Airport Experience® News - Leadership & Culture Issue 2023

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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AX NEWS LEADERSHIP ISSUE 2023