Author: Metropolitan Airport News
Metropolitan Airport News
Produced by a team of aviation professionals and enthusiasts, our mission is to inform and update the more than 68,000 employees who work on the metropolitan New York airport properties, as well as the many others that provide goods and services in the surrounding communities.
LaGuardia Gateway Partners (LGP), the manager and developer of LaGuardia Airport’s new Terminal B, appointed Klaudia FitzGerald as Chief Operating Officer in November 2023. FitzGerald joins LGP’s now majority-women-led executive leadership team from AvAirPros Inc., where she most recently served as the JFK Terminal One operator’s Senior Director of Operations. A seasoned operations leader in the airport industry, Klaudia oversees LaGuardia Airport Terminal B’s commitment to safety, security, and operational performance. Her career stretches across two decades. Most recently, she concluded a 12-year tenure with JFK’s Terminal One operator AvAirPros in various operations roles leading up to Senior Director of…
During the day, LeSher Harvey is a Commercial & Compliance Manager for JFK Millennium Partners (JMP) at Terminal 7, a role she has held for over a year. In her free time, she’s the founder and leader of JMP’s “People of Passion” (PoP) community outreach group, a 17-member strong team of JMP staff that volunteers their time to support initiatives in the local Queens community. At T7, LeSher manages and optimizes the Terminal’s commercial operations and ensures compliance with standards and regulations. She oversees the development and management of concession spaces within the Terminal, fostering partnerships with vendors and ensuring…
Shehla Iftekhar is an Academic & Career Advisor for York College Aviation Management, which is under the Business & Economics Department. Shehla loves every aspect of her role at CUNY York College. Prior to joining CUNY Aviation Management her work has earned her several distinguished human rights advocacy awards at the New York State level and beyond. Shehla has earned her bachelor’s degree in Corporate Communication Studies from CUNY Baruch College and dual graduate degrees with distinction in Mental Health Counseling and Vocational Rehab Counseling from Hofstra University in New York. Shehla is also a TEDx Speaker, who can speak…
Stacey Lora, Vice President Safety and Security, manages Terminal 4’s safety and security program. She ensures that T4 is focused on achieving a zero-accident culture and adhering to all security-focused regulations while working closely with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Police, the Transportation Security Administration, and US Customs and Border Protection, among others. Ms. Lora previously served as a security manager for American Airlines and has more than 20 years of experience in aviation operations. How did you get your start working in the aviation industry? Stacey Lora: I started working at JFK just out of…
Dr. Maxine Lubner is a Professor and Chair of the Management and, formerly, Aviation, Departments at Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology, New York City. Previously, Dr. Lubner was appointed Executive Director of the City University of New York (CUNY) Aviation Institute at York College and a faculty member at New York University’s Graduate School of Social Work. She has conducted research in the areas of aviation safety, human factors, and aviation education. She holds an FAA Private Pilot Certificate. She obtained an undergraduate B.A. and a graduate B.A. (Hons) in Counseling Psychology from the University of Cape Town, South…
Few names resonate as profoundly as Julia’s in customer experience management. With a career spanning over a decade, Julia has championed the cause of enhancing customer satisfaction, leaving an indelible mark across industries and continents. Since 2021, she has served as the senior manager of Customer Experience at JFK International Air Terminal. JFKIAT has steered the terminal towards new heights, ensuring every passenger’s journey is marked by efficiency and satisfaction, aiming to create incredible journeys for all coming through. Before her tenure at JFKIAT, Julia honed her expertise at Hospital Corporation of America, Deloitte & Touche, Highgate Holdings, and Marriot…
Diana Santiago started her career at Aviation High School, obtaining her Airframe and Powerplant certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration. She then pursued a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Transportation Planning from Dowling College. She also holds concurrent Master’s degrees in Business Administration and Education from Dowling College. Diana is in the process of completing her postgraduate degree in Leadership from Stony Brook University. In addition to her FAA certifications, Diana holds her FCC & EPA license and NYS teachers’ certifications in Aviation Maintenance and Occupational Coordination. Additional career endeavors include working at the Department of Energy at Brookhaven National…
Nancy Vargas has provided ground transportation service throughout the entire New York metropolitan area since 1995. Thanks to Nancy’s innovative business strategies, DH2 Chauffeured Transportation has enjoyed continued growth despite regional and national economic downturns. Starting with the diversification into corporate transportation in 2016, Nancy expanded the business into new market segments such as government contracts, airline flight crew, construction mobility, hotel shuttle service, employee shuttle service, and corporate events. Nancy was a candidate for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society Man and Woman of the Year, and in 2023 became involved in the LLS Leadership Team. Nancy has received five Chamber…
As the bustling gateway to one of the world’s busiest airports, JFK International Airport serves as the first impression for millions of travelers each year. Yet, while the interior of the airport dazzles with its modern amenities and vibrant energy, the exterior landscape has often been overlooked. At GatewayJFK, their mission is to change that narrative. They envision a transformation that not only beautifies the surroundings of JFK International Airport but also revitalizes the entire community it serves. As GatewayJFK embarks on this transformative journey, they invite stakeholders, investors, and community members to join us in shaping the future of…
The aviation and airport industries encompass a wide range of career paths and opportunities related to air travel and transport, from airside and landside jobs to work in terminals and even off-airport jobs like publishing. This month, Metropolitan Airport News focuses on women in the aviation industry, including women-owned businesses in and around the New York metropolitan area airports. We asked each of these featured women questions about their careers, work in their respective areas of the industry, women in leadership, and sustainability, and here, we offer their one-on-one insight in their own words. In sharing their experience and passion…