Publisher

Ramon G. Lo

“Listen to the color of your dream.”

At Work

Ramon, who has been with Airport Experience^® News since 2005, leads the airport experience industry’s premier information resource and event organizer. Prior to AXN, Ramon was marketing director for Trammell Crow Co., developing and implementing marketing initiatives for the South Florida division’s 2 million square foot portfolio. He holds a degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Florida Atlantic University.

At Play

Ramon has been a huge fan of The Beatles for as long as he can remember. Ask him about his favorite albums (Rubber Soul and Revolver), song (Across The Universe) or Beatle (John Lennon) and you will get a very lengthy and detailed response. Ramon loves the Miami Heat and Miami Dolphins, loyally rooting for them through thick and thin. He is even more proud of his two children. Ramon can be found practicing basketball, tossing the football with his son or singing along to the song of the day with his daughter.

Portfolio Director

Melissa Montes

“The thing is…”

At Work

Melissa’s chief responsibility as director of business development is to assist Airport Experience^® clients in creating experiences and opportunities that utilize AX media and events as their platforms. Her career includes more than 15 years of experience in sales, experiential marketing, branding, advertising and account management. She blends those talents into her role at AX, working with core clients as their brands evolve and new companies eager to make a mark in the ever-changing airport concession space. Prior to AXN, Melissa served as director of account services at the Ryan William’s Agency, where she was strategic lead on accounts that included retail, hospitality, healthcare and restaurant franchises. Melissa received her Bachelor of Arts from Florida Atlantic University.

At Play

Melissa is an avid yogi who teaches power vinyasa flows at a local yoga studio. When not on her mat, she is happiest traveling, cooking gluten- and dairy-free meals, and pairing those meals with her favorite wines. She is also very active in the community as a volunteer, serving as a member of the Junior League for 10 years. She is a huge fan of the band Radiohead and will travel just about anywhere to see them. She has even gone so far as to camp in her car at Coachella just to see them play. Melissa’s also a HUGE fan of all things from her hometown of Chicago and has been rooting for her Chicago Bears since the Super Bowl Shuffle.

Business Development Associate

Christian Cole

“Why does everyone call me Clark Kent?”

At Work

A Wisconsin native and graduate from the University of Minnesota, Christian became fed up with the cold and decided to pack his bags for Florida to begin his professional career with AXN. With a bachelor’s degree in political science and history, Christian was thrilled to join the AXN team, learn about the business, and work with brands and operators to enhance the passenger experience at airports.

At Play

An early bird by nature, Christian enjoys meditating, journaling, reading, and pursuing his passion for fitness, all before the sun comes up. As “easy-going” as they come, it is difficult to get Christian rattled. He pursues his work dutifully and diligently and thrives on the unexpected. An avid traveler, Christian has already visited Spain, Morocco, France, Switzerland, and the U.K. with hopes to make his way through South America soon.

Director of Conference

Barb Moreno

“The ocean is my only medication.”

At Work

For over 20 years, Barb has served as Airport Experience^® News’s Director of Conferences, possessing the rare distinction of having run all ARN Conferences since the event’s inception. Barb plans, executes and oversees all operational and logistical aspects of the business unit’s events by interfacing with the hotel, housing company, show decorator, exhibitors, sponsors and more. Barb is also the lead on the AX Factbook products, acting as a liaison to AX’s Airport Partners as they report their valuable data. Prior to joining AXN Barb worked as the managing editor at Waterski Magazine. Barb is a graduate of Florida Southern College.

At Play

Barb is a mother of a house divided, with her son a University of Florida Gator and her daughter a Florida State University Seminole. This intense rivalry makes Thanksgiving a “lively” holiday in the Moreno household. When she’s not in the office, you can find her on a boat listening to Jimmy Buffet, in the Florida Keys snorkeling and swimming with dolphins or at her family lake house waterskiing. In fact, waterskiing has always been a large part of her life, as she was on her college ski team. When she’s not on the water, Barb enjoys snow skiing in Colorado and traveling to new places. Of the many ways she chooses to spend her downtime, the constant amongst them all is her family, the very people who accompany her on these adventures.

Editor-in-Chief

Carol Ward

At Work

Carol directs the editorial content of Airport Experience^® News magazine and website. Her responsibilities include devising and assigning articles, contributing content and editing all copy for both media. In addition, Carol sets the agenda and attracts speakers for the annual AX Conference. She has a long history with the company, having written for AXN predecessor Airport Revenue News since its launch in 2001. Carol holds a bachelor of journalism from the University of Missouri.

At Play

Carol loves to hike in the local woods surrounding her home in Carrboro, North Carolina, and often makes her way eastward to the mountains near Asheville. She also enjoys baking (and eating!) and, at the risk of sounding old-ladyish, spends many hours making quilts for friends and family. Carol loves to travel, dine out and share a bottle of wine whenever she gets a chance.

Senior Reporter

Andrew Tellijohn

“Just another day on the razor blade of life.”

At Work

Andy is AXN’s senior reporter. He’s written for the magazine for around a dozen years and also contributes to the website, the company’s editorial calendar, the educational sessions for its annual conference and various other projects as requested. In his 20 years as a reporter, he’s covered a variety of beats, ranging from cops and courts to sports business. He landed at ARN fresh off a stint at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal in Minnesota.

At Play

Away from the office, you’re unlikely to find Andy in the gym or on a hiking trail. He’s tried to find some active hobbies, but the results have typically been less than stellar and sometimes downright ugly. He finds himself most at home sampling new bourbons, reading thriller novels and trying to uncover the secret weapon that will win him another fantasy football championship. He lives just outside Minneapolis. And he does like to travel, a trait that he’s found compatible with the interests of his wife, Sarah, and two children.

Copy Editor, Writer

Shafer Ross

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”

At Work

As staff writer, Shafer tackles the day-to-day writing needs of the magazine, including penning pieces for the website, the magazine and, of course, a lot of emails. She is a recent graduate of Florida Atlantic University, with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism. She has worked in public relations, as well as social media management and event coordination.

At Play

In her off-time, Shafer is an actor in the South Florida area. When she’s not auditioning or in a show, she watches true crime documentaries on Netflix and eats pastries from the Brazilian bakery. On the weekends, Shafer can be found making playlists to sing to in the car or crocheting. She also discovered this summer that water-skiing is NOT for everyone, especially the less-coordinated among us.

Fact Book Analyst

Arjun Balasundaram

“There is always a way.”

At Work

Arjun is the Fact Book Analyst at Airport Experience^® News. His primary goals are to: analyze data, identify trends, design data visualizations and, eventually, create projections and forecasts for existing and prospective AXN clients. His work also includes writing news stories for the AXN Magazine and providing, and sometimes taking direction from, the editorial team with analytical content for use in the magazine and website. He graduated from Indiana University, Bloomington with a M.S. in Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia and has a couple of years of corporate work experience prior to pursuing his post-graduate degree.

At Play

Arjun is a die-hard fan of Manchester United and firmly believes European football is more than just a sport (hint: it’s a religion). He enjoys playing European football, tennis and cricket. His life has serious influences of the hit show Friends, and he remembers most of the dialogues from the 10-season long series! Spicy food always catches his attention. Going on pointless long drives fascinates him. He strives on being fit and does some form of cardio exercise every day. When not working, Arjun likes talking to his mother or cracking sarcastic jokes with friends (wait, that happens all the time). He is always up for watching comedy movies and cooks pretty
decent food. Treading a unique path is something he prefers, especially when it comes to his professional life. He firmly believes everything in life happens for a reason, and we are put in a situation because we are capable of handling it.

Administrative Coordinator

Donna Crowley

“Happy to help.”

At Work

With years of production experience, Donna enjoys being part of a team and sharing a common goal. As administrative coordinator, she facilitates the processing of print and digital ads for the magazine, Fact Book and website. She also works closely with the AXN team on various projects, including the annual conference and exhibition, schmooze sessions and awards presentation. Known for her cheerful smile, team spirit and can-do attitude, Donna (a.k.a. Team Mom) helps keep the office running smoothly. Prior to AXN, Donna wrote and produced educational features for a South Florida television production company for 14 years and spent a decade in Los Angeles working in the entertainment industry.

At Play

When it’s time to play, Donna enjoys the beauty of nature and a variety of cultural, culinary and recreational experiences with her husband, Steven. He likes to plan themed activities, pairing entertainment and dining. She likes to participate. One of Donna’s favorite pairings included seeing a matinee performance of A Bronx Tale: The Musical on Broadway, followed by dinner at Chazz Palminteri Italian Restaurant. From Broadway shows (like Jersey Boys, which Donna has seen over a dozen times) and classic restaurants to food trucks, art shows and concerts in the park, they enjoy them all. On weekends they like to see South Florida musicians perform at local venues and attend area farmer’s markets and festivals. Donna loves spending time with family and friends, smiling at strangers and interacting with a comical, dog-barking Quaker Parrot named Mijo and a quirky, peek-a-boo-playing Cockatiel named Chico.