Leadership Category: Executive Committee & Board of Directors

Tamara Vrooman is an award-winning leader, known for her exemplary track record leading large, complex institutions in both the private and public sectors and her bold positions on sustainability and inclusion. Prior to joining YVR as President & CEO, she served for nine years on YVR’s Board and for 13 years as the President & CEO of Vancity, Canada’s largest community credit union, transforming the business into a global reference point for values-based banking. She currently serves as Simon Fraser University’s 12^th Chancellor, chairs the board of the Rick Hansen Foundation and is the recipient of the Order of British Columbia (2019), Peter Lougheed Award for Leadership in Public Policy (2016) and BC CEO of the Year Award – Major Private Company, Business in Vancouver (2015), among many other citations.

Jason is a seasoned industry veteran with more than 15 years of senior airport management experience. He previously served as the Senior Operations Project Director for Airports Worldwide, Inc., as well as leading Air Service Development in Sanford, Florida.

Prior to his tenure with Airports Worldwide, Inc., Jason was the Assistant Director of Airports for the Horry County Department of Airports in South Carolina. Jason also spent nine years at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in various business development, properties, and operations roles.

Jason is a licensed commercial pilot and former flight instructor. He graduated from the Florida Institute of Technology with a degree in Aviation Management, and received a Master’s degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Aviation Policy from the University of Nebraska.

Jason has been an active part of the following boards and organizations: the Board of Directors for the IAP Community of Practice; New York Aviation Management Association (NYAMA); the Northeast Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (NEC/AAAE); Onondaga Community College (OCC); The American Heart Association; and is currently the ACI-NA U.S. Policy Council Chair, and member of the Board of Directors.

Jason is married to his wife Cara and they have three children.

Named Commissioner for the Chicago Department of Aviation in 2018, Rhee oversees operations at both O’Hare and Midway International Airports – one of the largest airport systems in the world. Over the course of a 28-year career at the City of Chicago, Rhee has served in multiple positions at the airports, from customer service foreign language assistant while in law school, to General Counsel for the O’Hare Modernization Program (OMP). In 2008, Rhee was named as the City’s Chief Procurement Officer. Rhee has dedicated much of her career to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The procurement reform efforts she led during her career have received national and international recognition, and Rhee herself has received dozens of industry awards for her contributions.

Kevin Dolliole began his aviation career at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport before going on to lead and transform the San Antonio and St. Louis Airports. Now with over 40 years of experience in various facets of the aviation industry, he is once again back at the helm of Armstrong International where he continues effectively managing operational, organizational, and development initiatives like the new $1 billion airport terminal that opened in fall 2019. Under his leadership, MSY was ranked as the number one large airport in North America for customer satisfaction based on J.D. Power’s 2021 North America Airport Satisfaction Study. Dolliole was also selected as Airport Experience News’ 2020 Director of the Year in the Medium Airports Category as well as Biz New Orleans Magazine’s 2019 CEO of the Year. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) and American Association of Airport Executives’ (AAAE) Policy Review Committee, and previously served on the Board of Directors for Airports Consultants Council.

Kevin M. Burke joined Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) as President and Chief Executive Officer in January of 2014. Since he joined ACI-NA, Burke has expanded ACI-NA’s reach and influence as the Voice of Airports® in North America by amplifying the important role airports play in our everyday lives, unifying the industry behind shared priorities, and advancing a common cause with non-traditional allies.

In addition to his proven government relations background and immense experience managing associations, Burke is a visionary leader who serves the airport industry as a passionate advocate for legislative and regulatory policies that strengthen the ability for airports to serve their passengers, customers, and communities.

Prior to joining ACI-NA, he served for 13 years as President and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA). Growing its member programs, its financial position, its standing on Capitol Hill and around the world are among his many accomplishments at AAFA.

Burke began his career in 1979 at the Republican National Committee and later the Reagan-Bush Presidential Campaign, where he served as Outreach Director for the campaign’s Nationalities Division. Following the campaign, he moved to Capitol Hill to work as a legislative assistant and later press secretary to Representative Norm Lent (R-NY). Burke has more than 30 years of experience as a government relations professional, having previously led government affairs efforts for Food Distributors International, the American Bakers Association, and the National Association of Broadcasters.

Burke is a graduate of American University in Washington D.C., with a Master’s degree in Public Administration. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from the State University of New York at Brockport. Kevin and his wife Barbara Ianniello reside in Great Falls, Virginia.

Sam was born in Bristol, England and spent his early youth in Kenya, East Africa. His interest in aviation developed early and from 1973 – 1980 Sam was involved with the Royal Canadian Air Cadets where he achieved his private pilot’s license at the age of 17.

In 1984 Sam graduated from Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario with honors and went to work with the Department of External Affairs. His duties involved planning, organizing and coordinating Canada’s major Summits including, Expo 86, Commonwealth Heads of Government and the Economic G-7 Summits.

In 1988 he commenced his airport career at Vancouver International Airport where he held several positions including Airport Duty Manager and Superintendent of Ground Transportation. In 1992 he assumed the position of Superintendent Airport Operations at Kelowna International Airport and has held numerous positions, including Assistant General Manager jobs for both Airport Operations and Airport Development while achieving his International Accredited Airport Executive designation in 1997.

In July 2008 Sam was appointed the Airport Director for the Kelowna International Airport – one of the top ten airports in Canada serving just over 2 million passengers in 2019.  As Airport Director, Sam currently is a board member of Tourism Kelowna and the International Association of Airport Executives.