If you’ve ever crossed paths with Yasmine Leyakatalie‑Charles, Guest Experience Supervisor at Tampa International Airport, chances are she greeted you with a smile that could brighten any day. Yasmine is known throughout the Airport for her upbeat personality, quick laugh, and natural talent for making travelers feel welcome. 

“If you want a happy moment, come find Yasmine,” she says. “I’ll take that sadness and turn it into a big happy face.”

From the Sea to the Sky

Before joining the TPA family in 2023, Yasmine spent 15 adventurous years traveling the world with Carnival Cruise Line. She began as a photo lab technician but quickly moved into guest-facing roles thanks to her infectious energy and people skills. Life at sea taught her discipline, crowd management, and how to create joy under pressure.

“You had to love what you were doing to make it work,” she said. “We learned safety drills, teamwork, and how to make guests feel like they were on vacation even when we were working around the clock.”

That experience proved to be the perfect foundation for her career at Tampa International Airport.

“The Airport reminds me of the cruise ships,” Yasmine said. “Every day is different, every guest has a story, and we get to be part of helping them reach their destination.”

Finding Her Place at TPA

After moving to Florida from St. Lucia, Yasmine worked in retail management before discovering her true calling in aviation hospitality. She started as a Customer Service Representative and quickly advanced to Guest Experience Supervisor, overseeing a team of more than 20 representatives who assist passengers across all areas of the airport.

Her team’s mission is simple but vital: to ensure every traveler’s journey through TPA is as smooth and memorable as possible. 

“When we step onto the floor, it’s like we’re on stage,” she said. “We’re here to make people smile, ease their stress, and give them an experience they’ll remember. That’s what sets Tampa apart. It’s personal.”

Proudly St. Lucian

This month’s spotlight shines in honor of National Caribbean American Heritage Month, and Yasmine’s story is deeply rooted in the island of St. Lucia, where she was born and raised. Often called “the Helen of the West,” St. Lucia is known for its lush mountains, the famous twin volcanic peaks called the Pitons, and its unique blend of French and British influence.

Yasmine’s family heritage runs deep. Her grandparents owned a plantation in the northern region near Castries, where they cultivated bananas, cocoa, mangoes, coconuts, sugarcane, and spices.

“We grew everything,” she said proudly. “My grandfather exported green bananas every Wednesday. We had cows, pigs, goats, and even a small copra house where we made coconut oil.”

That plantation life taught her the meaning of community and hard work. “It wasn’t just about farming,” she said. “It was about family. On holidays like Christmas and Easter, neighbors would come together to share food, music, and laughter. Everyone helped each other. That’s the kind of togetherness that shaped me.”

A Culture of Flavor and Festivity

St. Lucia’s Creole culture is alive in Yasmine’s home even today. She speaks Creole with her children, plays Caribbean music on weekends, and continues the island’s culinary traditions. Sundays are sacred cooking days, featuring favorites like green fig and saltfish (boiled green bananas served with seasoned codfish), pigtail stew with dumplings, and acra (saltfish fritters). For breakfast, she often prepares cocoa tea, a rich drink made from real cocoa beans, just as her grandparents did using cocoa from their plantation.

“Our food is part of our identity,” Yasmine explained. “I teach my kids how to make the dishes, even if the ingredients are more expensive to find here. It’s how we stay connected to our roots.”

Family First

Yasmine is a proud mother of three: Zena, Johnny, and Darnyl. Her daughter Zena also works at TPA and shares her mom’s love of hospitality. Johnny works as a technician at Toyota, and Darnell, the youngest, dreams of building cars. “They think I’m a little extra when I cook,” Yasmine laughed, “but they love it.”

Her home life mirrors her Caribbean upbringing, filled with music, laughter, and the aroma of delicious food. “When I leave work, I go straight home,” she said. “I check the kitchen, make sure everyone has food, and then I sit outside with a cold drink to relax. I love being outdoors because it reminds me of home.”

Home Across Oceans

Though she now calls Florida home, Yasmine carries St. Lucia in her heart every day. She recently became a U.S. citizen, a milestone she describes as “an incredible feeling.” She still visits her island when she can, reconnecting with family and the landscapes that shaped her. “Every time I leave St. Lucia, it’s heartbreaking,” she said. “But I know I’m living the dream here at TPA, where I feel just as at home.”

The Spirit of Hospitality

Yasmine’s story embodies what makes Tampa International Airport special: the people who bring heart and culture to every interaction. Her Caribbean warmth and lifelong dedication to hospitality remind us that great guest experiences start with genuine connection.

“I’ve worked around the world,” Yasmine said. “Nowhere feels quite like Tampa International. We’re one big family here, and every day I get to help someone have a better journey. That’s what I love most.”

“Our main job is to make sure the traffic flows and that it’s easy for everyone to pick up or drop off passengers,” he explains. 

“We also provide customer service, helping people find the right airline, parking, or just answering questions.”

That customer service mindset is what Remon loves most about his job. “When I help someone, especially someone who looks lost, I imagine it’s my mom or dad in that situation. It makes me feel proud when I can get them where they need to go.” 

Originally from Cairo, Egypt, Remon moved to the United States in 2012, spending four years in California before settling in Florida. He holds a college degree in Greek and Roman Archaeology from Ain Shams University in Cairo, which reflects his lifelong curiosity about people and cultures. His love of history runs deep, and he still lights up when talking about Egypt’s ancient wonders. 

“It’s magical to stand in front of the pyramids and think about how people built them thousands of years ago,” he says.

At home, Remon enjoys spending time with his wife and their two children, a 10‑year‑old daughter and a 4‑year‑old son who’s already showing an interest in soccer. “I love taking them out and doing things together,” he says. 

When asked what makes TPA such a special place to work, Remon doesn’t hesitate: “The management here is very supportive. Everyone works together. It feels like family.” 

And if you see him out on the curb, wave and say “Marhaba”, which is Arabic for “hello.” Remon will be sure to wave back, keeping the traffic flowing and the friendly spirit of Tampa International Airport alive.

Diaz plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity and accessibility of the Airport’s records, tracking everything from board meeting minutes to text messages.

“Every record tells a story,” Diaz said. “Each piece contributes to our history and helps us move forward without reinventing the wheel.”

Her work extends far beyond filing and archiving. Diaz manages dozens of public records requests at any given time, a process that requires balancing transparency with privacy and security under Florida’s rigorous public records laws.

“It can be challenging,” she said. “Public records law is always evolving, so there’s always something new to learn.”

A Tampa native, Diaz brings an academic background that perfectly complements her passion for preserving history. After earning an associate degree from Hillsborough Community College, she completed a bachelor’s degree in anthropology at the University of South Florida and later pursued a master’s degree in information.

“The airport is such an important part of Tampa’s story,” she said. “Preserving its origins, construction, and growth means preserving a piece of the community itself.”

Her fascination with history and culture also extends beyond work. Diaz loves to travel, and she recently visited Italy and is planning a trip to Greece. Outside of work, she loves spending time with her niece and is an avid knitter who enjoys creating handmade scarves, sweaters, and cardigans as gifts for friends, family, and even a few lucky coworkers.

“It’s a way to show love,” she said.

Diaz also enjoys gaming on her PC, exploring immersive worlds that help her unwind after busy days managing records.

When asked what makes the Aviation Authority a special place to work, Diaz points to the people.

“Everyone here is so supportive and kind,” she said. “It’s a great culture that encourages growth and collaboration.”

As part of RIM Month, Diaz reminds both employees and the public that the Records team is always available to assist.

“If you’re looking for something, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re always happy to help you find what you need.”

Delia says the public can visit the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority Records and Information webpage to submit a request for public records.

Looking ahead, Diaz hopes to continue deepening her expertise in the field.

“I’m passionate about records and information management,” she said. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.”

Through her work, Diaz helps ensure that the history of Tampa International Airport and the community it serves remains accessible, accurate, and alive for generations to come.

“Honestly, I can’t believe it’s been 25 years,” Perry said. “Once you’re in an airport, it’s a fun job. You’re learning new things every day. It’s always changing—and it’s good changing.”

From Coffee Kiosk to Senior Director

Perry began his Airport career managing a Starbucks location, one of the first in all of Florida, at one of TPA's original Airsides. At the time he says, Starbucks was still a novelty. “Back then the stores were small, almost like little kiosks,” he recalled. “It was amazing watching travelers discover the brand.”

After his start at Starbucks, Perry managed the Airport’s Chili’s Too restaurant at Airside C before moving up through the ranks: Assistant Director in 2010, Director in 2015, and Senior Director of Operations today. HMSHost, now part of Avolta, operates all of the Airport’s Starbucks locations and many of the restaurants travelers know and love at Tampa International Airport—including P.F. Chang’s, Columbia, Pei Wei, Cigar City Brewing, Gasparilla Bar, and Burger 21.

A Career Built on Listening and Teamwork

With dozens of managers and hundreds of employees spread across multiple Airsides, Perry’s leadership style centers on collaboration.

“There’s a way to get to everything,” he said. “Take it in, listen, and work with your team. You can make anything work.”

He explained that managing in an airport environment means balancing many voices—the brands, the Aviation Authority, the parent company, and of course, the guests.

“You have to find a happy medium,” he said. “Listening is key— not just to customers, but to your own people.”

Seeing TPA Through 25 Years of Change

Perry’s perspective on Tampa International Airport stretches back to a time before TSA, through expansions, renovations, and Super Bowls. He’s seen celebrities, from Leonardo DiCaprio to Paris Hilton, pass through the Airport, and he still finds excitement in the daily bustle.

“Every day is different. Every week goes by quick,” he said. “You meet people from everywhere, hear their stories, and it never gets old.”

Perry is also known at TPA for his big heart and community involvement. He and the team at HMSHost are frequently recognized for their various community initiatives and have been strong supporters of TPA’s 5K on the Runway since its inception 13 years ago.

Roots in Hospitality — and in Family

Born in Chicago to Greek immigrant parents, Perry moved to Florida after the blizzard of 1979.

“My family wanted to escape the cold,” he laughed. “They operated restaurants, and growing up, I thought I didn’t want to be in the restaurant business, but it’s what I knew.”

After earning a degree from the University of South Florida, Perry briefly worked in accounting before returning to his hospitality roots and joining HMSHost.

“I realized I liked being around people more than numbers,” he said.

Outside of work, Perry and his wife have raised four children, three of whom are now in college and one in high school. The family has always been active in youth soccer and now enjoys traveling together.

“We’ve been to Greece, of course, and recently checked Hawaii off our bucket list,” Perry says. “Now we’re making trips to California, where our son will be going to work for Apple.”

A Place That Feels Like Home

After visiting other airports across the country, Perry feels that TPA still stands apart.

“Every time I go to another airport, I come back with appreciation,” he said. “Managers we send out to help elsewhere always say, ‘Wow, we have the best airport.’ The people here are friendly, and there’s such pride in what we do.”

And if HMSHost ever asked him to transfer? Perry doesn’t hesitate: “I’d prefer to stay here,” he said. “This airport is home.”

At 6-foot-8, Lee Green is the tallest member of TPA’s Guest Experience Team. While his stature might seem intimidating at first, his bright smile and friendly personality quickly put passengers at ease.

“I’m a bigger guy, so I always try to make myself approachable,” said Green. “Helping people in general just puts a smile on my face and makes me feel good.”

While Lee is an all-star on TPA’s team, he was also a standout on the basketball court. He played all four years at Tampa’s Jesuit High School before being recruited by the College of Coastal Georgia, where he earned the nickname ‘LG3’ — a nod to his initials, Lee Green III, and his ability to sink three-pointers with ease.

After college, Lee attended a job fair at Tampa International Airport, where he met members of the Guest Experience leadership team. He was hired in March — just in time for the Airport’s own version of March Madness during spring break, TPA’s busiest time of the year.

“Just the camaraderie among coworkers here at TPA reminds me a lot of the relationships I had with my teammates back in college,” Lee said. “Many of those guys I still keep in touch with to this day.”

Known for his upbeat personality, Lee takes pride in making passengers feel welcome and comfortable. He attributes his approachable nature and genuine desire to help as the key factors in his success in his role. Every day brings new questions and surprises from travelers, keeping his work exciting and unpredictable. One recent interaction that made him laugh involved a guest complimenting his cologne.

“They said, ‘You smell delicious,’” recalls Green, who’s known for his impressive fragrance collection. He rotates between ten favorite scents, but his top choice is one called “Another 13.”

Outside of work, Lee enjoys staying active and spending time outdoors. He loves basketball, golf, and fishing — both freshwater and deep sea. One unforgettable fishing trip took him 80 miles offshore, where a hammerhead shark as long as the boat swam right past.

Lee also has an adventurous streak when it comes to wildlife. He's had a fascination with snakes ever since he was a kid, and once had a pet corn snake that escaped inside his family’s home — much to his mother’s dismay. “It must have crawled up into one of the walls,” he said with a smile. “To this day, we never found it.”

Whether he’s helping a lost traveler, swapping stories with coworkers, or sharing a laugh at the Information Desk, Lee Green embodies the spirit of hospitality that makes Tampa International Airport shine.

Next time you’re at TPA, look for him near the Main Terminal Information Desk — and be sure to say hello. Like Phoebe (TPA's 21-foot tall flamingo), he’s hard to miss!

Inside TPA’s Airport Operations Center, also known as the AOC, a group of public safety and operations professionals work in shifts, 24 hours a day, monitoring the Airport’s alarm systems, automated shuttles, and SkyConnect system. They manage communications for the entire airport, including taking 911 and non-emergency calls and dispatching the Airport’s Police, Fire, and Operations teams.

That’s where you’ll find Zachary Mills, one of TPA’s public safety dispatch supervisors, who typically works the evening shift, starting his day in the afternoon.

A Tampa native, Zach grew up in Apollo Beach and attended Armwood High School in Seffner. He went on to the University of South Florida, earning a bachelor's degree in information sciences with a focus on intelligence analysis.

“I always really liked to pay attention to detail, so I thought I would make a good investigator or a police officer,” said Mills. 

While still in college, Zach got his career started early by taking a job with the Florida Highway Patrol in their Tampa dispatch center. It was a fast-paced world filled with nonstop excitement and life-saving urgency.

“On my first day, my mind was blown by all the calls and activity,” Zachary recalls. “I really fell in love with it.”

After three years with FHP, Zach made the move to Tampa International Airport, where he first learned the ins and outs of TPA as an AOC dispatcher for the Operations team. He has since transitioned to the public safety team, where he uses his experience and attention to detail to assist passengers and even engage in some detective work. He frequently helps passengers who have lost items, leveraging the airport's extensive camera network to help reunite them with their belongings.

“We have cameras everywhere, and sometimes I can trace back to find lost items. It’s rewarding to help people in distress,” said Mills, who has also been instrumental in solving more significant crimes like vehicle thefts.

“It’s a group effort to keep the airport safe,” he says.

Outside the high-stress world of the AOC, Zach is an avid nature enthusiast who loves hiking and kayaking. He has explored trails and waterways in some of the most beautiful locations around the globe, including Australia, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. Most of his hikes are day trips, lasting four to eight hours, often involving steady inclines or even rock climbing.

“There is something about being outside and not being on your phone all day or being around big cities. It’s really calming for me,” says Mills.

A fun fact about Zach: He has an extreme fear of heights, even though he is drawn to mountainous hikes with breathtaking views.

One of his most memorable hikes took place at Wilsons Promontory National Park in Australia, where he trekked through 70 to 80 kilometers of wilderness, enjoying the awe-inspiring beauty and vastness of the park.

While he enjoyed encountering wildlife along the way, he said, “I wouldn’t want to run into a bear or anything too dangerous. In Australia, thankfully, I didn’t run into any snakes or spiders—just a kangaroo!”

As for future hiking aspirations, the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand is next on his list, a location he plans to visit before the end of the year. The hike is renowned for its volcanic landscapes and was famously used as a filming location for “The Lord of the Rings.”

In addition to hiking, Zach also enjoys kayaking and often spends weekends exploring Florida’s beautiful springs and rivers. Recently, he also took up running and can often be found on the downtown Tampa Riverwalk, where he tries to run at least two to three times a week. He has participated twice in TPA’s annual 5K on the Runway and hopes to work his way up to running a marathon one day.

Back at work, Zach remains dedicated to ensuring the safety of everyone who passes through TPA’s terminals.

“My mission every day is to ensure a safe environment for officers, employees, and passengers.”

And just like on the hiking trail, Zach encourages passengers traveling through Tampa International Airport to pay attention to their surroundings and speak up if they see something that doesn’t look right.

“If you see something, say something,” he advises. “Even if it seems silly or ridiculous, if something doesn’t seem right, we’d rather be on the safe side and check it out than have no idea something is going on.”

She never imagined that years later she would be helping to plan for hurricanes and other disasters as the Emergency Manager for Tampa International Airport.

Brennan graduated from Florida State University in Tallahassee, where she studied criminology for her undergraduate degree. She took an internship with Florida’s Division of Emergency Management just weeks before Hurricane Irma, a massive Category 5 storm that threatened the entire state of Florida. This would be just the first in a series of major storms to impact Florida during her time working for the state.

“Just getting to see that huge state activation happen early on in my internship really made me fall in love with the field,” said Brennan.

After her time in Tallahassee, the hurricanes continued as Brennan signed up to work with FEMA through the AmeriCorps program. She spent time helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, which caused devastating flooding in North Carolina, and after Hurricane Michael, which leveled Mexico Beach in Florida’s panhandle. She even obtained her forklift operator’s license while working in a FEMA distribution center.

“I was able to help with disaster housing and volunteer with nonprofit work,” says Brennan, who went on to graduate with a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a focus on Homeland Security. This unique combination of experience and education made Colleen a perfect fit for helping airports prepare for almost any emergency, whether man-made or natural.

“I never really thought about working at an airport until I got deeper into emergency management,” recalled Brennan. She said that even with her extensive background dealing with hurricanes and other disasters, working at an airport would be a totally different challenge with a whole new set of acronyms to learn.

“Emergency management has its own alphabet soup,” Brennan laughed. “Now I’m trying to mix that in with all the airport lingo, and that’s been a pretty big challenge in my brain,” which she says has been a blast.

“I get to learn something new every day while bringing in knowledge from my background. It’s been so much fun.”

Brennan began her career at TPA in February, and in just her first six months on the job, she’s been spearheading the planning for the airport’s upcoming Triennial Exercise on Sept. 17.

The full-scale emergency exercise is a requirement of the FAA and must be completed by all commercial airports once every 36 months.

“We’re bringing everyone together, from the airport to our federal, state, and local partners. Everyone will be involved in this scenario to help identify any gaps in our planning, coordination, or communication,” said Brennan.

“What’s key here is that we know who we’re talking to and that we have those relationships with the community partners. They know how to access our sites and integrate into our response operations.”

TPA’s Triennial exercise next week will involve a simulated collision between two aircraft, with a fire on the airfield and another smaller aircraft down in Tampa Bay.

“We wanted to be sure to include a water rescue component in this exercise, which will require assistance from community partners like the Tampa Police, the U.S. Coast Guard, and others,” said Brennan. “Having two separate scenes definitely complicates the response for everyone. Communication will be key.”

TPA’s communications team plans to alert the public ahead of next week’s exercise, informing those in the vicinity of the airport to expect to see smoke coming from the airfield, along with emergency vehicles and helicopters around the airport and Courtney Campbell Causeway while the exercise is taking place.

But it’s not just aircraft emergencies that Brennan needs to help planning for and managing. With nearly 80,000 passengers a day passing through and 10,000 employees, TPA operates like a miniature city, and the list of possible emergencies is nearly endless.

Part of her role includes updating operational checklists for almost any emergency imaginable, ensuring they are easy to read and aligned with emergency management best practices.

“I have a lot of binders,” says Brennan, referring to all the plans. Other responsibilities include formalizing an exercise and training program for all of the airport’s various departments, including Police, Maintenance, IT, and any other department that may be called in to respond to a crisis at the airport.

Even a shutdown of the airport’s SkyConnect train can require the activation of the Airport’s Emergency Operations Center as crews rush to set up an elaborate bus operation to move passengers between the Main Terminal, Economy Parking, and the Rental Car Center until the trains can be brought back into service.

“Incidents here scale up and down faster than any emergency management department I’ve ever worked for,” says Brennan, reflecting on the fast-paced environment of a major international airport.

Colleen’s father, who still works as an ARFF firefighter in Fort Myers, couldn’t be prouder of his daughter.

“When I started applying for this job, he got really excited, which made me even more excited,” said Brennan. “Now he and I can talk about all kinds of airport emergencies, and I know all the acronyms.”

A 2022 graduate of the University of South Florida, where she earned degrees in Business Analytics & Information Systems (BAIS) and Management along with a minor in Psychology, Shurdha is one of TPA’s newest IT team members. In her role, she staffs the IT Service Desk, assisting the Aviation Authority’s nearly 700 employees with tech issues and new employee onboarding. She also serves frontline airline employees working on the Airport’s common-use systems, which facilitate operations at TPA’s ticket counters, boarding gates, and baggage claim.

“I love science, and I love the human mind,” said Shurdha, who initially wasn't sure she wanted a career in tech.

One of her first jobs took her up in the air, as a tour guide at a ziplining park.

“You work with a lot of intense emotions when you're ziplining. People are scared, excited, or even crying,” she recalled. This position required significant interaction with individuals who often needed encouragement before tackling a new frightening challenge—an experience she finds very similar to helping people navigate new technology.

This passion for assisting others led her to her next role as a consultation and repair agent with Best Buy’s Geek Squad. “When people come in, they’re typically not coming in for a positive reason. They’re usually stressed out because something is wrong,” Shurdha explained. “You're in a position where you have to show compassion, patience, and understanding right off the bat.”

Anna enjoyed taking apart iPhones to learn about the technology inside. After more than a year assisting retail customers with their tech issues, she sought to advance her career and applied for a new role with the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority.

Today, she works full-time as an IT support specialist, assisting employees across the airport. “I love conversing with people, and I love taking things apart,” said Shurdha, who is currently pursuing a series of IT certifications known as the CompTIA Trifecta—comprised of CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+. This series of certifications is recognized as the gold standard for launching a well-rounded IT career.

Outside of work, Shurdha has an impressive array of interests. From photography to live theater and cosplay, she loves anything that combines creativity with community. “I've been attending conventions pretty much every single year since 2022,” she said. “It's fantasy, it's creative, and the community is so welcoming to whatever creative expression you want to share.”

Among her favorite characters is Founder Ymir from the manga and anime series Attack on Titan, whom she dressed up as for a recent convention. “I sewed the costume and put so much effort into it, and people loved it because they could see the work I put in,” she shared.

Shurdha is constantly seeking ways to merge her love of technology with the arts, whether through her photography, designing sets, or running the audio board for live productions. She believes her ever-present curiosity will guide her career journey, which she is certain will always include interacting with people and understanding how things work.

As a graduate of Yale Law School and the daughter of immigrants, Lee's story is one of resilience and inspiration. Her journey to Tampa International Airport has been filled with fascinating experiences and a rich personal history.

FROM THE BRONX TO ORLANDO TO ATLANTA

Both of Lee's parents emigrated from Jamaica – her father arrived in New York City in the early 1940s, around the time the United States was gearing up for World War II. After quickly finding work, he established his career as an electrician. Later, he met Lee's mother, also an immigrant from Jamaica. 

“My parents always raised me with a strong belief in the Jamaican phrase, ‘Out of many, one people,'" Lee said.

She was raised in the Bronx, known as the birthplace of hip hop music and home to the New York Yankees. During her high school years, her father's health deteriorated and his doctor recommended a move to a warmer climate. Before long, Lee's family packed their bags for the suburbs of Orlando, where she experienced a major cultural shift. 

“When my sibling and I went to our new school in Winter Park, we doubled the upper school’s Black population from 2 to 4 people,” Lee said. 

The changes didn't stop her from becoming one of her high school's most involved students. An avid athlete, she excelled in basketball, volleyball and softball, serving as captain of several teams and leading one of them to a state tournament. Lee also participated in the drama club and engaged in Brain Bowl, using school as an opportunity to explore her passions. 

“School was my chance to have freedom,” she said.

In the year before graduation, as students began to commit to colleges and universities, Lee was still undecided about which school she would attend. She traveled to Spelman College in Atlanta, an HBCU (Historically Black College or University), on a weekend that coincided with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. 

“The campus was just buzzing,” Lee recalled. “I decided on the spot that I would apply for admission and before I knew it, I had been accepted and earned a scholarship." 

A LAST-MINUTE DECISION

Lee double majored in political science and philosophy, quickly falling in love with the intellectual process and thriving under the guidance of her professors. 

“Those years at Spelman were some of the best of my life,” she said. 

As she entered her senior year at Spelman, she again felt the pressure of her peers who were quickly preparing for the next step in their life journey. Her father encouraged her to consider going to law school, even though Lee was working in her free time at a local bank and had just missed the summer LSAT exam. She decided to go for it, taking a crash study course and hoping for the best – and passing the test with a respectably high score. 

Before long, Harvard, Yale and Columbia came calling. Lee ultimately chose Yale Law School and arrived on campus at a tumultuous time. 

“Things at Yale were a bit bumpy when I first arrived," she said. “There was a strike taking place amongst the workers – and everyone was glued to the TV absorbing the O.J. Simpson case.” 

But before long, the experience at Yale became smooth sailing for her. She learned the value of inquisitive thought and holding your ground while leaving space for diverse viewpoints. Lee also was heavily involved in campus life, participating in simulated cases in moot court and gaining experience with an externship. 

She eventually accepted a two-year federal clerkship for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Miami Division, and after graduation, moved to the 305 full-time. 

A CAREER WITH ONLY THE SKY AS THE LIMIT

Lee's career in Miami soon soared, quite literally. She took a job in downtown Miami with the Miami-Dade County Attorney's Office in 2001, where she worked for the next 24 years, and moved to their satellite office at Miami International Airport in 2003. Lee became a Division Chief and Co-Lead Attorney for all legal, regulatory and legislative matters at MIA and the county’s five general aviation airports. 

In 2018, she joined the Steering Group for the Legal Affairs Committee of Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), helping to shape national airport legal policies and collaborating with legal peers from major airports across the country, including the team at Tampa International Airport.

“I've had the privilege of watching TPA grow by leaps and bounds while I've served on that committee,” she said. “I really became a fan girl of the Airport. At MIA, we often looked to TPA as a benchmark for everything from revamping our concessions program to our relationship with rideshare products like Uber and Lyft.”

Her wealth of experience attracted TPA's attention: After then-General Counsel Michael Stephens was promoted to TPA's CEO, Lee was quickly identified as one of the top candidates for the job. 

She couldn't say no. 

Now she leads TPA's Legal, Records Information Compliance, Business Diversity and Government Affairs & Community Relations teams.

SETTLING INTO LIFE IN TAMPA BAY

Lee has quickly settled into her life in Tampa Bay while keeping a close relationship with friends and a very special someone – her fianceé, Sam. 

“My fianceé and I met all the way back in 2005,” she said. "He now lives in DC and I live here, but we've been doing the long-distance thing for years and there's no stopping us." 

The secret sauce to making a long-distance relationship work? Sharing downtime together is the key. 

In her free time, Lee loves to stay active. Most mornings, you'll find her meditating or at the gym working out. She prioritizes her health and well-being and encourages others to do the same. Lee also is an active dancer, board game enthusiast and reader, frequently swapping books with her nieces and nephews. Her adventurous spirit has taken her all over the world, from Bali to the Bahamas. She and Sam are committed to seeing each other every month, often meeting up for trips and cruises.

Her advice to someone looking to move up in life? 

“Go somewhere where you are wanted and feel accepted," she said. "Never be afraid to speak up for yourself and have a little fun while doing so."

Originally from Cali, Colombia, Perilla grew up moving from city to city due to his father’s job. As a young adult, he enlisted in the Colombian Army’s Special Ops before making the life-changing decision to move to the United States in 1999, following the rest of his family.

“I was the only one in Colombia, and I needed to make a change,” he said.

However, the move to the United States came with humbling realities as he took jobs that were a far cry from his military background, including cleaning tables and picking up trash. He says the experience shaped his perspective on life and his interactions with others, allowing him to relate to people from various walks of life.

“I think it’s important to connect with people and understand their struggles,” he said.

A Love for Law Enforcement

With his degree in Military Science earned in Colombia and a desire to serve the community, Officer Perilla eventually pursued a career in law enforcement. He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo University while working various jobs, including at a family member’s medical office.

“While I enjoyed helping patients, I needed to be out and about with people, not stuck in an office,” he said, reflecting on his desire to make a difference in the community.

He was hired by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked for nearly eight years before joining the Tampa International Airport Police Department.

“I’ve always heard good things about the Airport, and I wanted to be part of that environment,” he said. His fluency in Spanish has proven invaluable in his role, allowing him to assist many travelers who may not speak English, further enhancing the customer service aspect of his job.

A Passion for Ultra-Marathons

Outside of work, Officer Perilla loves to run and is an ultra-marathon enthusiast. His attraction to the sport has taken him to some of the most challenging terrains around the globe. Ultra-marathons are races that exceed the standard marathon distance of 26.2 miles, with many of them ranging from 50 kilometers (31 miles) to 100 miles or more.

For Officer Perilla, ultra-marathons represent not just a physical challenge but also a mental and emotional journey.

“Running has become a way of life for me,” he said. “It's about pushing your limits and discovering what you're truly capable of.”

His commitment to ultra-marathons began years ago, and he has since completed numerous races in amazing locations, including Zion National Park in the rugged mountains of Utah and Antelope Canyon in northern Arizona.

Marathon des Sables

One of his most epic accomplishments to date is participating in the Marathon des Sables, considered one of the toughest ultra-marathons in the world. The grueling race spans approximately 156 miles over seven days in the unforgiving Sahara Desert, where temperatures can fluctuate dramatically, creating a physically and mentally demanding experience for participants.

In 2022, Officer Perilla faced setbacks when he was unable to complete the marathon due to an ACL injury. Unwilling to give up, he returned this year to conquer the race as part of a 50^th birthday celebration for himself and a friend.

“It was my second attempt, and I was determined to finish,” he said. The race required not only physical endurance but also mental fortitude as participants navigated the harsh desert conditions while carrying their own supplies. Participants are not just competitors; they form a close-knit community.

“It’s less about winning and more about supporting one another,” Officer Perilla explained. Runners help each other with gear and offer encouragement throughout the grueling stages.

“You bond with people you’ve never met before, and that shared experience creates a sense of family,” he added. The race consists of daily stages, with participants trekking through soft sand and rocky terrain, often facing blisters and exhaustion. Officer Perilla noted that the experience is as much about survival as it is about competition.

“You learn to rely on one another; it’s a true test of endurance,” he said.

A Love for Family and Service

Family is central to Officer Perilla’s life. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Katherine, and their children, Mauricio and Marcela, who share his love for travel and adventure. The family has annual passes to Disney and enjoys exploring new destinations together.

Whether it’s helping runners in the sand or members of his own community closer to home, Officer Perilla is often one of the first to volunteer when help is needed.

That’s exactly what happened following Hurricane Ian in 2022. The massive Category 5 hurricane took aim at Florida’s west coast, originally threatening the Tampa Bay area before veering south and impacting the Fort Myers area. Law enforcement officers from across the Tampa Bay area were called in to assist affected communities to the south, and Officer Perilla was one of the Airport police officers who volunteered to spend a week helping law enforcement in South Florida and assisting with cleanup in the disaster area.

Importance of National Police Week

This week, Officer Perilla reflects on the significance of honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. “It’s a brotherhood,” he noted, acknowledging the challenges and dangers law enforcement officers face daily and recalling colleagues lost in the line of duty during his time with the Sheriff’s Office.

But beyond remembering those lost, he’s a strong advocate for mental health awareness within the police community, stressing the importance of support systems for officers dealing with the stresses of the job.

“There are officers who might not know how to cope with the pressures of what they have to see and deal with, and that can lead to problems at home,” he said. “If we could make mental health awareness a bigger part of National Police Week, I think that would be a good thing.”

But none of that stopped Radhakrishnan from working hard, dreaming big and consistently pushing herself to learn more. Today, she serves as Tampa International Airport’s Executive Vice President of Planning & Development and Maintenance, overseeing more than a third of the Airport’s workforce and managing major construction projects like TPA’s $1.5 billion, 16-gate, international and domestic Airside D, scheduled for completion in 2028.

HOW IT ALL STARTED

Smitha Radhakrishnan was born in India but moved with her tight-knit family to Bahrain when she was young. Her parents were part of her area’s strong Indian community and would spend every Thursday at “thambola,” or bingo night. Smitha would perform traditional Indian Bharatanatyam dancing and her family hung on tightly to their community and culture, supporting their daughter’s love of the arts.

Then came the first Gulf War. Worried about stability in the region, her parents decided to move everyone back to India near her mother’s side of the family in Coimbatore, a city in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu. While it was initially a big adjustment, Radhakrishnan says the culture shock quickly wore off.

INSPIRATION FROM MOM

With the move to India, the family decided to build a new home. Smitha says she vividly remembers her mother, despite no formal training, morphing into a master architect, not only designing the new home and drawing it to scale, but crafting a 3-D model out of packing styrofoam from their move.

“You could dismantle each floor and see the stairs and details inside,” recalls Radhakrishnan. “She had envisioned every detail of that house from the custom designed lazy Susan turntable in our dining room to the monumental spiral stair in the center of our house.”

Radhakrishnan’s mother became project manager for the new home, every day packing lunch and sending her kids off to school before heading to the construction site to supervise work on the home. It was her mother’s work ethic, creativity and attention to detail which perhaps inspired Smitha to study architecture at National Institute of Technology in Tiruchirappalli. It would lead to the next big moment in Radhakrishnan’s life: The decision to pursue her master’s degree in in architecture at the University of Oklahoma in the United States.

GROWING, EVOLVING AND CONTINUALLY LEARNING

At the University of Oklahoma, Radhakrishnan took a teaching assistantship job to help afford her tuition and living expenses.

“That was the first big growth spurt for me in developing my work ethic, trusting my instincts, and taking chances,” recalls Radhakrishnan. “For the first time in my life, I had to fend for myself, and in a foreign country, too.”

She remembers the day when one of her professors started describing some architects as having a pipe dream that lacked an appreciation for practicality or how thing actually get built. It was a moment which stuck with the young architectural student who worried her education up to this point was incomplete. Did her architecture degree alone keep her from seeing the full picture?

“Within a month, I switched my masters to Construction Management, so I could have the tools needed to not only design something, but also make it a reality.”

THE BIG MOVE

Radhakrishnan’s first big job out of school would take her to Texas. Working in a male-dominated field with little to no diversity, she says her focus was not to fit in, but to learn her craft and become the absolute best at what she did.

“I quickly became known for my work ethic and for putting in long hours,” said Radhakrishnan. “I realized that continuous learning is what kept me motivated. It allowed me to continue stretching my limits.”

She loved understanding the big picture.

Texas is also where Smitha met her future husband, Nihar Ranganathan, a computer engineer from California.  The two met and got married two years later.

CLIMBING TO NEW HEIGHTS

While continuing to grow in her career and push her own limits, Radhakrishnan says another pivotal moment in her life was the decision to conquer her severe fear of heights by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

“It helped me learn a lot about myself and what I can endure,” said Radhakrishnan. “It also taught me the life lesson of “pole pole,” which in Swahili literally means "slow slow.”

The porters who accompanied her on the climb said instead of getting overwhelming constantly focusing on the peak over the eight days of hiking, she should instead just focus on the single steps in front of her.

“The single steps will get you there,” said Radhakrishnan. “That experience helped me build my risk tolerance and gave me a sense of confident humility.”  

THE NEXT BIG LEAP TO AVIATION

After spending 18 years in commercial development, Smitha says she was ready for her next big challenge. In 2018, she interviewed for a job working at the world’s second-largest airport— Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW).

The role would put her in charge of overseeing a multi-billion-dollar capital infrastructure program.

She says the new job was the birth of her “golden hour” habit.

“I started waking up every day at four in the morning to learn, read, and prepare myself for the new role,” said Radhakrishnan. "I realized that embarking on unchartered territories was no longer something that I shied away from.”

She was promoted to head of the planning group for DFW.

After more than 20 years working in construction, she says her background in both architecture and building helped provide her with the skills needed to dream up big airport plans that would also be grounded in reality. 

“I hope my professor from OU would be proud.”

JOINING AMERICA’S FAVORITE AIRPORT

It was that unique, well-rounded background which helped Radhakrishnan land a job as one of Tampa International Airport’s Executive Vice Presidents, overseeing the departments of Planning & Development and Maintenance. The new role was especially important as TPA prepared to begin construction on the all-new Airside D, a new shuttle connector, and further expansion of the Main Terminal, including big changes to the ticketing and baggage claim levels.

“What I saw and experienced was an airport that had exceptional leadership, bold vision, and a strong conviction that its community deserved nothing but the best,” said Radhakrishnan.

She was hired in 2024, becoming one of the highest-ranking female leaders at Tampa International Airport.

“It was an exciting opportunity because I quickly realized how much this community supported this airport and championed its growth.”

RISING TO THE TOP

Smitha Radhakrishnan has not only survived, but thrived in the heavily male dominated fields of both construction and aviation.

She says her secret to success was simply following her passion.

“You can’t worry about what the community thinks or other people’s expectations,” said Radhakrishnan.  “You just keep doing what you’re doing and master your craft.  The success will come after that.”

Meet Deacon Dr. Joe Krzanowski. For nearly 13 years, Joe has been a comforting presence at Tampa International Airport, offering support, encouragement and the frequent lollipop for anyone who crosses his path.

“The whole airport is my office,” he said. 

Joe moved to Tampa in 1971 to help open the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine. As a former faculty member (and now professor emeritus), he was one of the very first medical professors in the fledgling program, teaching medical pharmacology, critical care medicine and nursing pharmacology, among many others subjects. His tenure offered him the chance to provide wisdom and insight to generations of future professionals. 

Several years after settling in Tampa Bay, in 1982, Joe suffered a family tragedy when his brother and several other relatives died in an Air Florida plane crash. Through his grief, he saw a need to start an airport chaplaincy program at TPA. Five years later, Joe became an ordained deacon, earning the nickname “Deacon Joe,” which he now proudly goes by and has embroidered on a custom shirt he wears around the Airport.

In 1998, the Tampa Interfaith Airport Chaplaincy program was born and has been a fixture at Tampa International Airport ever since. The program is completely volunteer-based, with chaplains often available at TPA about four days a week and on call.

Deacon Joe joined the program in 2012. On a typical day at America’s Favorite Airport, Joe often walks for about 6 hours, making his way from the Main Terminal to the Rental Car Center to the “belly of TPA” – its behind-the-scenes baggage belt system. He said that approximately 90 percent of his time at TPA is given to employees of the Airport, offering comfort and words of encouragement. 

“You’ll find me just about everywhere,” Deacon Joe said. “I’m here to help those who are often forgotten or unseen by providing them with spiritual support.“

The goal for both Deacon Joe and the program overall is not to be focused on or grounded in any one religion or faith, but rather to offer encouragement to anyone who requests it. Deacon Joe views his ministry as one of simply being present. 

“Sometimes, people just need someone to talk or vent to,” Deacon Joe said. “Even though I can’t change what’s happened in their life, I can help them grieve and process. I want them to know that I care.”

All volunteer members of the program come from different walks of life and backgrounds – some are religious, some are not. 

“We never recruit or evangelize anyone," Deacon Joe said. "We’re here to offer a helping hand, a listening ear and a kind smile whenever needed.” 

Sierra LePore is at the center of it all. 

As TPA’s new Director of Planning, LePore envisions, plans and budgets for everything from major renovation projects to new construction as the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority invests billions of dollars in projects to keep up with passenger growth and our growing Tampa Bay area community. It's a huge job, but one she's perfectly suited for as both a Floridian and fan of the airport and air service industry.

LePore grew up in Titusville, Fla. and has always loved aviation.  She would spend weekends flying with her father and eventually pursued Aviation Management in college at Florida Tech.

“I knew I liked environmental issues and I loved aviation, but I wasn’t sure how that went together,” LePore said.

She managed to earn her pilot’s license while still in school and considered a career flying, but quickly discovered just how expensive flight school could become. Then, while attending a professional conference, LePore met a representative from the aviation consulting firm VHB. The company offered her an internship to learn about the complex process airports go through to plan and budget for future projects.

LePore was hooked. After graduation, she joined the company full-time, where she would spend the next 10 years consulting for airports, advancing to become a  Senior Aviation Planner focusing on projects from sustainability & resiliency to master planning and airspace analyses.

“I was on an amazing career path, but always knew at some point I wanted to work for an airport,” said LePore.

In May, that wish came true, when she and her family moved from Titusville to Florida’s west coast so she could begin a new job at TPA.

“In my previous role, I would work on planning documents which were then handed over to the Airport.  But now at TPA, I’m able to see projects throughout their entire life cycle, from the very beginning when an idea is created, all the way until the construction is implemented and it’s operational.”  

In her new role as Director of Planning, LePore will help in facilitating the Authority’s 20-year capital improvement plan, asset management planning and inspections, as well as overseeing a team focused on airspace permitting, sustainability and environmental compliance. This includes planning for the expansion of TPA facilities, including the future Airside D, set to break ground later this year.

Outside of work, LePore is married to a fellow recreational pilot, Rich, and is mom to three boys, including 4-year-old identical twins, Beau and Zane, and a 2-year-old named Roman.

“Someone asked me if I have any hobbies and I said, ‘I used to,’” laughed LePore.

One of those hobbies was dancing.

“I love couples dancing, I love to swing dance, but my favorite is line dancing,” said LePore. In fact, the former high school and college cheerleader would sometimes travel to line dancing conventions to watch competitions and would go line dancing herself as often as twice a week.

“I wish I still had time to do it today,” said Lepore who also is a huge country music fan.

When she does have time, the couple and their kids love spending weekends outdoors exploring all the Tampa Bay area has to offer.

“Moving the family was something I didn’t take lightly, but I’m excited to be here,” LePore said of her new home.

“People love Tampa International Airport, and my goal is to help develop an airport with facilities and infrastructure that our kids and future generations can enjoy for many years to come.”

The voice on the other end was frantic for help. A Boeing 747 had just gone down in the waters off Long Island and the phones at the Cape Cod Coast Guard station were ringing off the hook. TWA flight 800, a New York-to-Paris-bound flight carrying 230 passengers, had disappeared off radar, sparking one of the biggest search, rescue and recovery missions in recent history.

Smith rushed in to help and spent the entire night fielding media phone calls from around the world before setting off on a days-long tireless and tragic search from the air with his Coast Guard colleagues.

The event would set the tone for what would become a lifelong career dedicated to saving lives and safety in aviation — one filled with historical moments, heroic rescues, and hair-raising adventures.

Smith often found himself in the spotlight, including his rescue missions being documented by “Good Morning America,” inspiring a book and even leading to a role in a major motion picture alongside Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher.

But Smith’s career wasn’t always filled with glitz and glamour.  At first, his career as a pilot seemed like it might never take off at all.

Early dreams of flying

Nevada Smith was born in Pensacola, Fla., the son of a Naval Aviator flight instructor. 

Like kids in many military families, Smith often moved around the country to places like Corpus Christi, Texas, and Norfolk, Va., before his family finally ended up in Illinois. Constantly hearing about flying from his father, Smith fell in love with all things aviation.

“My brother and I knew the phonic alphabet, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, since we were little kids,” Smith said. “By the time I was in third grade, I was really into model airplanes and loved any book about aviation.”

After graduating high school and watching the 1986 hit movie “Top Gun,” Smith was ready to enroll in the Air Force ROTC for his freshman year in college. He had big dreams of becoming an Air Force pilot.

Then came one of the biggest disappointments of his life: During his flight physical, the doctor discovered an issue that would disqualify him from flying for the Air Force.

“My back was too long,” said Smith. “The doctor explained when I stand up, I’m short enough, but when I sit down, I’m a half-inch too tall.” 

The news was devastating. Smith transferred to Southern Illinois University, where he planned to enter Officer Candidate School. But he was turned down twice, and after graduating with his bachelors degree, he decided to drive to Chicago to enlist in the U.S. Coast Guard.

From humble beginnings … to the right stuff

After completing boot camp at Cape May, New Jersey, Smith was sent to Iowa where his primary assignment was painting buoys along a stretch of the Mississippi River.

After applying for Officer Candidate School three times and getting turned down each time, he decided to give it one last shot.

“They finally accepted me,” said Smith.  “It was a dream come true.”

He spent the next 17 weeks in Yorktown, Va., and was one of 11 Coast Guard candidates in his group who would apply for flight school.

Finally, at the age of 27, Smith would become one of only two in his class to earn Coast Guard wings.

Flying through history

By 1996, Smith would be stationed at Cape Cod, where his first major test would be piloting search and rescue missions in the aftermath of TWA 800. 

Television crews and journalists from around the world converged on the northeast, and Smith was tasked with flying members of the media out to the scene so they could capture video of the recovery efforts taking place below.

“It was pandemonium out there," he said. "I will never forget flying over the boats where we could see seats and aircraft parts below.”

The following year, Nevada was sent north to begin a two-year assignment in Kodiak, Alaska. His main job would be flying search and rescue missions in some of the most unforgiving climates in the world.

“I’d always been fascinated with Alaska since I was a kid, so it was an amazing adventure," Smith said. “I remember one day seeing 44 grizzly bears! They were everywhere, almost like deer.”

He would once again find himself at the center of adventure when called to rescue a group of Inuit natives from Russia that had found their boats taking on water in stormy weather in the middle of the Bering Sea near Gambell, Alaska, near Russia's Chukchi Peninsula. The Russians gave them permission to look for the boats, but just one flight.

“We were flying in the back of a C-130 when we spotted them.  We opened the back door and dropped down supplies to help them survive until we could get them help down on the water.”

Saving lives

Next stop: Elizabeth City, N.C.  While there, Smith would fly three separate missions to Bermuda, a 700-mile trip that is the max range for Coast Guard helicopters.

“On one stop we even got to meet actor Michael Douglas at the airport,” Smith recalled.

But perhaps his biggest challenge was right around the corner.

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina would devastate the Gulf Coast, sending a flood of contaminated water through broken levees and into the city of New Orleans.  The United States Government would mobilize every available Coast Guard helicopter across America, and Nevada Smith would be among those first in line to help.

Smith was assigned to rescue people trapped in the center of New Orleans. On his mission, a crew from ABC’s “Good Morning America” would be along for the ride to document the Coast Guard’s efforts.

“We picked up the crew and spotted a house with people on the roof.  I called it the bus stop, because we just kept going back and picking up more and more people from that same rooftop.

Smith and his team would go on to assist 138 people over three days of flying. 

“That’s basically a Coast Guard lifetime of search and rescues in just three flights over New Orleans,” said Smith.

His crew's rescue swimmer would end up receiving a call from then President George W. Bush praising the team for their efforts.

“My 7th grade English teacher called my Aunt Carol to say, 'I just saw Nevada on TV!’”

Action on the big screen

The spotlight wasn’t done shining just yet.  

Shortly after Katrina, Nevada would get a tip that a Hollywood casting agency was holding auditions for parts as extras in an upcoming feature film, “The Guardian,” starring Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutcher. Smith spent his entire day waiting before he was called in to see the producers.

“It was a fun experience,” said Smith. “I never dreamed I would get a call back.”

But weeks later the phone did ring and it was a producer inviting him to be in the movie.

“They said I would be playing Lt. Ken Krauss and that they’d be FedExing me a script. I couldn’t believe it!” 

But then Smith read through the script and realized his character was only mentioned once. 

“It said, ‘Lt Krauss runs to the aircraft.’  I was like, ‘That’s it?’" Smith said. "That experience taught me a lot about Hollywood. When it comes to movies, you can finagle yourself into about anything.”

Smith says with his real-life background in the Coast Guard, he was a valuable asset, advising the director on ways to make the movie more realistic. 

In one of the first scenes, actor Clancy Brown is playing one of the commanding officers.

“I told the director, ‘The commanding officer doesn’t ever walk around by himself.  He always has an escort with him.’”

“The director goes, ‘Really? You should just get in there then.’  The next thing you know I’m in the movie,” Smith said with a smile.

In a later scene, Smith was able to advise the crew what would be happening in the Operations Center following a helicopter crash.

“I told them we would execute the mishap checklist,” recalls Smith. “They said, that sounds cool. We want to do that. I helped re-write the script right there.”

Because his character was mentioned by name and ended up having a small speaking role, to this day he still get residuals from the movie.

“I got a check for $140 just the other day,” said Smith. “The check comes from Disney, so we call it my Mickey Mouse money.”

Book deals and beyond

Smith’s adventures were far from over.  In May 2007, he and his crew were scrambled to help rescue three men in a life raft caught in Subtropical Storm Andrea, which rapidly intensified 120 miles off the coast of Cherry Point, N.C.

On his way into the station, Smith says he asked crews to ready his aircraft for maximum amount of flight time, which involves attaching multiple external fuel tanks to the helicopter to provide extra range.

With the help of a C-130 crew, Smith and his team would locate the three men sitting in a tiny raft in 70 foot seas below. He managed to capture unbelievable video of the rescue which ultimately inspired a book, “A Storm Too Soon.”  Smith says an entire chapter was based on his written account of what happened.

The Next Chapter

Smith would wrap up his amazing career in the Coast Guard with leadership roles as the Aviation Safety lead at District 5 headquarters and then as the operations boss in Astoria, Ore.,  After 24 years in the Coast Guard, he would finally retire in 2015. The milestone would coincide with the graduation of his daughters from high school and the sudden passing of his father from pancreatic cancer.

“My mom said I wouldn’t get a job until my dad has passed of pancreatic cancer. She said it was meant to be that I would be with my family after the Coast Guard," recalls Smith. "A few hours after he died the phone rang for an interview at Tampa International.”

Smith would be offered the job at TPA a few days later.

“I had always wanted to get into Airport management.  I wanted to work for a big international airport and Tampa sounded perfect,” said Smith.

His family packed their bags and headed south to Tampa, where Nevada was hired as an Airport Operations Specialist.  While working at a commercial airport would be new, many of the safety management skills from his decades in the Coast Guard would prove useful in his new role.

Two years later he would be promoted, and today he manages the Airport’s drone program and TPA’s safety management system, which is scheduled to undergo its first formal review from the FAA in 2027.

“Our job is to prevent bad things from happening.  We are working to prevent hazards,” said Smith. 

The role includes monitoring employee safety practices, looking for hazardous conditions on the airfield, preventing fires, and making sure everyone is prepared for whatever scenario might come along next. 

As part of his drone responsibilities, Smith communicates with the FAA to fly the Airport’s drone in TPA's Class B controlled airspace. His drone video has been used to help with safety projects and for promotional purposes for events like the annual TPA 5K on the Runway.

“I love it.  I love the work here and I love the people," said Smith, who will celebrate his ninth year at TPA in August. "It’s just as much fun as the Coast Guard and that emergency response stuff and helping people is what makes the job so rewarding.”

At 88 years old, Lopez participated in all seven weeks of the course, including taser training, facility tours, K-9 demonstrations, a physical abilities test, and even target practice at the firing range, beating all of his classmates and even a few officers.

“I’ve enjoyed every single minute,” said Lopez.  “I had not fired a gun since 1978.”

That’s around the time when Lopez retired from his 23-year military career as a U.S. Marine and briefly took a job as a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office dispatcher before joining Piedmont Airlines at Tampa International Airport in 1980. He would spend the next 14 years working at TPA, only to return after his retirement from the airline business to serve as a TPA Volunteer Ambassador, where he remains active today assisting visitors to the Airport who need help finding their way.

“Working at the Airport gets in your blood,” said Lopez.  “It was always in my blood because I wanted to become a pilot but couldn’t because I am colorblind.”

Lopez has now volunteered an amazing 2,900 hours at TPA. “I just love helping people,” he said.

Lopez was joined at his Citizen Police Academy graduation by his daughter, grandson, girlfriend, and friends from the TPA Volunteer Ambassador program. Lopez says his favorite part of the experience was learning about how TPAPD’s officers keep everyone at the Airport safe and experiencing the amazing camaraderie among officers.

Ready to turn 89 years old in September, Lopez says he has no plans of slowing down any time soon. 

“As long as you’re enjoying life and enjoying what you do, you might as well keep going.”

A long and winding adventure 

Henley was officially hired as a Traffic Specialist at Tampa International Airport in 2019. The position vitally ensures cars don’t get backed up in the pick-up and drop-off areas and falls under the authority of Police Chief Charlie Vazquez and the Airport’s Public Safety department. Henley’s warm smile and genuine love for helping passengers instantly made her popular among her coworkers and supervisors, who knew she had big dreams of becoming a police officer one day. 

But in late 2021, Henley – who was also a member of the Army National Guard -- was suddenly deployed to the U.S.-Mexico Border to serve as part of the Southwest Border Mission. It was a fateful assignment that would again have a lasting impact on Samantha’s life and career. 
 

In the middle of nowhere 

Henley joined the Army National Guard because she loved helping people. Typical deployments are in disaster areas to help after a hurricane or flooding and usually last no longer than six to nine months. But on the border, Henley quickly found out her deployment would last much longer: 13 months in the middle of nowhere. Her team’s mission was to serve as an extra set of eyes on the border and to report illegal crossings to the U.S. Border Patrol. 

“Where we were put, there was no other civilization around,” said Henley. “There was a McDonald’s about 45 minutes away in the nearest little town, but that was about it. The closest Walmart was an hour and a half.” 

Living in the middle of the New Mexico desert meant there wasn’t always much to do. 

“In our off time, we were so bored,” recalls Henley. “All we could do is cook for ourselves because we had nowhere to go.” 

Luckily there was a gym, and Henley began spending more and more time pumping iron. In the past, she'd considered competing as a bodybuilder but never thought she had the right body type.

But now, with extra time and extra income from so few places to spend her money, she decided to hire an online coach and give her long-forgotten bodybuilding dream a shot. If she didn’t enjoy it after six months, she could quit, she reasoned. 

Not only did Henley fall in love with bodybuilding, but her coach told her she was making unbelievable progress. The new hobby helped the next months pass by quickly, and she felt great.

“It really puts a new perspective on how you look at health and food and the decisions you make,” said Henley. 

Transformation revealed 

Henley returned to Tampa when the deployment ended and rejoined her traffic team at the Airport. Her coworkers couldn’t believe the transformation.

Henley was now a bodybuilding competitor, winning her class in her very first show in May of 2023. That first win qualified her to compete on the national level, and just a month later in June, she won at a second show as well. Just about a year after beginning her bodybuilding journey, Henley was now set to compete in Las Vegas against some of the best bodybuilders in America. 

Working hard, achieving dreams 

While Henley didn’t win in Las Vegas, her first national event was a huge learning experience. It would give her the confidence to continue her training and to get ready for a second season of competition, all while completing the necessary coursework to become a sworn police officer in Florida.

Henley graduated from the Police Academy, a year later than expected due to her National Guard deployment. She was officially sworn in as one of Tampa International Airport’s newest police officers in April after graduating from the academy and passing the state exam in late January. 

She will now spend the next months working alongside a training officer while continuing her bodybuilding training in the gym. Her next show will be held June 29 in St. Pete, and this time, Henley says she’ll be competing in the figure category. 

She says one of her favorite parts of bodybuilding is the positive feedback she receives from coworkers. 

“People always ask me for fitness advice,” said Henley. “People I don’t even talk to tell me I’ve inspired them to go to the gym!” 

While she realizes her new look can sometimes be intimidating to some, she encourages people to come up and say hello. 

“Actually I’m really nice,” she said with her trademark smile. 

While it was a winding road to get here, Henley said it was worth it to be where she is today. 

“It’s a good feeling because I know it’s been a long time coming.” 

With a degree in marketing and business management from Ball State University, her first job out of college was working at a bank in Muncie, about 20 miles from Winchester. She started off performing market research, but worked her way up to become the director of marketing, overseeing multiple branches throughout Indiana for 10 years.

In the late 1990s, real estate investment trust Simon Property Group (SPG), which owned and planned to expand the Muncie Mall at the time, asked Stacey if she would join their team.

She wasn't looking for a change, but she was intrigued by the offer and agreed to become the mall’s marketing director. Her career took off, and she was eventually promoted to general manager of the Muncie Mall.

The mall was a major attraction in the town and its surrounding counties at the time, and Stacey soon earned the nickname "Mayor of Muncie.”While other  opportunities with SPG and elsewhere often came her way, Stacey wanted to maintain the roots she’d put down. As a single mom, she wanted to keep her son, Jordan, in the same school district and have the support of her parents and nearby family members.

But her priorities soon changed.

On Dec. 7, 2000, Stacey wasn't feeling well. With the Christmas shopping period in full swing, December was one of Stacey’s busiest times of the year. She’d had a benign tumor removed a year prior, and was still concerned about her health. She called her doctor and went in for a checkup the same day.

Stacey vividly remembers sitting alone in the doctor’s office after a biopsy, watching the snow fall outside the window. 

When her doctor returned, he sat down next to her on the table and took her by the hand.

“Stacey, I’m sorry to tell you that you have breast cancer,” he said.

“The first thing I said to my doctor was, ‘Am I going to die?’” Stacey remembers. “And he said, ‘We're going to do everything we can to make sure you don't.'"

Stacey was the first person in her family to have cancer. She began having hard conversations with her loved ones about her diagnosis, including one that evening with her 11-year-old son.

The first question he asked: “Mom, are you going to die?”

Stacey was now in a fight not just for her life, but for her son, too.

“He’s really what kept me going,” Stacey recalled. “I knew I had to watch my son graduate from college and high school and see him get married.”

The day after receiving her diagnosis, she was back at work. Her chemotherapy treatments began a week later.

Stacey was determined to keep her full-time job while being treated for cancer. She scheduled her chemotherapy sessions for Fridays so she could try to recover over the weekend and be as ready as possible for work on Monday.

Stacey remembered that by Christmas Day, she was lying on the couch, losing her hair and feeling her body ache, wondering if she would survive until the next Christmas.

During her battle, the hospital where Stacey was receiving treatment was developing a new cancer center. They asked Stacey, the honorary Mayor of Muncie, to help raise funds and awareness by becoming the spokesperson for the new center, helping raise funds and awareness.

"My thought was, 'If I can save one person, this cancer diagnosis is not for nothing,’" Stacey said.

The local newspaper and radio stations began to share her incredible journey, following her everywhere, from basketball games to chemotherapy appointments. Stacey wanted to show that life goes on, even when someone is fighting cancer.

In her quest to raise awareness, Stacey eventually joined the board of directors for the local chapter of the American Cancer Society, ran in Relay for Life fundraising events and became involved in the Susan G. Komen organization for breast cancer awareness.

About two years after her initial diagnosis, following rounds of chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries, she won her fight. Her doctors gave her the all-clear and prescribed a lifetime of having to take preventative drugs.

"It took me years to grow back my hair," Stacey said. "It was really tough – I was in my early 30s and that journey itself wasn’t easy.”

After her son graduated and went off to college, Stacey was ready to focus her attention on other things, including her romantic life. Her friend Carol said she knew a man who lived in Cincinnati, and thought the two of them may be a good match.

Carol was right.

Stacey and Mark Huser began exchanging emails for a month before graduating to phone calls for another month. Finally, they decided to meet.

Stacey took the two-hour drive south for their first date, a Cincinnati Reds Opening Day baseball game.

“I don’t remember who the opposing team was that day,” Stacey said. “I was too focused on the present company.” 

After hitting it off,  the couple wondered how they'd make a long-distance relationship work. They resolved to date exclusively and see each other every weekend, never letting more than one weekend pass without a visit.

They stuck to it. For more than a year and a half, Stacey became very familiar with the roads between Muncie and Cincinnati. 

Finally, they met each other’s families, to resounding approval, so Mark soon after moved to Muncie to be with Stacey. They settled into their new lives together, but wouldn’t stay there for long. 

SPG asked Stacey if she was interested in being the general manager of a new outlet mall the company was opening in the Tampa Bay area –  the Tampa Premium Outlets in the Lutz/Wesley Chapel area.

Stacey and Mark had a good feeling about Tampa Bay after flying here for a scouting visit and decided to make the leap to Florida in 2015.

After overseeing that property from inception to completion, she was ready for a new challenge. Right before the COVID-19 pandemic started, Stacey was approached by Tampa’s commercial real estate development firm Strategic Property Partners about joining their retail division.

Stacey and Mark mulled it over and after 23 years working for SPG, she decided to make the switch. 

She became the general manager of Sparkman Wharf, the downtown Tampa retail and dining district, before later supervising food and beverage development in the now-popular Water Street District. Both were high-profile projects for the city of Tampa, and for Stacey, who was eventually contacted by a recruiting company asking whether she’d consider becoming Tampa International Airport’s Director of Airport Concessions. 

Stacey powered through a rigorous interview process and landed the job in July of 2023, joining a team that oversees TPA's retail and beverage partners and more.

"We touch a lot of lives at this airport," Stacey said. “It's not just about a hamburger – it's about creating a wonderful guest experience for our travelers to enjoy the many amenities that make TPA special.”

Echoing TPA CEO Joe Lopano’s description of TPA, Stacey said it’s her goal to make these facilities “Tampa’s living room." She wants her team to provide travelers with the finest selection of local flavors and international brands, striving to ensure each traveler has a wonderful experience from the moment they park in the garage until they board the plane.

"My team has heard every day that I've been here, 'How can we do good today?' That's our motto,” said Stacey.

After originally settling in Lutz, Stacey and Mark decided to downsize and move to the beach. They now own a condo on Boca Ciega Bay, where they are always on the sand and love riding bikes and taking in sunsets together.

Family and friends often visit from Indiana to enjoy the views and sunshine, too.

And hundred of miles from Muncie, years after her battle with cancer, people still reach out to her, asking for advice and counsel when they’re facing a similar battle. Stacey believes helping them has become her personal calling.

“I got cancer, I feel, to help and support others," she said.

“I was like, ‘Show me the planes,’” Van Orden recalled. Little did she know, one day she’d grow up to have a career working at the Airport she always loved.

“I was drawn to working here," she said.

Back in 2006, Amy was finishing up school and working in the hospitality industry when a friend told her about a job in the rental car business. She applied to work at TPA’s Rental Car Center – back when it was located at the Long Term Parking Garage – and was quickly hired. Nearly 20 years later, she is still working at the Airport, calling it one of the best decisions she ever made.

In 2020, after the COVID-19 pandemic, Van Orden joined a new rental car company at TPA called SIXT.

“I had a perception that they were a newer company and not that big," she said. "I realized I was wrong.”

In fact, German-based SIXT was founded as one of Europe’s earliest rental car companies in 1912, with a fleet of just three cars. Since then, the company expanded across the globe to more than 2,000 locations in 100 countries, including numerous airport locations across the United States.

Van Orden says since joining the team, she’s fallen in love with her job.

“I love meeting people from all over the world,” said Van Orden.  “You get to talk to people from all walks of life.  Just today, I spoke to someone from Italy and someone else who came in from Brazil.”

An avid traveler, Amy uses her SIXT friends-and-family discount to help pay for car rentals while visiting new cities. Her career even helped her achieve her lifelong dream of owning a home on the water, she said.

Van Orden has deep Tampa roots and attended Plant High School before beginning her career at the Airport. Outside of work, she keeps busy spending time with her six cats and loves kayaking and all forms of boating. Her favorite travel destination so far has been Cuba, and she looks forward to booking a trip to Greece one day in the future.

“I would highly recommend a career in the rental car industry for so many reasons,” Van Orden said. “Every day is a little different, the people are great, and it’s like family. Plus, we have great benefits.”

SIXT is one of the companies at TPA that will be participating in this year’s upcoming Airport-wide Hiring Day. The event is scheduled to take place Thursday, January 18, from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Many of TPA’s shops and restaurants will also be looking for new employees, along with Airborne Tampa, The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay, Alliance Ground International and many more. For more information, visit the Hiring Day event page here.  

Loper got his start at Tampa International way back in 1988, but says landing a job at America’s Favorite Airport was not easy. After growing up a military brat and spending part of his childhood living near Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, Loper and his older brother both developed an early interest in aviation.

“Our football practices were right next to a helicopter field," Loper said. “Looking up and seeing F-4 Phantoms flying low overhead was awe-inspiring for me.”

By high school, his family had packed up and moved to Florida, where his father worked at the former Patrick Air Force Base.  The nearby Florida Institute of Technology had a well-known flight school, and soon Loper was attending FIT to study aviation.  He would go on to graduate with a commercial instrument multi-engine rating, and B.S. Degree in Air Commerce and Flight Technology. He briefly considered becoming a flight instructor before changing his mind.

“I had so many scares as a student pilot, by that point, I had no wish to become a flight instructor," he said.

Instead, he entered a master's program at FIT where he told one of his instructors he was aiming to get a job working at Tampa International Airport.

“The instructor said, ‘Nobody gets a job at Tampa because nobody leaves Tampa,’" said Loper. “I told myself, ‘Well, I’m going to try anyway.’”

Back in those days, operations employees were required to have at least three years of experience working at a commercial airport before being considered for a job. But in 1988, the Airport created the Airport Operations Specialist Program, for the first time allowing entry-level employees to get their foot in the door. Loper applied and got the job.

His first two-and-a-half years were a crash course in how an airport runs. Back then, TPA had a much smaller staff and Loper spent six months working by himself as the only Airport Operations Specialist on the overnight shift.

He remembers back to his first year on the job when snow fell on the runway in 1989. 

“Much of Tampa experienced a brownout that night and I was sent out to the runway to meet the electrical superintendent," he said.  "We looked up and there were flurries coming down."

He would eventually be promoted to Airport Operations Manager and spent the next decade rotating through various shifts. He says one of his craziest memories was the day operations received an Alert 2 after a TWA MD-80 blew an engine on takeoff.

“I raced out to the runway and immediately spotted a fire. I was like, ‘Woah!’ and thought for sure the plane had gone down.”

As it turned out, Loper says it was hot engine fragments from the explosion that caused the fire. He says the aircraft was able to come around for a safe landing. “I remember we spent the next 3 to 4 hours picking up engine parts off the runway.”

Years later, in August of 1992, Loper says he helped coordinate the visit of a British Airways Concorde and escorted Airport photographer David Lawrence out to the runway to photograph the historic visit. “Being right down next to the runway as it did a low approach was incredible.”

In 2005, Loper was promoted to Senior Manager of Operations, with management oversight of the Duty Airport Operations Managers and Airfield Operations. For 12 years, he helped coordinate construction projects and special events, including 2 Super Bowls, TPA’s first-ever 5K on the Runway, and the massive International Indian Film Academy Awards (IIFA) held in 2014.

In 2017, Loper took a newly created position of Senior Manager of Safety Compliance, working closely with the airlines, construction crews and even Air Traffic Control before finally transferring to the Airport’s Real Estate team in 2019. Over the years, he says he’s had the privilege to work with many amazing people, including his wife Debby, whom he met at the Airport when she was secretary for Northwest Airlines out at the old Airside D.

“We just celebrated 30 years together. She would always say, ‘Marry me and you’ll fly for free,’” Loper said with a laugh.  “The only free flight I got was the flight to Vegas to get married, and then she left Northwest!”

Today, Loper continues using his decades of Airport experience to help onboard new and existing airlines as they begin new service at TPA. He helped coordinate the recent shuffle of several airlines switching from the red to the blue side of the airport to make room for several new international carriers. Over the next several years, he is excited about the opportunity to be involved in the planning and design for the new 16-gate Airside D, which will serve as TPA’s international and domestic terminal beginning in 2028.

“Airside D is going to be amazing," Loper said. “Being a part of projects like that certainly keeps my job exciting.”

It also keeps him thankful.

"I’m immensely grateful to work at an airport that so many people love and respect. I’m glad I didn’t listen to the instructor who said I’d never get the job. I applied anyway, and I’m so glad I did.”

With TPA’s Air Traffic Control Tower still closed, Bustos drove his Operations truck out onto the runway.

He could immediately see the southern part of the airfield and the access road closest to Tampa Bay were still covered with water. Luckily, he was able to report back the flooding had remained outside of the runway safety area. The airfield was mostly clear of debris and only a single runway light was damaged by Idalia’s winds.

But the hurricane had actually blown in something Bustos wasn’t expecting: Hundreds and hundreds of shore birds were now resting on one of TPA’s main runways. Bustos called back to the Airport Operations Center to alert his bosses that all of the birds would have to be cleared from the runway before the Airport could reopen.

“Birds can be one of the biggest threats to passenger planes,” said Bustos, whose main job is to keep Tampa International Airport’s runways and taxiways safe for aircraft attempting to take off and land. “What I feel the most proud of is being part of the team that helps keep our customers and the community safe.”

Bustos, who was born in Colombia but grew up in Tampa, developed a love for aviation from an early age. 

His father, Olivo, began working in the Airport’s Maintenance department, and Carlos was fascinated by planes and flying. When he was 8 years old, his father set him up for a tour with co-worker Marilyn Gauthier, the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s Director of General Aviation, who helps oversee the county's three smaller airports, Peter O. Knight, Tampa Executive and Plant City.

“She gave me a personal tour, and that’s where it all started,” Bustos said.

By the time he was in high school, he was determined to work in aviation. He reconnected with Gauthier, who was able to introduce him to the GM for Atlas Aviation, the fixed-based operator for Peter O. Knight Airport. The meeting led to a part-time job working the ramp and fueling planes. 

“That’s where the aviation bug really started gaining some traction,” said Bustos, who worked to earn money while also starting flying lessons on the side.

After graduating high school, Bustos wanted even more. He attended a Tampa International Airport job fair and was hired on full-time at TPA directing airport traffic and guarding security gates. 

The position got his foot in the door and allowed him to get to know other Airport employees. But it wasn’t until an evening airfield tour, when Bustos finally learned about what would become his dream job.  He and Chris Giokas from Airport Operations drove out onto the airfield, up close to massive commercial jetliners and along the rows of glowing blue runway lights.

“I never knew that job existed before that day,” Bustos said. “I thought it was a very cool, very particular, very unique job and I asked what I needed to do to be considered for that type of position.”

Within six months, Bustos had enrolled in school to receive the necessary certification to work in Airport Operations and was taking time to study the Airport’s safety and certification manuals.

“There was a lot of research I was doing on my own,” Bustos said. 

The preparation apparently paid off. Despite his lack of experience working at a major international airport, his prior general aviation experience and impressive knowledge of TPA’s procedures helped win Bustos the job.

“I believe they took a chance on me, and hopefully they’re happy with the decision they made," he said.

Now, just over four years later, Bustos has already been promoted from an Airport Operations Specialist to an Airport Operations Manager.  He’s twice helped coordinate a Presidential visit and the landing of Air Force One.

“I worked with the Secret Service and U.S. Special Forces to inspect the runway just before Air Force One touched down," he said.

Bustos says the job of an Airport Operations Manager is all about attention to detail.  Even a tiny piece of debris on the runway can cause major damage to an aircraft engine; leaking fluids could cause a landing plane to lose traction on the runway; a damaged taxiway sign could lead a pilot to make a wrong turn. Making sure no detail is overlooked is essential in keeping the Airport safe.

Along with his eye for detail, Bustos also has an eye for the perfect picture. While patrolling the runways, he almost always has his camera by his side and is known for taking amazing images of planes coming and going from TPA.

While plane spotters gather on the rooftops of the Airport parking garages, Bustos considers himself lucky to be able to photograph planes from up close, right on the runway.

“The best part is being able to share those photos with everybody and not keep them to myself," he said.

So what comes next after landing your dream job?  

Bustos said he still determined to continue the flight training he started at Peter O. Knight and to one day earn his private pilot’s license. He loves being in the air, perhaps even more than working on the runway. He has already had the opportunity to fly some unique aircraft including an old-time Stearman Model 75 biplane, an Extra 300 acrobatics aircraft, and even a fighter jet trainer, an Aero L-39 Albatros.

“All three of those planes, I had to strap on a parachute,” Bustos said.  “I even got to fly while doing a loop!”

He dreams of one day taking vacations overseas and touring foreign lands from behind the controls of an airplane. And judging by his track record, Bustos will have no problem making that dream come true, too.

Born in New York, Ilana moved to Tampa when she was 5 years old. With both of her parents immigrating from Israel, Ilana developed a strong connection to her heritage and religion. Her background shaped her viewpoint from an early age, and she grew up feeling very connected to international issues and other cultures. This motivated her to pursue a bachelor's degree in International Affairs at Florida State University.

While there, Ilana found her voice on campus. She was the President of the Israel advocacy group at FSU and an active member of Hillel, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization. Through her work with these groups, she realized that she had a special perspective that could help others.

“I always felt connected to immigrants or children of immigrants,” Ilana said. “My time in college made me realize that I saw the world a bit differently.”

In 2011, she decided to pursue her master's degree in International Affairs at Tel Aviv University. During her time there, Ilana started an internship at the British Embassy that later turned into a full-time job. While she loved her life in beautiful Tel Aviv, she missed home and knew she wanted to put her roots down closer to family. After four years in Israel, she decided it was time to return to Tampa.

Upon moving back home in 2015, Ilana started her journey at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which operates TPA, as a Marketing Intern and quickly learned the ropes. She was hired as a full-time Coordinator within a couple of months and then traveled with her team to an international conference in South Africa immediately after she took on the role. Ilana soon moved on to become a Manager, and then last year, was promoted to Senior Manager.

In her role, Ilana oversees the digital advertising and marketing campaigns that help promote TPA’s nonstop routes, goods, and services. As a marketing liaison working with various TPA departments, Ilana spearheads all promotions of parking, concessions, hiring efforts and passenger awareness of amenities. Additionally, she leads the Air Service Incentive Program, managing marketing incentives for six airlines and a total of 18 routes.

“It’s really cool to see us making money by spending money,” Ilana said. “For instance, with parking, we make $3 for every dollar we spend on a parking campaign. We’re targeting the right people, we’re getting our money’s worth, and it’s increasing airport revenue.”

Ilana has always been motivated to lead change, and her time at TPA has been no exception. As a member of the Aviation Authority’s newly formed Employee Experience Council last year, she played a key role in improving parental leave policies for the organization. As a new parent herself, she along with her fellow Council members highlighted the benefits of longer time at home to adjust as a family. Their efforts paid off, and the Aviation Authority’s Executive Team increased its parental leave time to three months.

“It’s meaningful to give employees a platform through which they can join together to voice what they think should change, or express what's important,” Ilana said.

When she’s not working, Ilana enjoys spending time with her husband and her 3-year-old daughter, Mazi. She also enjoys hanging out with her siblings, parents, and extended family, most of whom live in Tampa as well.

Even with a busy career and a child to raise, Ilana still makes time to connect with her heritage and continues lending her passionate voice and skills she has honed over the years. She currently sits on two boards, The Tampa Jewish Community Centers and Federation and the Tampa Bay Organization of Women in International Trade, working to make a difference and advocating for change on issues that are close to her heart.

 Growing up in a country with a strong tea culture, Bikesh's introduction to the world of coffee came during his time in England. Bikesh went to London to finish high school, and his first sip of a cappuccino from Illy sparked a newfound curiosity in him. Inspired by a friend working in a café, he embarked on a journey to learn the art of making espresso.

 When he was 18 years old, Bikesh returned to his home country in South Asia and started working as a barista with Illy.

 “The first thing I learned how to do was an espresso,” Bikesh said. “Then, I started learning how to properly steam the milk, how to pour it into the cup, and even doing my own latte art.”

 Slowly, he became more involved in the field. His dedication paid off, as he was promoted to Barista Trainer and Quality Control Specialist across Illy coffee shops in the country. He then spent a year in China as both a Barista Trainer and Sales and Marketing Associate. In 2017, Bikesh pursued a Master Barista course at Illy’s Universita del Caffe and learned the ins and outs of coffee. Later, he finished a technical certification course on espresso machines. With almost a decade of experience under his belt, Bikesh had become an integral part of the Illy family.

 In 2021, Bikesh decided it was time for a change. He moved to the United States with his wife and originally relocated in Boston. However, Bikesh’s strong connections with the Illy headquarters led him to Tampa. Through the company’s assistance, he got in touch with TPA and embarked on an exciting and different opportunity.

“My first time in Tampa was when I came to the airport for the interview,” Bikesh said. “I have loved Tampa ever since, especially the weather.”

Now managing a team of 11 employees at both the Airside E and F’s Illy locations, Bikesh is thrilled to be working at an airport café for the first time in his career.

 “I love working here because it's a busy place and you have a lot of people at the same time,” Bikesh said. “A café is a more relaxing place and you have limited customers. But here, you always see people coming and going. That makes me happy.”

 At first, Bikesh was daunted by the constant influx of customers at TPA. He remembers feeling nervous during his first day, never having experienced such a fast-paced environment before. However, Bikesh quickly adapted and came to love the new environment, realizing that he enjoyed the diversity of customers.

 His favorite thing about working at TPA? The vibes.

 “I like the vibes at TPA, which are always very positive,” Bikesh said. “People might think it’s too busy, but for me, I like being surrounded by people rather than being in a quiet place.”

 Unsurprisingly, his personal favorite drink remains the classic espresso. “Even though there are a lot of techniques and options, my main focus is on the espresso,” Bikesh said. “That’s the base of every coffee.”

 When he’s not working, you can find Bikesh spending quality time with his wife, who also works at TPA with Southwest Ground Operations. Bikesh enjoys frequenting the downtown Tampa area and is an avid fan of the beach. Eventually, he wants to visit his bucket list destination: The Bahamas.

 “I would love to go and see the beautiful beaches,” Bikesh said. “Also, I’m always watching food vlogs of the Bahamian cuisine. I’d love to try it someday.”

 For those interested in a similar career path, Bikesh’s piece of advice boils down to two words: passion and patience.

 “First thing is to have passion," Bikesh said. "You need to really have a passion for service to be in this field. The next thing is patience. Slowly, gradually go with the flow, and then prove yourself.”

Nick Desiano's career has followed a winding path, from the steady hum of tattoo needles to the thunderous roar of airplanes.

That journey began as a child growing up in Tampa, where he spent many of his early years visiting TPA to watch planes take off and land.

“I was always fascinated with them,” Nick said. “My family and I would come to the Airport and spend hours watching them rocket into the sky.”

Nick had no idea that, as an adult, he’d end up working at TPA as Senior Project Payables Administrator in the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s Finance department.

His knack for art and graphic design was very apparent at a young age and was integral to his early life. He grew up admiring his father’s tattoos, which inspired him to draw and eventually hone his own tattoo skills. After learning from a mentor, Nick began to tattoo others, even one of his own family members.

“One of my most memorable tattoos was actually on my brother,” Nick recalled. “He had an existing tattoo with our family name down his back and he wanted me to fill those letters in. I spent hours nervously working on that tattoo and we’re still on speaking terms if that tells you anything about how it turned out.”

He was able to put his drawing skills to use as a caricature artist at Busch Gardens, drawing pictures of park-goers for hours on end.

Eventually, Nick earned a degree in commercial art, working as a graphic designer in the early and mid-1990s. The field began shifting dramatically, as the internet and digital art exploded in popularity. Nick preferred to do his art by hand, so after deciding not to go back to school to pursue a career in digital graphic design, he began looking for jobs outside the field.

“I decided to make art my hobby, my side hustle," Nick said. “I really wasn't sure where I'd end up, but I didn't want to be a starving artist for long.”

Nick landed a temporary job at the Clerk of the Circuit Court as an administrative assistant, a position that would prepare him for his role at TPA. While unorthodox, his choice to take a leap from artist to administration was one that Nick doesn't regret.

“I'm really glad I made that choice, ” he said. “Not only did I meet my future wife [who still works there] while working there, but that job set me up to be successful at the Airport.” 

When he decided to make another step in his career, Nick learned about an opportunity at TPA. In 2001, he joined as a clerk and eventually worked his way up to his current role as Senior Project Payables Administrator. He recalled that the last 22 years at the Airport have provided him with dozens of interesting and fun stories.

“It's really like a family here,” Nick said. “They're not just coworkers. They're my friends and I really enjoy spending time with them outside of work.” 

While in the office, Nick periodically takes creative breaks.

“There's a giant whiteboard near my desk and it's really a tempting thing,” Nick mused. He often wanders over to the whiteboard and begins drawing, remarking how rewarding it can be to fill a blank whiteboard with colorful pieces.

In his free time, Nick continues to dabble in art and graphic design, recently finishing the design for a skull featured on a motorcycle (pictured on the right).

Nick loves spending time with his family and plans on trekking around the world with his wife in the coming years.

“I really can't wait to start traveling everywhere, from Australia to Italy to Hawaii,” Nick said. “Oh, and I never plan on giving up art.”

The north and south hangars leased by Airborne on Tampa International Airport's east side, where James works, serve as a home to aircraft undergoing repair or a refresh. These facilities employ about 1,000 workers who convert passenger planes to cargo planes or perform routine maintenance. 

And James, who is the Facilities, Ground Support Equipment, and Tooling Manager at Airborne Maintenance and Engineering Services, will quickly tell you that it's the team he leads that makes his job worthwhile.

“You know, I’d take my team and put them up against anyone in the world to get stuff done," James said. "The quality of the work my guys do is just superior. There’s no me without them. It’s a very demanding job and you must be creative at finding solutions to big problems.”

With a career that has spanned years in the Armed Forces and eventually led to the management of a large warehouse, James knows how to help a team find solutions. 

“I’m really a warehouse guy,” James mused. “If I see something that needs to be fixed, I’m on it. I’m the guy you call when you want things done.” 

 A Florida guy through and through, James grew up in Hollywood, with many members of his family working in the citrus industry. As a kid, he would wander through the factory where his family worked and marvel at the piles of oranges that had been harvested.

James and his family eventually moved to Pensacola, then Tallahassee. As a Florida Gator fan, he knew he was in contentious territory. 

“I love cheering on the Gators, so it would be an understatement that living in Tallahassee was a bit tough at times,” James chuckled.

After graduating high school, James signed up for the Army. Little did he know that his career in the military would take him all over the world, beginning with a stay in Hawaii.

In 1991, his platoon was activated for Operation Desert Storm. James spent about 6 months in Kuwait and Iraq. 

“If you’ve seen the movie ‘Blackhawk Down,’ the commanders portrayed in that movie were my real-life commanders," he said. "It was an unreal experience."

He eventually wrapped up his time in the service and decided to join the National Guard before transferring to the United States Army Reserve. There, he became a Communications Instructor and eventually wound up teaching classes about fiber optic cables.

After the September 11 attacks in 2001, James thought he would be heading back toward the Gulf Region. Instead, he was asked to head to Fort Gordon near Augusta, Georgia, to train trainees.

After winding down his time with the military, James joined the team at Winn-Dixie in Jacksonville. He quickly moved up and became a supervisor and manager. Eventually, James would be offered a job at Airborne in Tampa. 

“I knew it would be a great opportunity for me, but my wife works for the City of Jacksonville and is nearing retirement," he said. "I didn’t want her to have to give up her job and her shot at a great retirement, so we had to figure out a creative way to make it work.” 

James now splits his time between Tampa and Jacksonville, driving nearly 200 miles each way every weekend. 

“It’s important to me to be home, to spend time with my wife and grandkids," he said. "The drive can be a bit much at times, but it’s worth it to me.”

At Airborne, James now oversees a team of nine workers, with someone on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You never know when a problem will arise, James said, so his employees handle hundreds of maintenance tasks, ranging from maintaining jack systems to fixing fire suppressant systems to upgrading pressure washing systems to replacing light bulbs.

“My team’s skills are truly unmatched. Without them, the magic at my job wouldn’t happen," James said. "Every day is truly different here and I love that.”

A career in maintenance can be incredibly demanding and complex, James said, stressing the importance of certification and training for those looking at a job in this field. 

“We’re truly a special breed of people,” he said. "I tell people all the time that to work with us, you must be a jack of all trades and a master of none. So, if you know how to use a wrench, you’re off to a great start.”

When James isn’t commuting between Tampa and Jacksonville or spending time with his family, he’s dreaming about taking a road trip. He owns a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and often takes that out for long rides. 

“I’ve gone hundreds of miles on my solo adventures,” James said. "There’s just something special about being on the open road and having that time to yourself.”

James frequently finds himself busy with projects at work, and that busyness doesn’t stop when he gets home. 

“Have you heard of a ‘honey do list’? Well, I seem to always have one,” James quipped.

As far as bucket lists go, James has a big goal in mind. 

“I just want to jump out of a plane and skydive,” he said with a grin. “They’re telling me I can’t, but I can’t wait to prove them wrong."

        Want to learn more about the many companies that operate at TPA and the jobs they offer? Visit WorkTPA.com 

Now, as TPA's Projects Maintenance Supervisor, Teresa brings a wealth of experience in the electrical world and a can-do attitude to the job. It's what has elevated her to being the only female supervisor on TPA's large Maintenance team, and a wonderful one at that.

Her work ethic is also a reflection of the curiosity and constant hands-on activities that she's loved since she was a child.

Growing up on Long Island, Teresa was always "outdoorsy and outgoing,” she said.

“My Barbies were filthy!" she laughed. "I was all about being playful and was never afraid to get a little muddy.”

When Teresa was in high school, she began considering her next step after graduation. Craving a challenge, she worked as a nurse's aide for seven years, but knew that the next rung of the ladder – being a nurse – was not her destiny.

She began exploring new ideas, and someone she knew who was experienced in trade jobs recommended the electrical field. She decided to try it, and while she knew nothing about it going into the field, she enjoyed immediately learning on the job. Within the first few months, Teresa was already wiring homes.

“I eventually applied for an electrical union in New York where I began to learn about the theory behind the field," she said. "Finally, something just clicked with me. I was able to put two and two together: the hands-on, practical side of the work and the theory behind it. It felt like magic!”

Teresa eventually decided to pursue a Master Electrician License, a prerequisite to owning an electrician business and a very involved process that ends with a difficult exam.

“I’ve always hated taking tests," she said. “After doing a lot of preparing, I decided to go for it and somehow, I scored a 98 out of 100.”

After completing the exam, the professor pulled Teresa aside and told her that in the history of him proctoring that test, she was one of the only students to score that high.

"I went in for that exam feeling really nervous and walked away with my head held high,” she said. 

Teresa owned her own electrical contracting business for several years before joining the Long Island Rail Road where she took on work repairing substations, which have a very high direct current and can be extremely dangerous in the wrong hands."

“We would close the tracks and then take the substation offline before we started maintenance on it,” she said. "We had to be super careful while on the job because the voltage there wasn't very forgiving, if you know what I mean!” 

Eventually, Teresa decided to make a big life change and she moved to Florida seven years ago.

“When I was looking for a job in the Tampa area, I went after a few other positions," she said. "But when I learned about the role at the Airport, it just felt right.”

Little did Teresa know she would eventually meet her future husband while working at TPA. 

“I guess you could call it an airport love story," she said.

A fellow Maintenance employee named Jesse, who worked an opposite shift from Teresa, was sitting at her table at an employee event when the song “Jessie's Girl” began playing over the speakers. Some coworkers at the table pointed at Teresa and Jesse, joking that they'd get together.

“We both just laughed it off, until we didn't,” she said. "We eventually started talking a lot and found out we wanted the same things. The conversation just flowed naturally, so it didn't take long for us to get closer. From there, we just rolled with it, dated, and married a few years ago."

Teresa said that she loves working for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority – which owns and operates TPA and three general aviation airports – because it feels like a welcoming environment. She never feels hassled or subject to crude jokes as a woman in the maintenance field, she said, and she's impressed by the organization's efforts to be inclusive and open to employee feedback.

“It's just a comfort to see that efforts are being made to create a work environment that is healthy,” she said. ”It can be a bit tough juggling all of our responsibilities at times, but I love my coworkers. The people here at TPA make all the difference. I'm protective of my team and want the best for them."

When Teresa isn't at work, you can find her fishing or going on adventures with her husband.

“I love to go out and explore a place, fishing for a day and enjoying the quiet together,” Teresa said. “My favorite place fishing has been in Key West where you eat what you catch.”

Teresa has several things on her bucket list, including going on a European tour and spending time RVing.

“I'd love to just hop in an RV and drive all over the US," she said. "It's a dream of mine to drive somewhere dark enough to see the Milky Way. I really enjoy going places that are remote and quiet.” 

When asked about one piece of advice Teresa would give someone interested in working in her field, she emphasized the importance of learning.

“Get involved in an apprenticeship or program that teaches you the theory behind the work you're doing hands-on,” she said. "There's just something amazing when you can bring together the theory behind what you're doing and the practical application.”

 “I’m coming up on a year already, which is crazy,” Shari said.

In fact, Shari was just promoted from her role as a Learning and Development Specialist to the Learning and Development Manager for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, overseeing training and career initiatives for the team of more than 660 people across more than 20 departments that manage and operate TPA and the county's three general aviation airports.

“I can’t wait to continue helping teams at HCAA think about their future and how to get there,” she said.

Shari has always enjoyed helping others learn. After growing up in Miami, she moved to Tampa to finish her undergraduate degree in education at USF. She then took on a role at Hillsborough County Public Schools, teaching for 10 years. After transitioning into a role developing a union for new teachers, Shari felt she was ready for some personal growth herself and started seeking new challenges.

“I really enjoyed working in education," Shari said. "But I wanted to explore other avenues in learning and development. I spent a lot of time developing career paths for educators, but I really wanted to expand that and help everyone grow in their career. I started looking for new opportunities and saw a role posted at TPA. When I saw that the job involved bringing numerous departments together,  I knew I could have an impact on a larger group and decided to go for the job. The rest is history!" 

Shari’s role at TPA focuses on helping each department improve the skills that make each team unique.

“I really want to collaborate with them and build a course plan to help move along that progress,” Shari said. Recently, Shari was responsible to hold Values training seminars, where she “got to meet just about everyone,” she said.

“I held more than 47 sessions, bringing together so many individuals who normally wouldn’t work together, she said. ”It was definitely a highlight of my experience working here so far. There are so many employees working for the HCAA and I’m privileged to interact with just about every department. The conversations we have are so rich and I find it rewarding to help them improve their processes and team."

Learning the ins and outs of TPA and the Aviation Authority has been a sharp learning curve from her previous job in education. But she has embraced the challenges of working with a new team and new resources, exploring new ways to help people take the next step in their careers.

"A lot of people just think I’m HR,” Shari said. “I really see my job as helping others grow. Where we are now as an organization is not where I want us to be forever. Opening ourselves up to change is crucial, so I enjoy meeting with various departments and helping them build programs that make the employee experience the best it can be. I’m completely open to conversation … my door is open and I want to learn what people do and see how I can help improve their employee experience."

Outside of work, Shari stays quite busy. She recently finished a solo trip to London.

“It was just amazing,” Shari said. “I wanted to make that trip a little test before I go farther in Europe. I’d eventually like to hike in Switzerland!"

When she isn’t planning trips to other countries, she stays busy around Tampa Bay. “I keep a foldable kayak in my car,” Shari said. “I love driving around and finding new places to explore. And, I love to dance and sing! I have a background in performing arts, so I found a jazz group in town to perform with and we get together to just have fun."

Shari is also the proud owner of a 3-year-old dog, Willa. Willa is a pit bull mix that Shari rescued.

“I just lover her to death," she said. "She bounces all over the place and is a little crazy. She definitely keeps me on my toes.”

When asked about one piece of advice Shari would have for others interested in working in her field, Shari stressed the importance of being present. 

“I've heard it said that showing up is so important,” Shari said. “You can always learn from other people. They key to success is to listen.” 

Born and raised in England, Roop spent most of his life across the pond. His career, however, has taken him all over the world. Before his job at TPA, he worked at two other airports: the first just outside of Dubai, and the second in Birmingham, England. There, Roop worked with everything from airport parking management to air service to cargo operations.

When he was considering taking on the role of Director of Commercial Parking and Ground Transportation at TPA almost five years ago, Roop knew that there was something special about Tampa International Airport.

“An award-winning airport? Who wouldn’t want to join that team?” Roop said. “The idea of joining the team at TPA was appealing to me. It’s a prestigious Airport and truly offered a different challenge than the other airports had.”

After mulling it over, he decided to make the jump. 

Along with his team, Roop oversees rental cars, Uber and Lyft pickup and manages a third-party that operates the parking garages at TPA.

 “We take what we do very seriously," Roop said. “My team may be small, but our work touches millions of people. If you pick up a rental car or utilize one of our parking garages or use a rideshare app, my crew is responsible for overseeing that. I truly want to deliver the best service to our customers and not only meet our budget, but continue to surpass expectations at every level.”

When Roop isn’t at TPA, you’ll find him at home with his wife and two young sons or relaxing with his buddies, calling himself “a bit of a socialite.”

Around the office, Roop is well-known for using humor to communicate a point, a nod to his homeland culture.

“British banter is truly unique. Not only is a bit of a shock for people here in the States, it's a mental challenge for everyone involved.”

As someone who has been all over the world, Roop hopes to do more traveling this year to visit friends in other countries and states. Roop also wants to take his family back to England and the Middle East at some point, too.

“One of my kids was born in the Middle East, so I think it would be special to take them back and give them a chance to see that area now that they're a bit older," he said. 

Roop has some advice for someone interested in a similar career at an airport: “You have to love it to be good at it. Don’t just do this job for the sake of doing it. While it can be stressful, if you love it, you’ll do it well.”  

“I distinctly remember the first day I saw snow,” she said. “I was indoors at my high school and I was so afraid of freezing to death that I wouldn’t go outside.”

After some gentle coaxing by her family, she finally made it home that day, but it wouldn’t be long before Jennifer decided to leave Ohio behind. She held tight to her long-held dream of pursuing a career in fashion, which brought her a world of opportunities that led to not only an exciting journey, but eventually, a much warmer climate.

After winning Miss Debutante in Toledo, she took an internship at the iconic Harrods department store in London. After that, Jennifer found her way to New York City and worked on 7th Avenue in fashion merchandising. She grew in a number of management roles before finally relocating to Florida and joining her sister who lived in the area. After settling in Tampa, Jennifer looked for a new job.

“I ended up being on the team that opened the Spanx store at TPA's Airside C,” Jennifer said. “Back then, I honestly wondered who would even buy Spanx at an airport, but all these years later I now know!" 

And to her surprise, she wound up loving it, calling it her “dream job.”

“I work hard to make women feel and look good in their clothes," Jennifer said. "That’s what this brand is all about. People often don’t know how to wear Spanx and we have products that smooth, shape, or sculpt. I work to teach them how to wear different things and look good while doing so. I often give customers a mini-seminar and help them leave this store feeling confident.”

Working at an airport is special, Jennifer said, and loves meeting the people that pass through TPA every day.

“It’s such a joy for me to help them get the right size, every time,” she said. “It's my job to help them find the perfect fit – you can’t just pull these clothes on! I’ll help them rock, wiggle and dance their way into their new clothes. I want them to be comfortable and feel good about themselves." 

Jennifer also has a way of connecting with customers on a more personal level, sometimes even praying with travelers who are distraught or distressed.

“Once, a lady came into the store and looked really sad,” Jennifer said. “We began talking and I found out she had just lost her husband. We held hands and prayed together. Moments like that make my job truly special.”

Outside of the store, Jennifer loves spending time with her family, gardening and traveling. When she’s not spending time with her five grandkids – a sixth, she just found out, is on the way – Jennifer is often tending to the growing number of plants she keeps in her backyard.

“Oh, I have everything,” Jennifer said. “Pineapples, papaya, avocado, mangoes and so much more. And I make a mean jerk chicken if I do say so myself.”

Much like she did in her youth, Jennifer still has a passion for adventure and has her heart set on a trip to Jerusalem and Paris.

“Those are my top two bucket list places,” she told us. “My faith is really important to me, so I want to go on a faith walk in Jerusalem someday. I’ve also wanted to go to Paris, too, so I might have to combine it into one big trip.”

Jennifer had some advice for those who are looking for a career in her field.

“Come to your job with a work attitude each morning," she said. "When you arrive, put your game face on and leave all your personal problems at the door. Your goal at work is to take care of people and set goals for yourself. Learn the product you’re selling and you'll see your sales dramatically increase. And always keep customer service as a top priority … it goes a long way.”

Tihani grew up in Chicago and previously worked at O’Hare International Airport. 

“I'm a Chicago girl through-and-through," Tihani said.

While at O'Hare, she managed a large vendor dedicated to assisting passengers for American Airlines. But after her husband was transferred to Tampa, Tihani began considering her job options and ended up joining a wheelchair assistance team at TPA. Quickly after getting to know her way around the Airport, she knew where she wanted to be was on the Guest Experience Team with the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, which manages and operates TPA.

“I decided to give it a shot and was so nervous after applying,” she said. "I had heard that the hiring process for Guest Experience representatives could be intense and after several rounds of interviews, I didn’t know if I was going to get the job. Everyone seemed so excited to work in TPA's Guest Experience Team and it was infectious – the energy was really incredible and I wanted to join.” 

As Tihani waited to hear back on the status of her job application, she went about her usual work helping guests at the Airport.

“Several days after the interview, we were assisting an elderly individual make their way through the Main Terminal," Tihani said. "That individual looked at me and said, ‘Be patient – things are coming.’ I had no idea what they meant by that, but wouldn't you know it, that same day I heard back from TPA and I had the job. It was such an incredible experience and I was thrilled to join the team.”

What does Tihani like most about her role at TPA? That no two days – and in fact, no two hours – are the same. Each interaction with a guest is unique, every question is different and each moment brings a new opportunity to make someone's day.

“I really think I attract guests who are a bit nervous to fly," Tihani said. "Funny enough, I’m a nervous flyer, so I come prepared with lots of tips to help make their travel experience better. You’d think that I would love to fly, but it takes a lot for me to board an airplane, so I find that I can relate to those travelers.” 

Tihani explained that her team does more than simply sit at the Main Terminal Information Desk to answer questions.

“It’s so much more than that,” Tihani said. “We give so many guided tours, help international customers navigate the Airport, and go the extra mile to help each traveler with their questions.” 

When she’s not at work, you’ll find Tihani working out, relaxing at the beach, or indulging in a reality television show. She also loves spending time with her three grandkids.

“Those kids are the light of my life,” Tihani said. She dreams of one day making a trip to Brazil. “Oh I definitely want to visit Rio de Janeiro and attend the Rio Carnival. It's the largest one in the world. While I am a bit fearful of flying, I’m working up the courage to go and I know I’ll make it there one of these days.”

Tihani offered advice for those considering a career in airport guest experience. “If you want to work in this industry, be yourself, be genuine, and let your light shine through. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or give suggestions: so many amazing ideas for improvement have come from our newest team members. And always remember that in this job, we are here to serve and give back to each person we come into contact with.”

The Tampa International Airport firefighter was born in Cuba but emigrated with his family to the United States when he was 20. His journey to the U.S. can only be described as harrowing.

“We were able to make it out of Cuba and to the Dominican Republic,” Javier said. “When we decided to risk things and try for Puerto Rico, we found what was advertised as a cruise ship with amenities and food. Each seat to the U.S. on that vessel cost $1,000.”

But when Javier’s family showed up to take the trip, they discovered the boat was no more than a homemade raft.

“We decided it was worth the risk,” he said. “For 28 hours on the open waters, 40 of us were packed in so tight that we were unable to move. The raft behind us didn’t make it. It overturned, and all onboard passed away.”

Upon reaching Puerto Rico around 3:30 a.m., the local police soon showed up to help, giving the traumatized raft survivors water and helping them clean up after the long journey. Outside the station, Javier and his fellow passengers waited outside on the street, not knowing their fate.

“Eventually, the police called us each by name, processed our paperwork, and sent us on our way,” he said. “We had made it.” 

Local news interviewed his mother (pictured left with Javier in the white t-shirt) about their journey. 

After making his way to Miami, Javier began the process of obtaining a green card. Six years later in 1996, he became a U.S. citizen. Javier met his wife, Lori, in West Palm Beach and after a year of dating, they were married. They eventually decided to move to Tampa Bay, purchased property in Dover and built a log cabin they reside in today.

Javier began working for a sign company but knew he wanted to do something else.

“In 2003, my best friend mentioned that he wanted to work for the Tampa Fire Department,” Javier said. “We both decided to go to the fire academy together and ended up being hired around the same time.”

15 years later, Javier and his best friend were given the opportunity to join ARFF, TPA's Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting station. They jumped at the chance.

“I’ve always been fascinated by planes and aviation,” Javier said. “My goal was to work at the Airport. Ever since I was a kid, watching planes has amazed me.”

To this day, Javier beams when describing his days as an Airport firefighter.

“I love everything about my job,” he said. "We get to make a difference and help people survive and that means the world to me. Our team has many good days together and we make a great crew. I wake up each morning looking forward to coming to work. We have fun together and cook together and, of course, joke with each other. And we also spend time together outside of work.”

While the role can be incredibly rewarding, Javier said, it has its tough moments.

“People often don’t realize that when something major happens, we’re some of the first to respond to it," he said. "Some days can be difficult because I care about those I’m working to help and situations can be complex. I always pray nothing major happens, but when we get a call, my adrenaline starts pumping.”

On his off days, Javier and his wife have a small farm that keeps them busy.

“We have too many horses,” Javier joked. “Our farm has a miniature donkey, several miniature pigs, and even chickens. When we can break away from the farm, we love going to the movies together. I’m always down to grab some apple pie ice cream from Coldstone afterwards.”

What's on the bucket list of someone who has already experienced so much in life?

“We just returned from an amazing trip to Spain," Javier said. "It was incredible and I can’t wait to go back and explore more of Europe. I also want to make a trip to Alaska at some point.”

When asked for a piece of advice Javier would give to someone looking to work in his profession, he said embracing the challenges is key.

“You have to love your job,” he said. “Show up with your whole heart and the sky is the limit.”

Growing up in a small town near the Kentucky/Illinois border, Dale went from high school straight to the military. His first duty station was in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he joined the 101st Airborne Division “Screaming Eagles,” the only air assault division in the United States. After his time in Kentucky, his career in the Army took him from Korea to Hawaii to Alaska.

For several years, Dale was stationed as a mechanic at Fort Greely, near North Pole, Alaska. Frequently, the military would send equipment to the station for endurance testing.

“After leaving new equipment out in the freezing conditions for days on end, we’d go out and try to see if it would start up,” Dale said. “If it could work there, it could work just about anywhere.”

During his two-year stint in The Last Frontier, he loved hunting and fishing – the best he’s seen anywhere.

Several years later, Dale was relocated to Tampa to train reserve units and prepare them for Operation Desert Storm. He wound up liking the Tampa Bay area and decided that when his enlistment ended, he would stay. He ended up working for a landscaping company which was, at the time, contracted to do the landscaping for TPA. His role for the contractor included operating and servicing the company’s equipment.

After the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority decided to create TPA’s own in-house landscaping team, Dale was approached in 2005 about joining the Fleet Team at the Airport to handle small equipment and function as a mechanic. And the rest – as they say – is history.

“For me, I enjoy fabrication work, like taking metal and making something out of it,” Dale said. “A lot of people think we just change tires and oil, but don’t realize the depth of repair work we get into. Just the other day, we built a trailer tailgate from scratch. We do everything from changing water pumps to tearing down part of a front vehicle’s suspension.”

What keeps him on his toes after nearly 20 years? No two days in his department are the same.

“No one in our department stays in their own zone,” Dale said. “You have to be flexible and work together as a team.”

One of the best feelings, he said, is when something comes into the shop broken and leaves better than how it arrived.

“We examine and figure out what’s wrong, and then we make it better. That puts a smile on my face.”

In his free time, Dale enjoys off-road motorcycle endurance racing. He is the proud owner of two bikes, a Honda Shadow Cruiser and a 1995 Jawa that he rebuilt himself. One of his bucket list dreams is to go with his family on a trail-to-trail journey across the U.S. on one of his motorcycles. Dale has four sons, two daughters and seven grandkids. Most of his family resides in Florida and he enjoys going out on a boat to fish with them.

When asked about his career at the HCAA, he remarked that he loves the camaraderie.

“I have friends in many departments and we have each other’s backs. It reminds me a lot of the military. We’ve all learned to be a team – a family – and I find a lot of that same spirit here.”

He’s the senior manager of IT in charge of the airport’s entire computer and phone network, overseeing a team of seven engineers. He’s the man in charge of helping orchestrate the transition of hundreds of employees and millions of dollars in technology over to SkyCenter One, the Airport's new office building. 

But few would ever guess that Mark Peterson actually got his start at TPA draining human waste out of the lavatories of commuter airplanes. 

To be fair, that was only one of his many jobs. As an employee for Naples Airlines in the 1970’s he did everything, from loading baggage onto World War II era DC-3’s and Martin 404’s, to running the ticket counter and even handling airline emergencies. 

It was just the first of several ill-fated airlines that would leave Mark without a paycheck, but with a lifelong love for aviation. And more importantly, a love of TPA. 

“The experience was just amazing to be under that airplane and do all these things to it,” recalled Mark. “The benefits were great. The pay was not.” 

He eventually was promoted to station manager for Naples Airlines (which eventually became P.B.A.) where he was the man on duty during two of the airline's Tampa-bound fatal crashes including one that killed everyone on board. The pilot who died was a longtime colleague and close friend. The airline’s ticket sales dropped by 75 percent after the crash and the airline eventually filed for bankruptcy. 

He was briefly transferred to work for a summer at the airline’s operation in Cape Cod, but returned to Florida to take similar roles with People’s Express, Bar Harbor Airlines, Braniff, Eastern and even Kiwi International Air Lines. 

“Those guys were all former Eastern and Pan Am pilots,” recalled Mark. “They were great at flying airplanes, but had no business running an airline.” 

One by one, each company went out of business and left Mark unemployed. 

“My wife told me, ‘That’s it for the airline business. You gotta find something else.’” 

Without a job and having very little experience outside the airline industry, Mark found himself at the unemployment office looking for a new career. It just so happened, the state of Florida had a special program that would train workers for new careers, covering the cost of books and tuition at a local trade school. The state would even help supplement the student’s first six months of pay to incentivize employers to provide valuable on the job training. 

For Mark, the only thing left to do was pick a career. 

There were all kinds of options to choose from. 

“It was like culinary chef, dental assistant, operating room technician, clerk typist.” 

Mark and a friend who was also unemployed from Kiwi looked down the list and spotted a job that sounded interesting: network engineer. 

“I was like, let’s try that.” 

The year was 1996 and the internet was still in its infancy. 

“I had a crappy IBM PC with two 5.25-inch floppy drives in it, but no networking experience,” said Mark. 

The program required a series of network certification courses—seven in all—and once completed, he would officially be a certified network engineer. 

“Of the seven exams, I failed two of them and had to go back and retest,” said Mark of his limited knowledge of computers when first starting out. “To try to learn how all these ones and zeros travel through all of this gear, it was challenging.” 

He eventually passed all the tests and after becoming certified was temporarily hired on with a local payroll company before heading to MacDill Air Force Base. That's where he and his friend from Kiwi both worked as IT contractors for several years. 

“I loved it there. The military guys were great,” said Mark. 

But in 1999 he got a call that would change the course of his career. It was an old friend from the airport who wanted to let him know that a civil service job in IT was about to be posted. Without hesitation, Mark was among the first to apply. 

On April 19, 1999 Mark began his final stint at the Airport as a help desk technician. In his new role, he’d be responsible for running around the airport to fix computers, monitors and printers. 

“I was over the top,” said Mark. “I was so excited I hit a curb and blew a tire out on my way here.” 

Within nine years, he was promoted to supervisor and today he manages the airport’s entire network and telecom group. He says its a job that’s been both rewarding and challenging. 

“I went back and thanked the guy at the unemployment office. I said, ‘I don’t know what your success rate is on people going through this, but I love what I do, I love how I got into this thing and the program works.’” 

Including his time working for the airlines, Mark estimates he’s now spent a total of 41 years at Tampa International Airport. He says the past 22 years working in IT have been the most rewarding. 

“It’s a great place to be," Mark said. "Our newest guy has been here for three years. I’ve had this same team with nobody in, nobody out, for quite a while. We all just gel." 

But perhaps his biggest challenges are still to come. Over the next few months Mark will help oversee the transition to SkyCenter One and the new Police, Lost & Found and Maintenance offices. 

“The next three or four months are going to be really hectic for getting everyone hooked up over there. It’s a pretty aggressive schedule and there will be a lot of quirks,” said Mark. “We’ve got equipment that I ordered back in March and April— we still don’t have it yet because of supply chain issues. But we’re going to make it work. We have stuff we can substitute.” 

He said the toughest job will be to make sure everyone is happy from a technology standpoint. 

“We’re trying to make it as easy as possible to come in and with one or two plugs into their laptop, everything comes up.” 

When asked about retirement, Mark says he hopes to stick around long enough to oversee the completion of the future Airside D, which will be at least a few years into the future. “Its going to be a really nice, really big, and a really complicated project with a lot of IT involvement in it.” 

Mark still misses the free flight perks he got working directly for the airlines, but says travel is still a big part of his life. In his free time, he loves boating, camping and visiting America’s national parks with his wife of 29 years and his grandkids. He’s hit 16 national parks so far and says by far his favorite has been Yellowstone. 

“You’re standing and looking around and know at some point in the next 10,000 to 15,000 years this place is going to erase the continent.” 

In March, he plans a second trip back to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park and in June he wants to make his first trip to visit Olympic National Park in Washington. (Thank goodness for those Alaska Airlines nonstops to Seattle.) 

He's also a huge fan of sports car racing.   He's traveled across the country and even internationally to catch races but says his all-time favorite is still the “12 Hours of Sebring” held every March, not far away in Highlands County.

Back at the airport he's also known for leading the ITS department's United Way team which is undefeated over 6 years for best departmental participation.  He'll be co-chairing the Airport's United Way Fundraiser in 2022.

From plane crashes to network crashes Marks says he’s learned a lot of important lessons along the way. 

“In the long run it’s the age-old adage: Don’t sweat the small stuff. We look at all these big hurdles we’re coming at, and we’re good at it. That’s what I always tell my staff—‘guys we’re good.’” 

And even after all these years, Mark says the airport is still where he loves to be. 

“I love it out here. Every once in a while, I get a good whiff of the jet fuel and that brings back a lot of memories. I still love watching the planes and watching the people. I just can’t image being anywhere else.” 

The Airport, as Fred puts it, is living. It’s alive, and it’s magical, he said. Fred and his wife have been married for 35 years and they have two daughters, Lauren and Jordyn. They met at Julian B. Lane park when Fred was working for National Car Rental while his wife, Robin, was employed by United Airlines and they have been in love ever since.

When reminiscing on some of his favorite trips, Fred said, “I never dreamed I would ever go to Europe, and in fact, I never left Tampa until I was 21 years old.”

Growing up in West Tampa right outside of the Airport with his mother and seven siblings, Fred attended Plant High School and played basketball during his time there. Those few blocks from Howard Avenue to North Boulevard were his whole world and everything he needed was there. His first trip out of state was with his wife on their honeymoon to New York City. While the experience was nerve-wracking, he loved it and eventually came into his own when traveling.

As a result of Fred’s tenure in the aviation industry, his family has been able to experience the world. Europe, Bermuda, Spain ... if you can name a place, they’ve more than likely been there. Food is how Fred remembers and plans each trip.

“I remember flying to Chicago for a hotdog," he said. "We flew to Wisconsin for a hamburger.”

The food defines the trip, and each dish has a memory tied to it. The list goes on, though, with many more trips planned and restaurants to visit.

Besides his love of food, another one of Fred’s hobbies is bike riding.

“I ride 15 to 20 miles a night easy, and that sounds like a lot,” he said. His favorite route is down Bayshore Boulevard to Ulele, a popular contemporary restaurant in Tampa. Right across the river from that spot is West Tampa where Fred grew up. Looking back on that brings a lot of nostalgia.

His favorite part of working for TPA?

“Being around people," he said. "And not just the customers but the employees, too.”

Fred is always smiling, and his coworkers know he’s the one to talk to about all things food and flying. But Fred has seen Tampa Bay grow tremendously throughout his life as a Tampa native and his experiences are truly one of a kind.

Fred’s next trip? He has his sights set on London.

“I take a lot of pride in this airport,” he said. “It’s always interesting out here.”

Whether he’s mowing several acres of grass, fixing a broken hangar door, inspecting runway lights, scaring off the wildlife or plumbing a toilet, Phillips always has plenty to do to stay busy. As the sole General Aviation Maintenance Lead for PCM, one of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority’s three small public-use airports, he keeps a running checklist every day to ensure everything at the airport is safe and running smoothly.

“Here, you’re the electrician, the plumber, the mechanic, the yard guy,” Phillips said. “You’re the first eyes on everything.”

It’s somewhat of a dream job for Phillips, who loves being outdoors and enjoys working with a smaller and more close-knit team at PCM.

Born in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Phillips moved with his parents to the Tampa Bay area when he was a baby and has been a Floridian ever since. His dad was an electrician and Phillips fell into the same trade and passion, figuring out early that he loved working with his hands and understanding how things operated.

After a graduating from Armwood High School and briefly attending community college, he decided academic life wasn’t for him and joined the U.S. Army, working as a tanker for three years.

When he got out, he found a lot of his friends were making a good living doing electrical work so he mastered that trade and did odd jobs until landing a full-time position in the Hillsborough County Water Department. By that time, he and his wife had a young son and Phillips liked having a more steady job with benefits.

In 2010, a friend working at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority convinced him that Tampa International Airport was the place to be so Phillips applied and began working in the Building Maintenance department as a multi-trades worker.

Living in Plant City already, Philips was familiar with PCM and volunteered to work at the annual Planes, Trains & Automobiles event there. When a position opened up for PCM’s Maintenance Lead, Phillips jumped on it.

“It’s the best job I ever had,” Phillips said.

Phillips loves the rural Plant City community, where he spends time with his wife Felicia and his two dogs, and also where he proudly raised his son Logan, who is now 21. Even though he spends his entire work week outside, he still craves the outdoors in his free time. He kayaks, goes fishing and rides dirt bikes on evenings and weekends. Or when given the chance, he might save someone’s life.

When Monday morning comes – or whenever he gets a call to fix something – he loves reporting to work, which sometimes doesn’t feel like work at all.

“It’s like taking care of your home,” Phillips said. “How the airport is maintained is a reflection on you.”

She’s become a pro at whipping up a party on short notice. She knows who to call in town for the best balloon sculptures, acoustic musicians and elaborate cakes depicting scenes from Zurich, Havana, Hollywood and even Madison, Wisconsin.

You can bet that no one is more excited about that new route than Maria.

Her love of flying began in an unexpected place: Her hometown of Sofia, Bulgaria. In a Communist country that afforded very few the opportunity to travel beyond its borders, Maria’s father worked as a mechanic for Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, the nation’s sole government-owned air carrier. She grew up on and around planes.

“Back then, the only way you could fly and see the world is if you were a top government official, or if you worked for the airline,” Maria said. “So my family got to fly and we took full advantage of it.”

Those flights were limited other Socialist Bloc countries but they made the most of it, visiting the Black Sea coastline, shopping in East Germany. The family travels also ingrained in Maria a life rule she still strictly follows today.

“You never, ever skip on a vacation,” she said. Time off work means time to get away, to explore, to escape.

When Maria finished high school and fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming a flight attendant for Balkan Bulgarian Airlines, her world opened up even more.

In exchange for meeting the strict requirements for flight attendants at the time – hair and makeup a certain way, weight limits, little white gloves, a visit to physician before boarding each journey – Maria was able to see the the pyramids of Egypt, the crystal blue waters of the Maldives, the waterfalls of Zimbabwe, the temples of Sri Lanka, the skycrapers of New York.

She loved it but knew she couldn’t do it forever. At that time, flight attendants had to retire by 37, so many went to college and got degrees while they worked. Maria studied business administration and finance to prepare for a less glamorous life beyond her airline career.

The benefit of free tickets on all big European Careers gave her the opportunity to explore other places during her time off. Her vacations took her to all over the United States. On one of those vacations, Maria met Kevin, now her husband of 27 years.

The couple married and settled in the Tampa Bay area and Maria got a job in accounting for a large real estate company. It was okay. After she gave birth to her son Patrick, the new mother began looking for something different, and air travel called her name again.

She applied for a job at the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority in the Public Information & Community Relations department, and three months later, she got an interview and landed the job.

Along her 24-year career, the department evolved and branched off into forming TPA’s excellent Marketing Team, and Maria is now responsible for planning all of the Airport’s public-facing events, such as new air service launch gate parties, the grand opening of the new Rental Car Center and SkyConnect train, TPA’s 50^th Anniversary and other exciting occasions.

The COVID-19 pandemic slowed down not only the Airport’s events but Maria’s travels as well. But as airlines have been adding quickly adding new routes and TPA has been filling up again, she’s been as busy as ever.

She made the most of limited travel, visiting places like Yellowstone and Zion national parks, Las Vegas and New Orleans.

“There are many, many more places to go,” Maria said. "I like discovering new places and different things. I always look for places the locals like to go. I'm a very independent traveler. Budget, but not frugal."

And she never, ever skips on a vacation.

When it’s time to take a break in her busy schedule at work, she’s off on another journey to somewhere she’s never been.

This week, she’s going to Alaska.

TPA Assistant General Counsel Scott Knight was nominated and confirmed to the 2022 Florida Airports Council Board of Directors. Scott was instrumental in the re-constitution of the FAC Legal Committee in 2015 and has served as chair since that time. FAC is the official association of the publicly owned and operated airports in Florida, including all 20 of the state’s commercial service airports and 79 general aviation airports.

TPA Vice President of Concessions and Commercial Parking Laurie Noyes was selected to be a part of the 2022 Leadership Tampa class. Leadership Tampa one of the most prestigious city leadership programs in the country and is designed to bring together local leaders from all industries and explore regional assets and issues to create a better informed and more engaged community.

“You never know what’s going to come down the chute,” said Bruce. “The most common items are baby seats and strollers and sporting equipment like golf clubs and fishing gear. We also scan and load the traveling animals, dogs and cats of all breeds and sizes.”

There are plenty of uncommon items as well.

“We can always tell when there are large college sporting events in town,” he laughed. “Especially track and field, like when an airline employee brings us pole vaulting equipment or a javelin.”

When he’s not processing the oversized bags, Bruce works at the Southwest Airlines ticket counter assisting with checked bags.

“We’ll remove the oversized bags at the source, baby gear and anything else right away, before it has a chance to slow the system,” said Bruce. “Every day it’s getting busier, and we’re doing what we can to keep things moving smoothly.”

Bruce said that as much as he enjoys his work at TPA, and especially the camaraderie with his coworkers, come January 2022 it’ll be time to hang up his scanner and retire from the Airport. It’s time to start working on his travel bucket list, he said.

Bruce and his wife Leah are ready to bust out the RV and see some sights.

“She’s always wanted to go to San Antonio and the Grand Canyon,” Bruce said. “I also want to show her the Baltimore Aquarium.”

Bruce laughs when he shares the lengthy list, but said that’s what retirement is for.

“We’ve traveled so many times back and forth to Illinois to visit our family, but it’s always hurry up and get there and hurry to get back to work,” he said. “We can finally slow down and take a look around.”

And while Kim says that she loves working at Wendy’s, she says there’s something special about working at TPA, where she’s been for nearly three years.

When asked why the location matters, she simply replies, “I love working here.”

Kim explained that for her it’s all about the customers, her customers, who make up the best part of her day.

“Every day I meet new people and win them with my personality right off,” she laughed. “They tell me about where they’re going and why their traveling.”

Kim said that in addition to meeting new people, she has come to know many of the airport’s more than 10,000 employees and takes a lot of pride in treating them as valued customers as well.

“I have my regular customers,” she said. “It makes them smile when I remember their name, and they really love it when I remember their order. It makes them feel special and it makes me so happy knowing that I made someone’s day.”

For many, it’s a lasting impression.

“I’ve had many of the regular customers, pilots, TSA and others, come by when they are with their families or friends and introduce me because they’ve told them about me and I’ve heard a lot about them,” she said. “When you’re friendly, people open up. It’s really special.”

It’s a refreshing reprieve from her day-to-day home life, which she described as “not always the best.”

Kim has faced personal challenges in her life, she said, which includes raising a rambunctious four-year-old nephew with her sister. Kim lives on the outskirts of Hillsborough County and catches a bus two hours before the start of her shift. She said she enjoys working at the airport “that much.”

“When my home life is chaos, I look forward to my time at the Airport,” she says. “The time with my coworkers, my boss Mary Lou and my customers … that makes me so happy. I don’t know a lot of people who can say that about their job.”

Kim has been recognized by the Airport for her outstanding customer service which she said has been part of her work ethic from the beginning.

“I’ve worked at other restaurants, a local casino and in door-to-door sales at a time when it was so hard to do, but I was successful,” she said. “I can sell anything.”

She smiles when she reveals that other concessionaires have even tried to “steal her away.”

“They try, but I won’t leave,” she said with a smile. “I‘m happy here. They care about you. It’s like a family.”

When asked for one great reason she would give to someone who is thinking about working at TPA, she laughs and says, “It’s the customers. And it’s not one, it’s a million, and they’re all great.”

Tampa International Airport is currently hiring for multiple positions, including in the shops, restaurants, spas and rental cars. A list of openings, locations and pay ranges can be found on the airport website.

“We’re always joking around with each other,” Officer Tremblay said. “I couldn’t believe it.”

The big announcement, which is definitely real: Tremblay has been named the Tampa International Airport Police Department Officer of the Year. He will be recognized at the virtual Sykes Heroes Officer of the Year ceremony on May 6.

Chief Charlie Vazquez selected Tremblay for the honor based his work with the selection committee of the Airport’s Public Safety Dispatch and Records Management System. The system will have a positive impact on both the police department and Airport Operations Center for years to come.

In 2020, Tremblay volunteered to serve on the team that would select a new $1.25 million public safety software system. In addition to evaluating the technical aspects of the project, Tremblay also met with stakeholders, gathered feedback and created many of the templates that enable the system to function as efficiently as possible for the officers. As the RMS Subject Matter Expert, he continues to provide users with the necessary 16 hours of training required to operate the system.

Tremblay says that his participation on the project team was a natural fit.

“I’ve always been interested in computers and electronics, ever since I was kid,” says Tremblay. “I had a computer in my room, years before it was common for kids to have computers.”

In fact, when Tremblay was contemplating a new career early on, he was looking into college courses in electronics. That’s when his dad reminded him of his childhood fascination with detective work.

Tremblay thought about it, and decided to pursue a career in law enforcement.

He served as a detention deputy in Hillsborough County for more than nine years, when he says that it was time to transition into law enforcement. He enrolled in school to become a certified officer and went to college at night after his regular shift.

Tremblay says that the Airport Police Department’s patrol style, with officers dedicated to a specific location, is a perfect fit for him. He laughs when he says it’s reminiscent of growing up in the small town of Clarksville, TN where “everybody knows everybody.” His social nature of walking and talking allows him to get to know his fellow employees while patrolling his beat, the Airport’s new Rental Car Center.

“It’s community-style policing, which is very effective.” says Tremblay. “They get to know me and know that they can reach out and talk to me when they see something that looks out of place.”

He says that the combination of current duties as a patrol officer as well as project manager and trainer for the new dispatch and records management software system, have brought all of his skills together and it’s very rewarding.

When his patrol shift is over, Tremblay says that he enjoys spending time with his fiancé Kim and two young children. And after hours, he says, it’s time to relax and get back to his love of electronics.

“When the kids are asleep, Kim and I break out the Mario Kart,” he laughs. “It’s just our thing.”

Meet Amy Puyo, one of four Airport Credentials Specialists responsible for processing the badging applications and renewals of more than eight thousand airport employees and contractors every year.

The airport’s employee and identification badging system is a critical part of the TPA security infrastructure, and there was no break in service, even during a pandemic. Amy says that the badging team stayed flexible and adjusted daily to the new cleanliness and safety protocols put in place.

“We would try different things to stay safe,” she said. “We would change hours, change locations and add in all of the safety measures. It was a learning curve.”

While passenger traffic plunged sharply at the start of the pandemic, other areas such as construction, ramped up. As a result, badging operations stayed consistent and the department’s need for a full staff at all times never wavered. They have continued to process anywhere from 60 to 80 employees a day.

Amy says that it wasn’t enough just to keep the office operating. The team was committed to maintaining their service standards.

“In badging, the employees are our customers,” Amy explains. “It’s important to us to treat everyone well.”

Originally from Colombia, Amy says that her bilingual skills often come in handy and the ability to communicate with someone in their first language provides an additional level of customer service.

When Amy’s not at TPA, she says her family is her world and that she and her husband cherish the time they have together at home with their two young children. Amy is also active in her church, particularly the music program.

“I love to sing. I’m always singing,” says Amy. “Music brings me joy and I hope to share that with my children.”

Amy brings her positive attitude to the airport every day and says its attitude that makes her team successful. As passenger traffic at Tampa International Airport continues to steadily climb, she reflects back on the past year and says that the strong bond of teamwork is the key to resilience.

“It’s how we all work together that makes the difference,” said Amy. “It was challenging, but we all made it.”

“Anything and everything,” he laughs.

He’s not really joking.

While a big part of the job is maintaining the airfield with routine mowing and painting, there is also the interior work that must be done to care for the facilities operated by the airport staff and the multitude of small independent tenants. He recently learned to work on cabinetry for a tenant at Peter O. Knight Airport.

There is also the need to be prepared to respond in the event of an aircraft incident. With no firefighters stationed at the GA airports, Michael is often the first person on the scene.

“You have to be ready to do anything that needs to be done, and you also have to be ready to learn something new,” says Michael. “That’s one of the things I love most about the job.”

For Michael, some of the new skills he’s developed have been somewhat unexpected, like networking.

For a small team like the General Aviation department, it’s all hands on deck when one of the three airports is hosting an event or participating in other events locally to woo new clients. Sadly, while most general aviation operations have been minimally impacted by the pandemic, meeting and greeting at events is one that has had to temporarily go to the wayside.

“I really enjoyed being out at Sun 'n Fun a couple of years ago, greeting guests in the hospitality tent and answering their questions about our general aviation airports,” said Michael. “It made me feel like I was really helping the business and I’ll be glad when we’re able to do that again.”

Reflecting back over his 12 years with the Aviation Authority, Michael could only think back to one task he would have happily avoided.

This past December, a cow from a nearby property wandered onto Tampa Executive Airport. As the local sheriff’s department helicopter circled overhead, Michael was one of two employees on the ground attempting to wrangle the errant bovine. The mission lasted for several hours and video from the chase ended up on news stations across the country.

“I hated that cow,” said Michael, joking. “I mean, I REALLY hated that cow.”

“I just knew it was for me,” says Hamilton. “A job where there was constant activity and excitement, while at the same time you’re always helping people.”

As a young female in a male-dominated field, Hamilton says that she met plenty of roadblocks along the way and at times felt discouraged. But she persisted and continued to follow her dream.

Hamilton’s hometown is all the better for it.

She proudly served her community with the Tampa Police Department for more than 28 years before hanging up her handcuffs and retiring from the police force.

But retirement was short-lived. Hamilton is back on the job, this time with the Tampa International Airport Police Department.

“I just love working here,” she says. “You’re still focused on keeping the guests safe, but you’re also doing your best to be helpful and provide a pleasant experience.”

Although she grew up “just around the corner” from TPA, Hamilton says that once you get a behind-the-scenes look, you gain a completely new appreciation for the Airport.

“You don’t realize how massive it is,” she says. “And you gain a real appreciation for the design, the art and the efficiency.”

Hamilton says that she doesn’t know how long this next chapter of her career will be. She does have a goal in mind, though.

“I want to be a positive force behind the badge, one which exemplifies professionalism, commonality with guests and serving as an advocate in promoting a well-rounded experience for all who visit TPA.”

Be it a play off the Art Basel Banana, a brilliant spin off of a popular meme or a poem about the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Bowl, each joke or witty quip brings delight to Tampa International Airport’s most adoring social media fans who demand to know more.

“Whoever runs this account I love you,” tampaentertainment commented.

“Who runs this page!!! I need a face!!!” wrote _jarrettjhodge_.

“Give this person a raise,” tweeted @Q105Geno.

“We, the people, need to see the face behind your social media @flytpa,” demanded saltandsandcottages.

Well, here she is, folks.

Meet Ashley.

From appetizer samplers to airport marketing

Ashley Iaccarino’s fast-track to TPA success began with her keen attention to detail. A regular who frequented a Tampa Chili’s where Ashley worked was surprised when she remembered his favorite order: The Triple Dipper.

The customer was impressed, and after chatting with her about her dreams and aspirations, he introduced her to his friends at the Economic Club of Tampa. That led to meeting other VIPs, including then-Mayor Bob Buckhorn and Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandy Murman.

Those who met Ashley – a young University of Florida graduate with a strong work ethic who longed for a career in public relations – wanted to help her. So when she applied for a 2017 internship in the Communications Department at Tampa International Airport, she had excellent references to go along with her writing and photo skills, as well as a fluency in Spanish.

She got the temporary job. And while managing social media wasn’t her first choice as a post-college career path, she took to it quickly and made it her own. Ashley brought a fresh and funny voice to TPA’s social accounts, quickly building a cult following on Instagram and attracting more followers to Facebook and Twitter. Within a year, TPA hired Ashley as a full-time coordinator, and only a couple years after that, she moved up to a manager position.

Ashley’s duties extend beyond cracking jokes and creating strategic messaging on TPA’s social media channels. She also heads up TPA’s Air Service Digest email designed to promote airlines and new routes, manages the organization’s internal TPA TV platform, writes news stories and travel pieces for the newsletter and does on-camera interviews in Spanish, among many other things.

Ambitious and efficient, Ashley is always looking for new projects and tasks to conquer. But she never forgets her loyal @flytpa followers and is constantly coming up with new ways to make them smile. During a year like 2020, the comic relief was clearly a welcome reprieve.

In May, while many were in quarantine and travel was near all-time lows, Ashley took a break from COVID-19 safety messages and photoshopped rapper Drake’s hair and beard onto a plane, tagging it #DrakesOnAPlane.

“Seriously, why doesn’t this person run the entire airport,” said eddiegrimessuperagent.

Memes in a time of COVID: A Love Story

Ashley grew up the youngest of three siblings in West Palm Beach, where she once won a “Got Milk” essay contest in second grade that landed her in her school newsletter. Her drive to excel extended through high school and college, and after getting a job at Chili’s in Gainesville at age 17 she set and achieved a goal for herself to have a certain amount in her savings by age 20. After graduating with a degree in public relations, she didn’t want to move back home so she settled on a midway point, transferring to a Chili’s in Tampa.

Her six years as a waitress taught her some valuable skills that serve her well today.

“It really taught me how to know my audience and understand when to leave things alone or when to keep chatting,” Ashley said. “I learned a lot about human behavior, and also multi-tasking. I’ve always worked pretty quickly. I don’t like to leave things lingering.”

While her social media voice comes naturally as someone on the cusp between Gen Z and Millennial, figuring out what works best for the various TPA social accounts has been “a lot of trial and error,” she said. But heading into 2020, Ashley had a good idea of who her audiences were. While she pulled back on posting as often during a time of crisis and COVID-19 fears, she still managed to help grow TPA’s social media following by 10 percent and increased engagements by 25 percent.

Her biggest growth and most active followers are on Instagram, a platform that allows her personality to shine the most because its users expect more entertainment than info. She balances both to deliver messaging with a twist, building TPA’s brand among young and savvy customers. She gets her inspiration from other funny brands on social media, such as Totino’s Pizza Rolls, Burger King and Chipotle. (Ashley also loves food.)

TPA’s Instagram followers are constantly heaping praise for “whoever runs this account” in the comments section. And the feeling is mutual.

“It’s the best part of my job,” Ashley said. “It’s almost like having a friendship with people I don’t know. I get to be creative and have fun in my posts knowing they’ll appreciate the humor. That’s so cool to me.”

So when he was asked by Traffic Manager Robert Rinehart to consider accepting additional responsibility, he didn’t hesitate.

Andrew is one of TPA’s new Airport Resource Officers. As an ARO, Andrew works two to three shifts a week, responding to the calls that do not require a law enforcement officer, such as a minor injury on the premises.

Andrew learned on the job shadowing the Airport Police Department on the proper response procedure. When he arrives to the scene of the injury, he assists the guest and lets them know that medical help is one the way, all while staying in contact with the police dispatchers. Andrew waits for the paramedics to arrive, then documents the activity and generates a report.

According to Rinehart, the ARO position requires someone who is able to multi-task, has good decision-making skills, works with minimal supervision and is computer savvy.

“Andrew was a great fit for the job,” said Rinehart. “He embodies all of those traits.”

Andrew said that even with the new tasks, he’s not done learning and looks forward to more challenges. He’s currently attending St. Petersburg College, working toward a degree in Public Policy Administration.

“I’m not sure what I see myself doing down far the road, but I know I want it to be at the Airport,” said Andrew.

He got his start at the Airport as a Public Safety Dispatcher in the Airport Operations Center (AOC) in 2005, dispatching 911 and emergency calls and soon moved into a supervisor role. Chris continued to climb into a training position with the AOC where he taught new employees the tricks of the trade. 

In 2015, Chris made the switch to the Operations department where he was recently promoted to Manager of Training and Innovation, a novel role that hadn't previously existed. The need for this position was huge, Chris said, because of all the rapid adoption of new technologies and the substantial training required for new hires.

"I started at the Airport as a dispatcher because I knew I wanted to help people. Throughout my entire career, my personality has led me to kinda always be in a training role," Chris said. "I found out I could be more helpful training people and it's something I've always enjoyed."

Just four months ago, Chris took on another role - one that still requires training, lots of hard work and waking up early - as a new father. 

When he's not spending time with baby Isaac or working, he uses his sparce spare time with his many hobbies, which include: cars, cooking, music, travel and photography - just to name a few. 

His favorite part about his job at TPA? The people. 

"I've been here 15 years and some of the best people I've ever met, I met here at the Airport."

In fact, Darryl was responsible for much of the logistics behind transforming TPA’s Main Terminal Event Space into a COVID-19 testing site, complete with a spacious waiting area, nurse stations for administering tests and plenty of draping for privacy. He has also helped set the stage for events such as TPA’s first virtual employee town hall and its outdoor Employee BBQ with a live band.

This is in addition to quickly repairing cracked tiles and ripped carpet, tending to plumbing issues and acting as a general fix-it guy for one of the country’s most well-kept airports.

“The people on my team do a multitude of things,” Darryl said. “You know how in Lion King Mufasa says to Simba, ‘Everything the light touches is our kingdom?’ Everything the light touches at TPA is ours.”

Born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago, Darryl moved to New York when he was about 18 where he got into acting and contractor work, the latter which was more sustainable as a career. After the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, he and his wife decided to move their family elsewhere.

“It was very scary for us because I couldn’t reach my wife for four hours after the attacks,” Darryl said.

They looked into Florida and thought Tampa sounded ideal. They now live in the FishHawk area, where Darryl likes to ride his bike around the trails and read the Bible in the evening. Darryl is very active in his church when he’s not spending time with his wife of 25 years and their three daughters – 22-year-old Maria, 20-year-old Juliana and 17-year-old Edith – or their two dogs, Milo and Marley.

Darryl has worked at TPA for 12 years and has seen a number of changes during that time, not the least of which has been the changes COVID-19 has brought to his team.

“We were very scared and sad and worried at first,” he said. “Now we’re all very careful with washing our hands, spraying things down with alcohol, taking all the precautions to avoid getting sick or spreading illness. It’s become second nature now and the anxiety has eased up.”

“I have my family at home, but I also have my work family,” says Barbara. “And you need to be there for all of them.”

Barbara, a 32-year veteran of the Aviation Authority, has worked for many departments and many teams. She says she really enjoys the four-person records team that she is a currently a part of, and loves what she does.

Her day starts with receiving and sorting the mail. Every piece of mail received must be opened, date stamped, processed and sorted.

“I visit 24 departments while delivering the mail, but that’s a small part of what we do,” Barbara explains. “We support many departments including Legal, Police, Concessions, Real Estate, and Planning and many departments support us. We process everything from requests for tenant documents on file and in the archives to public records requests. We’re always busy and it takes all of us working together.”

At home, Barbara is married, a mother and a grandmother of 19. Working from home except on Tuesdays and Fridays has given her more time with her loved ones.

“This change of schedule has allowed me more time to spend with the grandchildren especially,” she said. “There’s always someone around and we love doing things together. Halloween was very special.”

But there’s more to Barbara than just being a relative or friend.

Before her time at TPA, Barbara served three tours of duty in the U.S. Army. She continued her service in the Florida National Guard, serving another 29 years until 2014. Her time at TPA was continuous with the exception of a year-long deployment to Kuwait in 2010.

“I still run into people around the airport who I served with in the Guard,” says Barbara. “They’ll still ask me, ‘How you doing Sergeant?’ I don’t mind, it’s a sign of respect for one another. They are always my family, too. And I really miss serving my country.”

Although Barbara says that she’s making the best of the pandemic situation, she looks forward to her time in the office and seeing the people that she’s worked with for so many years.

“Because it’s been too long, and you always look forward to seeing your family.”

“You have to love the spotlight and have a personality that shines through when you’re dressed as a character,” said Darius. “It’s also where I learned about customer service and the hospitality industry."

Originally from Gary, Indiana, a city known in the 90’s as the murder capital of the world, Darius recalls what it was like growing up in a dangerous neighborhood.

“My mom was always worried about me, she was nervous every time I left the house,” said Darius. “And as a young, gay, black man, growing up in that environment, she worried even more for me. I couldn’t be who I was.”

His father decided to take Darius on a trip to show him life outside of Gary, and outside of the United States. They went to Greece and it’s that trip that Darius says taught him about respecting different cultures. It also gave him the travel bug.

After his time with Disney, Darius began working for a few different airlines. He enjoyed the work, helping people and traveling all across the country. Looking for a more stable schedule, he joined the Guest Services team at the Aviation Authority and never looked back.

His current role as the front desk receptionist suits him now. He says the questions have changed, but the goal is the same, to treat everyone and every question like they’re important.

“It could be the hundredth time that day that someone asks you the same question, but it’s the first time for them, and you just answer politely,” he explains. “The only difference now are the questions. They used to ask about booking flights, now they want to know about COVID testing.”

When asked about the best part of his job, Darius is candid about what he loves most about working at TPA.

“I’m in a place where I meet so many people from different walks, all the people I work and all the people I help. And all the while I can be my authentic self. We’re like a family where everybody is appreciated for who they are.”

“In my time with the Authority, I’ve learned that doing good is not good enough for me,” Alejandro said. “I want to exceed expectations with everything I do.”

Alejandro wakes up every morning at 4 a.m. and says a quick prayer for his family and friends. He then heads to work where he manages a team of seven employees who maintain the integrity of the Airfield – an important job when you’re working for a busy Airport. 

His favorite part of the job? The fact that he’s always learning – and he’s never afraid of a challenge.

“You never stop learning here. There are new challenges every day, and that keeps me on my toes,” he said. “I love adapting to the changes at the Airport, and by doing that, I know I’m making a difference.”