Leadership Category: Executive Directors

Brian Reed is President of Landrum & Brown Inc., the global leader in aviation planning and development, with 22 offices around the wor21ld, and projects on every continent.

As a recognized aviation industry leader, he has served as Board Chair of the Airport Consultants Council, Board Member and Chair of the Corporate Committee for the American Association of Airport Executives, and has been active with the Design Professionals Coalition and the Construction Industry Round Table. He is currently active with the Airports Council International, both North America and World.

Reed has over 30 years of experience with the full spectrum of client types, including airport owners, public‐private partnerships, private businesses, developers, architecture/engineering firms, program management firms, construction contractors, local and state governments, as well as federal governments in the U.S. and other countries. His technical experience includes planning, environmental, architecture, engineering, and construction phase services.

He has worked with clients in North America, South America, Asia and the Middle East.

Always believing in community leadership, Reed has been involved in his home town with Leadership Jacksonville, Leadership Florida, Jacksonville Civic Council, Florida Chamber Board of Directors, and the Florida Council of 100. He is also engaged with the Jacksonville Sports Council, Jacksonville Chamber Board of Governors, and Jacksonville’s Downtown Rotary.

Reed holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Michigan State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Houston.

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.

Ricky Smith was appointed Executive Director/CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) on July 10, 2015. Mr. Smith is responsible for the management and operations of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall), Martin State Airport, and regional aviation activities throughout the State of Maryland.

Mr. Smith, a 32-year transportation professional, returned to Maryland after serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Airport System, which includes Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Burke Lakefront Airport. In addition, he was responsible for overseeing the development and management of the City’s lakefront properties.

Since returning to BWI Marshall, Mr. Smith has led the airport to five (5) consecutive record-setting years for passengers including restoring BWI Marshall as the busiest airport in the Washington/Baltimore region and the Best Airport in North America for Customer Service according to Airport Council International. Establishing a culture of performance, customer service, safety, and innovation, the airports have received several other national and regional awards for customer service, capital development, and marketing including a Emmy Awards in 2018 and 2019. In 2017, the LaunchPad program was started to enable minority-owned micro-businesses the opportunity to participate in BWI Marshall’s thriving food and retail program without barriers to entry. In 2015, he launched the BWI Marshall Youth Initiative aimed at introducing youth in Baltimore City to careers in aviation and transportation. To date, over 100 youths have participated in this program.

Prior to his service in Cleveland, Mr. Smith served as the Chief Operating Officer for the MAA, where he helped lead BWI Marshall Airport through a $2 billion expansion program, increased air service throughout the world, and the creation of a new food and retail program. Prior to returning to the MAA, after a two-year departure, Ricky served as the Deputy Administrator for the Maryland State Highway Administration. In addition, he served in the private sector for several years with International Business Machines, H&R Block Business Services, The May Company, and others.

Ricky holds an Accounting degree from Howard University and an Executive MBA from Loyola University in Maryland. He is a graduate of several leadership programs, including the Greater Baltimore Committee and Leadership Cleveland. He is active on several national and local boards and industry associations including the Airport Minority Advisory Council where he serves as Board Chair, American Association of Airport Executives, the Washington Board of Trade, the BWI Business Partnership, World Trade Center Institute, Greater Baltimore Urban League where he serves as Board Chair, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture where he serves as Vice Board Chair, and the Morgan State University School of Communications Board of Advisors.

He has been recognized as the ‘Best State Executive for Minority Business Enterprise’ by the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association (2022), ‘Leon C. Watkins Guardian Award’ recipient by Airports Council International/North America (2020), ‘Man of the Year’ by Women Transportation Seminar (2019), ‘Leadership in Excellence’ by Leadership Anne Arundel (2019), ‘Power 10 CEO’ by the Baltimore Business Journal (2018), ‘People Who Move America’ by the Boys Scouts of America (2018), ‘Thomas G. Newsome Founder’s Leadership Award’ by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (2018), ‘Influential Marylander’ by The Daily Record (2017), the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association ‘Black History Hero’ award (2017), ‘Most Influential CEO in Northeast Ohio’ by Crain’s Magazine (2014, 2013), ‘National Executive of the Year’ by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (2010), and ‘Congressional Achievement Award’ from Congressman Elijah Cummings (2006).

Torrance “Tory” Richardson, A.A.E. is the Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s president and CEO, overseeing all functions and activities of Michigan’s second-busiest airport. He is also responsible for developing and implementing the Ford Airport’s strategic vision, including long-term plans for future development, infrastructure improvement, guest growth and other initiatives.

Successful in guiding airports through significant change and boosting regions’ economic vitality, Tory is leading the Authority’s Project Elevate, a revolutionary expansion of the Airport to accommodate passenger growth that includes adding nonstop international commercial flights. He has managed numerous airport functions during his long aviation career, from HR and operations to government affairs and strategy. He started out as an airport maintenance worker doing lighting, airfield, asphalt and concrete repairs.

Prior to joining the Ford Airport in 2019, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which oversees three airports in central Ohio: John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field. During his tenure, passenger traffic grew 33% to more than 8.4 million travelers while freight increased 91% to more than 300 million pounds. He previously served as the Columbus Regional Airport Authority’s chief strategy officer and vice president of human resources, government affairs and strategy. Before that, he was executive director of airports for the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, which includes Fort Wayne International Airport and Smith Field Airport. He also was executive director and operations director at Rapid City Regional Airport and an operations specialist and maintenance worker at Dubuque Regional Airport in Iowa.

Tory is past Chair of the American Association of Airport Executives and is past President of the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. He also has held leadership positions with the Airports Council International-North America and is past President of the Ohio Aviation Association. He has a bachelor of science degree in aviation management from the University of Dubuque.

Ms. Higgins has been with the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust for over 20 years, and was named Chief Executive Officer in March 2019 after serving previously as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director of Marketing & Community Relations.  As Chief Executive Officer, she develops organizational policy, administers all activities associated with the operation of Tulsa International Airport and Tulsa Riverside Airport, and sets the organization’s annual and strategic business plans.  She graduated cum laude from the University of Tulsa Business School, where she was named Outstanding Marketing Graduate, with a degree in Marketing and double minors in Management and Russian Language.  She achieved the professional designation of Accredited Airport Executive from the American Association of Airport Executives in June 2010. In addition to her work at the airport, she serves on the advisory boards of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and Tulsa Community College’s aviation program.  She also actively supports Challenge Air for Kids and serves on their Tulsa Fly Day event committee.

Mr. Justin Erbacci serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA). He has been with LAWA since October 2016, and was appointed as CEO by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti in June 2020.

As CEO, Mr. Erbacci has oversight of Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) general aviation airports. He leads the team responsible for transforming LAX into a world-class airport for the modern traveler and thus returning LAX to its iconic status. His responsibilities involve managing more than $14 billion in programs to revolutionize how guests access the airport, to modernize all of LAX’s terminals and to significantly improve operations, retail, food and beverage and the overall guest experience. He also oversees programs to bring innovation and sustainability to VNY, one of the nation’s busiest general aviation airports. Mr. Erbacci oversees the largest airport police force in the United States, and works with his public safety team and outside government stakeholders to ensure the protection of the public and property. He and his team work closely with the community and airport stakeholders to fulfill LAWA’s vision of Gold Standard Airports … Delivered.

Prior to his full-time appointment, Mr. Erbacci served as Interim CEO for the first six months of 2020, where he guided LAWA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the establishment of innovative safety protocols and new technologies to help keep LAWA’s airports clean and safe and its airport guests and employees healthy and secure. Mr. Erbacci also led the formulation of creative solutions to the significant fiscal pressures imposed on LAWA and its partners due to the sudden and dramatic downturn in travel.

Mr. Erbacci previously served as LAWA’s Chief Operating Officer, and was responsible for overseeing a realigned executive organization focused on implementation and delivery of LAWA’s multibillion-dollar modernization program. As COO he led the integration of the capital development, guest experience, innovation, commercial strategy, information technology, environment and sustainability and operations and facilities management functions. Mr. Erbacci first joined LAWA in October 2016 as Chief Innovation and Technology Officer (CITO) and Deputy Executive Director. In this role he was responsible for implementing LAWA’s overall technology vision and strategy, in addition to leveraging innovative technologies and processes to enhance operations at LAX and VNY. In January 2018, Mr. Erbacci’s role was expanded to Chief Innovation and Commercial Strategy Officer (CICSO) where, in addition to his previous role, he also sponsored and led the Terminal Development and Improvement Program and shaped commercial and business strategies.

Mr. Erbacci brings more than 20 years of experience in global executive leadership from inside and outside of the aviation industry. Prior to his appointment with LAWA, he served as Vice President of Customer Experience & Technology for Star Alliance, a global airline network comprised of 28 airlines serving 640 million passengers annually. In this role, he was responsible for the development, implementation, operations, and maintenance of all global IT applications and infrastructure components, and led all Star Alliance product and service activities at the over 1,300 airports where its airlines operated. Additionally, Mr. Erbacci has served as the Director of Global Product Management for Credit Suisse, as a Manager of Business Planning and Technology at United Airlines, and as a senior consultant for firms including Reese McMahon LLC, Cambridge Management Consultants, and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Prior to consulting, he practiced law as a civil rights defense litigator.

Justin earned a Master of Business Administration degree from the Vienna School of Economics/Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, and a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University of Chicago’s School of Law. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Loyola University of Chicago.

Gallant joined the Fredericton International Airport Authority (FIAA) in March 2015, bringing over 30 years of success in the fields of marketing, sales and international trade to New Brunswick’s capital city. Under her leadership, YFC has become of the fastest-growing airports in Atlantic Canada and has completed its most ambitious capital project to date, a $32-million terminal expansion and renovation, ahead of time and under budget—in the midst of a global pandemic. Prior to joining the FIAA, Gallant spent over a decade leading the considerable growth at the Greater Moncton International Airport as Director of Airport Commercial Development and Acting President and CEO (2011-2014). Previous to that role she held various positions with the New Brunswick Department of Tourism and Economic Development including Director of Marketing and Trade Sales.

As leader of the world’s busiest and most efficient airport, Balram “B” Bheodari oversees all facets of Airport governance, including operations and a multibillion-dollar capital improvement program designed to pave the way for Atlanta’s growth over the next 20 years. His priorities are focused on three strategic pillars: People, Purpose and Performance. Those pillars encompass a comprehensive safety and security platform, a robust customer experience program, a sustainable enterprise, healthy financial performance, innovative technology framework, and completion of ATL’s critical capital program on schedule and within budget. A retired Army aviator, Bheodari navigated ATL through the most challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic, from drawdown to resumption of its expansive operations. He has an extensive career in aviation executive management.  In early 2009, Bheodari commissioned ATL’s first Operational Readiness and Transition (ORAT) team, which developed and implemented the activation plan for a consolidated Rental Car Center and the ATL SkyTrain automated people mover. Two years later, he expanded the ORAT team and spearheaded the 1.2-million-square-foot Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal opening, which accommodated more than 12 million international travelers each year before the pandemic.