FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 14, 2018

 

PORTLAND – Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) today announced two recipients of the second ACI-NA Excellence in Human Resources Recognition Program. The winners were recognized during an awards gala dinner at the 2018 ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference in Portland, OR, which was attended by more than 600 commercial management, human resource, and finance executives from the North American airport industry.

“The ACI-NA Excellence in Human Resources Recognition Program Award was established to acknowledge airports’ outstanding achievements in recognizing the vital contribution of human resources to the success of the airport,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Airports are powerful economic engines that require the talented professionals to drive a sustainable business model. I applaud San Diego International Airport and Pittsburgh International Airport for their significant investments in human resources.”

Overall Human Resources Program Award Winner: San Diego International Airport (San Diego County Regional Airport Authority)

With a new executive leadership and a major terminal development plan at San Diego International Airport in the works, the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority aspires to enhance its position as an economic gateway to the San Diego region. In the last year, the organization has placed a strong focus on investing in the right talent to play a leading role in the success of the business and effectively answer future challenges of the airport. The result of the team’s efforts is an organizational culture that fosters innovation, exhibits resilience, and achieves the highest levels of employee productivity and commitment to the Airport Authority’s vision and strategy.

“Human Resources, at its heart, is about much more than simply hiring good people,” said Kim Becker, SAN’s President/CEO. “That’s why we call our human resources department ‘Talent, Culture & Capability.’ This group not only puts the right people in the right jobs, it works to foster employee engagement and create agile, high-performing teams to carry out the airport’s strategic vision and unlock the organization’s true potential.”

Change Management Program Winner: Pittsburgh International Airport (Allegheny County Airport Authority)

Following the loss of the airport’s hub status in 2004, Pittsburgh International Airport saw more than a decade of declining flights and employee morale. In 2015, the airport’s new executive leadership introduced a fresh perspective to the existing business model to innovate, lead and inspire both internally and externally in order to bring about organizational-wide change. Today, the airport is seeing a new wave of momentum, including doubling its nonstop destinations in three years, and better reflecting the resurgence of the region it serves. This transformation has improved its terminal and customer satisfaction scores, increased its community engagement and re-energized the airport team.

”The tremendous change brought about at Pittsburgh International Airport by our team and the success that has stemmed from it has been recognized in our community and throughout the industry,” said Allegheny County Airport Authority CEO Christina Cassotis. “Our Human Resources team, led by Senior Vice President Lisa Naylor, has been integral to that success with a sound strategy as a key partner in driving change management. On behalf of ACAA, I’d like to thank ACI-NA for recognizing our remarkable turnaround.”