport in a city where she really wanted to live. San Diego made her short list of cities, and she knew that then director Thella Bowens was approaching retirement. So, she put her name in and got the call. She started in May 2017.

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2023 DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR LARGE AIRPORTS

The $1.1 billion modernization of Terminal 1 broke ground in November 2021. The largest component is the terminal and roadway enhancement project that will replace the existing 19 gates at Terminal One with a new 19-gate facility. That project is expected to be completed in summer 2025. A second phase, that will open in early 2026, will add three more gates. Finally, in 2028, the final eight gates will open, bringing Terminal 1 to 30 gates. Perhaps more importantly, the new facility will be a 1 million square foot terminal, “which is a huge improvement right now over what we have,” Becker says. It will come with ample concessions, an outdoor patio with a stage and views of the city and the bay, wider concourses, additional checkpoint lanes and other amenities. Art will be a major component, including the “luminous wave” feature that will be incorporated into the façade of the building – an iconic feature that stands out much like the canopies at Denver International Airport (DEN) . “It will be just truly a beautiful facility compared with what we have now,” she says. “It will definitely be an experience that people in San Diego can be proud of.” Additional Enhancements The new terminal will bring with it a 250% increase in space dedicated to concessions. There will be significant local and regional appeal with offerings split into three zones — seaside, heritage and urban – each reflecting a different aspect of the city’s culture. “Concessionaires were very successful in partnering with local flavors,” Becker says. “That’s going to be exciting.” As part of the terminal project, the airport has raised the footprint of Terminal 1 by three feet to prevent flooding due to rising sea levels. Prior to kicking off the terminal project, the airport broke ground on and finished within a year a new Federal Inspection Station for use by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. “I was told we had to get it done within one year,” she says. “Like the runway project, I thought it was a lofty goal. The team was able to get it done.” A new parking plaza for Terminal 2 and an airline support building for enhancing

belly freight movements also have opened. In typical Becker fashion, she passes accolades to her team. “It’s a juggling act with our limited footprint, but with the right team who is motivated to make things work, it’s amazing what can get done,” she says. A final component of the overhaul will create a parallel taxiway that will allows the airport to more effectively use its lone runway. Overall, Becker is particularly proud of the project’s focus on sustainability. The terminal will include temperature controlling frittered glass that will allow travelers to enjoy the San Diego sun but not bake in it. And SAN s building a second cistern for water capture and reuse. The first allowed for the capture of 68,000 gallons of water in the first year. The airport also collects condensate drops from air conditioners and partnered with a local brewery that was able to make more than 450 gallons of beer – Hoppy Trails IPA and Pre-Flight Pilsner – from its efforts. Multi-phase projects like the SAN Terminal 1 undertaking can be challenging and frustrating at times, but they are important and will be meaningful for a long time. “The fun thing - what I tell my staff all the time - is that you’re a part of something that not everybody gets to be a part of,” Becker says. “And when you drive past this airport in 20, 30 years, you’ll be able to say, ‘I did that. I had a big piece of that. And that kind of puts it in perspective.” Collaborative Approach Stakeholders in the SAN project have been impressed with how collaboratively Becker has approached planning for the project. It’s in keeping with her overall approach to management, says Steve Hubbell, senior airport affairs advisor at Southwest Airlines . “She is willing to discuss any issue and take airline feedback and implement where she can,” he says. “She really brought us into all the conversations on the project.” Hubbell and Steve Sisneros, vice president of airline affairs, say that SAN, under Becker’s lead, sought feedback from airlines on the recent hiring of a chief operating officer and also was one

Above: Becker has been involved in the aviation industry for the entirity of her career. Now, she’s taking on the challenge of renovating and expanding Terminal 1 at San Diego International Airport..

“It’s been a really good move,” Becker says. “I’ve enjoyed it.” T1 Overhaul But coming on the job at SAN, she also knew, would come with a lot of long days of planning. The airport’s current Terminal 1 opened in 1967. It is cramped, lacks adequate concessions and is not laid out well to meet modern airport needs. “The customer experience is absolutely atrocious,” Becker says. “It’s embarrassing, there are not enough concessions. There are not enough places to sit. There are not enough chargers to make sure everybody has what they need before they board that flight. We’re extremely excited about this project.”

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2023 LARGE AIRPORTS DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR

industry to congratulate and offer assistance to Rhee when named to her post in Chicago. “She has been a godsend to me and so many other women,” Rhee says, adding that “she also understands the importance of reaching back and providing that pathway and guidance not only to old dinosaurs like me, but to up and coming young stars.” Becker also provides inspiration, “I have never found anyone else that brings such a measured response with such intellect and a command of the industry,” Rhee says Involvement Outside SAN While planning a terminal overhaul keeps Becker busy, she’s also found time to get involved in both the San Diego and national airport communities. She’s a member of the California Airports Council Board of Directors and the Gateway Airports Council Committee of Directors. She’s active with AAAE and ACI-NA, involving herself in policy discussions in each of the latter two organizations. The community-level involvement was a requirement of the job. “One of [the Airport Authority’s] primary goals was to get the airport engaged in the community.” she says. “They wanted people to know about it.” With ACI-NA and AAAE, “I think it’s really important to be involved and to be a part of making a difference for our industry going forward,” she says. “You have to be at the table. You have to be fighting the battles we have to fight on a regular basis, whether it’s funding or regulatory environment, legislation. You can’t do that unless you are actively involved.” Becker also helps plan the annual local Kyoto Prize Symposium gala, which helps illuminate the vision of the Inamori Foundation , founded by Japanese entrepreneur and philanthropist Kazuo Inamori, founder of Kyocera Corp. and one-time chairman of Japan Airlines. The organization awards scholarships and awards to local students in the areas of life sciences, math, arts and philosophy. “They’re brilliant people,” she says. “When you hear these people speak, there’s nothing basic about it. It’s a way of giving back to the community in a different way.”

of the better U.S. airports at working with partners to ensure all parties survived the pandemic. “I think that says a lot about how she approaches her relationship with airlines,” Hubbell says. This comes as no surprise to industry stalwart Oris Dunham, managing partner of the Dunham Group . Dunham was the director at three large American airports and led ACI World before starting his consultancy, and he has long sat on SJC’s advisory board. He encouraged Becker to apply at SAN. “I thought this was an opportunity – I thought she would be a good fit,” he says, adding that SJC ran smoothly under her leadership with few issues. Dunham has

been impressed with how Becker has immersed herself into the community, how deliberate she is in taking in information before making decisions and how she gets everyone on board once decisions have been made. He also been impressed with Becker on a personal level. The mother of adult twin sons, Becker was widowed when they were five and she raised them “into fantastic young men” while balancing those responsibilities with her work at the airport. “I don’t think I could have run an airport if I had kids to take care of,” Dunham says. Becker has several peer airport directors on her side, as well. Jamie Rhee, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation , and Joe Lopano, CEO of Tampa International (TPA) , both find Becker’s knowledge of the industry helpful and have reached out on issues, such as how to tackle the nuances of a project or how to collaborate on pandemic-related relief strategies. On a personal level for Rhee, Becker was among the first people in the

Left, Below: Located in downtown San Diego, SAN has a single runway and limited space to expand. The new Terminal 1 is a much-needed upgrade. ”

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2023 DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR LARGE AIRPORTS

Industry Colleagues Praise For Becker For Breadth Of Commitment, Humility SHARING CREDIT

BY ANDREW TELLIJOHN

Whether it’s spreading accolades for success to staff, calling peers to offer congratulations and insights or bringing partners in on airport project decisions, San Diego International Airport (SAN) President and CEO Kim Becker is known for her collaborative approach to her job. Becker is also a measured and knowledgeable supporter of the industry on issues from policy to pandemic recovery. Here’s what some of her supporters had to say.

GIL CABRERA Owner, The Cabrera Firm, and Chair of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority “Kim has her finger on the pulse of the organization. She’s engaged, she’s easy to talk to, easy to work with. She’s really just top notch, we’re incredibly lucky to

KEVIN BURKE President and CEO, Airports Council International – North America “Anything you ask Kim to do, she says ‘yes, absolutely.’ That’s despite all she

has going on {with the SAN redevelopment]. She’s been active in the large hub group (for ACI-NA), active in air service development, active on environmental issues.... And she does a great job as a director.”

have her. She’s only been here seven years, but you’d think she’s been here all her life with her connections in the community and all the people who have worked with her.

MARK CAFFERTY CEO, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corp.

TODD HAUPTLI President and CEO, American Association of Airport Executives “The thing that I think really stands out about Kim is she’s an extraordinary

“She is a leader who you don’t ever see standing up to say, ‘Look at what I’ve done.’ She is always standing up to say, “Look at what we’ve

done’ or ‘Look at what you’ve done.’ And that draws people into her in a way that eludes other leaders when they don’t have that trait. Kim is someone people enjoy working with and supporting because of how appreciated they feel and because of how effective we know she is at her job.”

leader. She has always been very intentional about devel oping leaders in her organization and thinking about lead ership issues. She’s also leaned into innovation throughout her career, including her time at San Diego and before that at San Jose.”

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