A vibrant closing ceremony that included honors for some of the airport industry’s most well-respected leaders capped off three days of programming at the annual Airport Experience Conference. With attendance increasing by more than 20 percent over 2021, the AX Conference is rebounding alongside the industry it has served for nearly 20 years.
At the closing event Wednesday evening, Airport Experience News honored its three Directors of the Year, its Property Manager of the Year and the 2022 AX Icon. Melissa K. Montes, publisher of Airport Experience News, said the night’s attendees represent some of the best individuals the industry has to offer. “I want to thank each and every one of you for your participation and your partnership, whether you are one of the many longtime supporters or new to this space.”
The Icon award went to longtime industry executive and current consultant Oris Dunham in recognition of his decades of service in forwarding the interests of airports and airport concessionaires.
“Oris has been a leader of excellence in this industry,” said Dawn Hunter, acting aviation chief operating officer at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and 2021 AXN Property Manager of the Year, in her speech announcing Dunham’s award. “He is my mentor. He is my friend. He is a wealth of knowledge. He has helped guide my career to get me where I am today.”
Dunham held leadership positions at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the Port of Seattle throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, then became director general of Airports Council International – World from 1991 through 1997. Since then, Dunham has been actively influencing the industry, working with both airports and concessionaires through his consulting firm, Dunham Group LLC.
“This recognition is really awesome. I’m humbled. The fact that I’m here is just another blessing of everything this group has done for me,” said Dunham when he took the stage after being announced. “I find it really interesting to look around and see so many young faces here that have grown in this business, and I hope that what I have been able to do and what I have gained gives you some inspiration to do what you want to do in this business. There are no limits. Let your heart take you where you want to go. Be what you want to be.”
Marlene Coleman, director of concessions management at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), was selected as the AXN Property Manager of the Year for her forward-thinking approach to airport concessions management during a time of crisis.
Derryl Benton, executive vice president, business development for HMSHost, noted Coleman’s role as a leader among concessions executives. “Marlene Coleman stepped up among airport leaders first. Her airport granted MAG relief, her airport began to think about term extensions, her airport also considered waiving other fees.
“I stand here today with a lot of pride to present my special friend,” he added.
Coleman is heralded among her industry peers and partners for her role in quickly responding to concessionaire needs in a time of crisis to stabilize the situation then continuing to collaborate with industry stakeholders on forging the best way forward. Coleman is a longtime industry executive who held various concessions-related roles from 1998 to 2011 at ATL. She moved to another Atlanta city department for several years but returned to ATL to lead the concessions division in 2019.
“Thank you for this unexpected and humbling award,” Coleman said while accepting her award. “It is indeed a privilege to lead such an innovative program, which in turn serves its city of Atlanta and the many passengers that travel through ATL.”
The awards program also featured AXN’s three Directors of the Year for 2021. Mark Gale, CEO and director of aviation, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), and AXN’s Director of the Year in the Large Airports division; Rebecca Hupp, director of Boise Airport (BOI) and Director of the Year in the Medium Airports division; and Rick Tucker, executive director and CEO of the Port of Huntsville, and Director of the Year in the Small Airports division.
The AX Icon award was created in 2021 to honor a lifetime of dedication to the airport concessions industry. The first recipient last year was Michael Baldwin, assistant vice president of concessions at DFW.
Launched in 2014, the AXN Property Manager of the Year is a coveted designation given each year to an airport concessions executive who exemplifies leadership, partnership and innovation in their role managing in airport concessions. The 2021 recipient was Dawn Hunter, director of aviation commercial management at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
