Airport Experience® News - Leadership & Culture Issue 2023

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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AX NEWS LEADERSHIP ISSUE 2023