Airport Revenue News has named Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, airport director of Lambert-St. Louis International (STL), its 2015 Director of the Year in the medium airports* category.
Following a lengthy process, the ARN editorial staff chose Hamm-Niebruegge from a short-listed group of qualified candidates for her achievements in improving STL and in advancing the industry.
“ARN is proud to choose Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge for this award,” says Ramon Lo, publisher of ARN. “Rhonda has led the airport through tornado damage and reductions in air service to a point where STL is now poised to take the next step.”
Prior to her time with STL, Hamm-Niebruegge served as vice president of North American operations for Trans World Airlines. When the carrier was acquired by American Airlines, Hamm-Niebruegge continued as managing director of American’s St. Louis operations. Among the many achievements during her five-year tenure with the airport are the gains in air service that followed the drastic reduction in flights and the modernization of the airport. Hamm-Niebruegge is currently leading STL through a five-year strategic plan aimed at further increasing air service, strengthening the airport’s financial standing, growing cargo revenues and more. Hamm-Niebruegge co-chairs the Airport Council International-North America’s medium-hub airports committee and sits on the U.S. Government Affairs Committee.
“I’m honored to be chosen for this recognition among a field of so many accomplished airport directors who are all making great strides to navigate and excel in a an ever-changing industry,” says Hamm-Niebruegge. “This honor really speaks to the excellence and dedication of our entire STL team, which has overcome many unique challenges in St. Louis, with the end goal of transforming Lambert into a more vibrant regional asset by creating new opportunities to grow air service, foster economic development and sustain a welcoming experience for all of our visitors, passengers and customers.”
Hamm-Niebruegge will be interviewed in and featured on the cover of ARN’s November issue. She will be presented this award at the ARN Awards Show on the final night of the ARN 2016 Revenue Conference & Exhibition in Dallas. For more information about the conference, please go to www.arnconference.com.
*ARN is using the same classification as the Federal Aviation Administration, which re-classifies airports each year as small, medium or large hubs based on their percentage of the nation’s total annual passenger enplanements.
