Michael Baldwin, assistant vice president of concessions at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Wednesday night was named the first AX Icon, a new Airport Experience award created to honor a lifetime of dedication to the industry.
Baldwin, as a prominent airport figure, has invested more than thirty years in the airport and aviation experience industries. He has been a mentor to many and, as he nears the culmination of his life’s work and prepares to retire, the Airport Experience News team was inspired to honor the achievements, the growth and the support he’s helped nurture throughout his career.
“I am totally, totally lost for words,” said Baldwin at the ceremony. “Why? Because of the fact all of you have been so special in my life …. It’s laid the foundation for me to be able to do the things that were most imperative in my heart, and to continue that process so that my grandson could see what this is really all about, as well.”
The award was presented by Ken Buchanan, executive vice president of revenue management at DFW, who spoke highly of Baldwin’s dedication to the industry and his teammates and colleagues.
“His inspiration and positive spirit, his business savvy, his passion to help others make him uniquely qualified for this award,” Buchanan said. “Our recipient loves when he can achieve another first, so it’s fitting that the first AXN Industry Icon Award goes to Mr. Michael Baldwin.”
Prior to joining DFW, Baldwin was the national category manager of prepaid services for the Southland Corporation (7-Eleven), where he developed and managed a prepaid calling card and cell phone telecommunications category generating over $249 million in annual revenue. Prior to 7-Eleven, Baldwin was an entrepreneur and worked with his famous father in their family business developing Famous Amos Cookie Franchises in airports and street-side locations both nationally and internationally.
He and his wife LaVerne have two daughters, one son-in-law, two grandsons and one granddaughter.
Baldwin was presented with his award at the 2021 Airport Experience Conference alongside the 2021 Property Manager of the Year – Dawn Hunter, director of aviation commercial management for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) – and the 2020 Directors of the Year: Paul Bradbury, airport director for Portland International Jetport (PWM), small airports division; Kevin Dolliole, director of aviation at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport (MSY), medium airports division; and Bill Wyatt, executive director of the Salt Lake City Department of Airports.
