Leadership Category: Executive Directors

Chad Makovsky was named City of Phoenix Director of Aviation Services in March 2021. He provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the Phoenix system of airports, including Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX), Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT), and Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR). In his role, Mr. Makovsky leads one of America’s largest airports with 24 airlines providing nonstop service to more than 140 destinations across North America and Europe. Mr. Makovsky returned to Phoenix after serving as the Executive Vice President of Operations at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Prior to DFW Airport, Mr. Makovsky held a variety of roles with the City of Phoenix Aviation Department, Burbank Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and America West Airlines over his 33-year professional career.

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.

Roelof-Jan (RJ) Steenstra is a turnaround catalyst and agile executive leader who transforms airport authorities into thriving and sustainable enterprises. He is recognized for moving businesses forward in challenging economic conditions by making smart and dynamic decisions and leveraging revenue diversification and lean principles to propel organizational refocus and change. His passion for airports is evident through his curiosity and talent for developing innovative and fiscally-grounded solutions – without losing sight of the passenger and employee experience.

Steenstra was President and CEO of the Fort McMurray Airport Authority from 2016 – August 2022 and chartered a new course for the Airport Authority focused on revenue diversification, fiscal responsibility, and employee engagement.

With a vision of modernizing the organization, including adopting a lean business philosophy, RJ and his team achieved the extraordinary. Amidst adjusting to the new market realities and embracing a cultural shift, the Airport Authority was recognized by Airports Council International (ACI) World with a 2018 Airport Service Quality Award. YMM received top honour for Canada and was joined by one other airport in the United States as North America’s best regional airports for customer experience, serving under 2-million passengers annually.

Steenstra’s commitment to always serve his community and industry is demonstrated through his many contributions over the years.  He is a leading voice in the industry, at both a national and international level, being repeatedly called upon to contribute, speak or present at national, transborder, and global conferences and events. He is Past Co-Chair of the 2023 Arctic Winter Games Bid Committee, Director for the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)/ Airports Council International World (ACI) Community of Practice and the American Association of Airport Executive’s (AAAE) Northwest Chapter. He currently serves as Director and Governance Committee Chair on the Fort McMurray / Wood Buffalo Economic Development & Tourism Board. Most recently, RJ has been appointed to Chair the Policy Board for the Canadian Airports Council and Director on the Airports Council International – NA Executive Committee.

Steenstra joined PortsToronto as President and CEO on September 12, 2022.

Steenstra holds a Bsc. in Anthropology and a BA in Communications from the University of Calgary, as well as an MBA from Royal Roads University. He’s gone on to earn several industry designations including an Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) designation, an International Airport Professional (IAP) designation from the ICAO/ACI and an Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD.D) designation from the University of Calgary’s Schulich School of Management.