Airport Experience® News - Leadership & Culture Issue 2023

2023 DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR MEDIUM AIRPORTS

Left: Along with leading Sacramento International Airport, Cindy Nichol has taken a prominent role on the national aviation landscape, immersing herself in issues ranging from AIP funding rules to airport slot usage.

David Defanti, the deputy county executive for Sacramento County, also praises Nichol’s “big heart and caring approach.” “She is one of the strongest department heads I’ve ever worked with, and it just so happens to be in an area that I am weakest in terms of my background and expertise, which lends a lot of comfort to me,” Defanti says. “I have been absolutely nothing but completely impressed with her, both as a professional and just as a human. She is a great person.” Nichol credits her colleagues for giving her range to carry out her vision. “It’s really my great staff who position me to be able to do all of this, as well as my boss and our Board,” she says. “They trust me and give me a lot of leash to try things - I think they hold their breath a little bit sometimes - but the support I get at all levels has just been fabulous.” Nichol admits she’s fielded recruitment attempts from larger airports, but says she’s happy in the medium hub “sweet spot” where “you have the resources you need, but you’re not as much in the spotlight and the challenges aren’t exponential.” “My goal is to finish my career here, but also to really help engender professional development and to get more young people interested in aviation,” Nichol says. She refers to an annual non-profit airshow that the organization supports. “The point of that is not the airshow itself,” she says. “The money they generate is used for STEM for kids who are seven to 13 years old and in underserved communities. So my goal is to create the next generation and the generation after that of aviation leaders.”

that change intact],” she says. “For medium and large hubs, it’s worth millions and millions of dollars a year.” Nichol also worked on an effort by California airports to extend the rental car customer facility charge in the state, which was set to sunset at the end of 2023. Crediting Deputy Director for Finance and Administration Christopher Wimsatt for his leadership in convincing legislators to extend the CFCs, Nichol says she enjoyed the challenge. “It’s worth about $20 million a year just to us, just to SMF,” she says. “Also, it was really fun and interesting to work through the process of trying to get others, especially legislators, to see the need that we have and to act accordingly.” Kevin Burke, president and CEO of Airports Council International – North America , says he appreciates Nichol’s passion for advocating for all airports, not just for her own. “She always keeps her foot on the gas pedal for ACI,” Burke says. Nichol helped the overall industry navigate through the pandemic and is well-versed and engaged in a range of issues impacting airports. “She is very adept on all the policy issues

that we have to deal with from the FAA Reauthorization bill to environmental issues,” says Burke. “We’re dealing with slot issues, and even though she’s not affected by slots, she’s engaged. She can talk with you about any issue in the airport industry and with great knowledge.” From The Heart Nichol may sound like a bit of a policy wonk, but she’s much more to her industry and community colleagues. While they almost universally point to her intellect and ability to get things done, they also almost universally note her quiet confidence, her humility and her heart. “When I think of Cindy, I think of the phrase ‘inclusive enabler’,” says Candace McGraw, CEO of Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport . “She has such a deep heart and commitment to helping people be the best person they can be. Her financial acumen is well known and very deep - she and I worked together for ACI-North America - but more than that, she’s a good person with a big heart. She loves this industry and gives of herself to this industry.”

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AX NEWS LEADERSHIP ISSUE 2023