PHX Perspective

Aviation Department Honored with Employer of the Year Award

The City of Phoenix Aviation Department, which owns and operates Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, has been honored with the 2009 Employer of the Year Award from the Metropolitan Phoenix Chapter of Women in Transportation (WTS). The award was presented during the Annual Scholarship & Awards Ceremony on Saturday, March 6, 2010. Assistant Directors Carl Newman and Jane Morris were both in attendance.

The Employer of the Year Award is part of WTS’ 2009 Recognition ceremony. This particular award recognizes an organization that supports the mission of WTS. Nominations were submitted in October 2009, and the winner was selected based upon a number of standards. The Aviation Department excelled in the following categories.

First, nominees were judged on how they enhance the transportation industry. After all, Phoenix Sky Harbor is America’s Friendliest Airport® and the Aviation Department strives each day to enhance the transportation industry through its commitment to excellence by focusing on customer service and offering valuable amenities to travelers.

Next, nominees were judged on their exceptional record of affirmative action. Approximately 47 percent of the top positions in the Aviation Department are filled by women and the department is diligent in their affirmative action decisions.

Thirdly, organizations were critiqued on the support of education given to employees. The Aviation Department offers many programs that help enhance and encourage professional education. These include tuition, seminar, and membership reimbursement, the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Management Development Program, the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Certified Member Program and much more. There are also professional development opportunities through various job shadowing and training courses.

In addition, applicants were judged on how they encouraged women to enter the transportation field as a career. The Aviation Department’s internship program is a perfect example of this. In fact, past interns now hold a variety of positions throughout the United States, including Airport Director for the Stockton Metropolitan Airport, as well as Aviation Superintendents, Operations Supervisors, a Director of Marketing and an Economic Development Specialist, among others.

Finally, nominees were judged on how they support the mission of WTS. In 2007, Deputy Aviation Director of Business and Properties Tamie Fisher was named WTS Woman of the Year. Additionally, the Phoenix Aviation Department has several employees who are active in the local WTS Chapter together with Jennifer Maples, Aviation Superintendent who serves on the local chapter’s board as Program Director.

This award is a major honor for Sky Harbor. “We are the first airport to be recognized,” Maples said. “This is significant because aviation representation in WTS is still relatively low on both the local and international level, and recognition of an airport as Employer of the Year will do much to elevate aviation interest and involvement.”