Aviation Day at the Capitol provided an opportunity to showcase ATL to state legislators, professionals and guests at the Georgia State Capitol March 14.
By Anika Robertson Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
Dozens of Airport team members showcased ATL’s various facets and initiatives at the 13th annual Aviation Day at the Capitol on March 14.
Under the gilded dome of the Georgia State Capital, Department of Aviation team members and colleagues from Atlanta Fire Rescue and the Atlanta Police Department’s Bomb Squad were on hand to meet state legislators, lobbyists and business professionals and encourage them to learn more about the world’s busiest airport.
Officials from Planning and Development, Concessions, Marketing and Public Affairs set up large informational placards and passed out brochures and promotional items. Some information focused on ATLNext, the Airport’s 20-year, $6 billion capital improvement program.
“Aviation Day at the Capitol is an opportunity for ATL to show our state lawmakers the new and exciting things that are going on at the world’s busiest airport,” said Walter Vinson, the Airport’s government affairs manager. “It also gives a chance for lawmakers to ask Airport executives questions about various functions here at ATL.”
The Atlanta Fire Rescue table drew masses of visiting children, and it distributed replica helmets, coloring books and other fire safety items to kids as well as fire extinguishers and smoke detectors to adults.
Aviation Day at the Capitol began in 2004, and it remains one of the Airport’s premier outreach programs.
“It provides us a platform to tout how well ATL is operating and what we are continuing to provide travelers as the state’s top economic engine,” Vinson said.
Clockwise from top, trucks line up in the TruckPass lot as drivers wait for their dock assignment. A worker uses sophisticated software in the TruckPass Check-In Station. The freshly painted yellow lines show drivers where to pull up at the dock.
By Shane Blatt Senior Public Relations Manager
With more than 275,000 passengers and nearly 2,500 takeoffs and landings each day, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the world’s busiest and most efficient airport.
ATL’s model of efficiency – whether in the skies, on the ramps or in the terminals – involves a complex network of operations designed to move passengers and planes safely and systematically to destinations all over the globe.
Now ATL is bringing the same operating sensibilities to its cargo facilities, namely the South Cargo area. In what’s being hailed as a revolutionary process to reduce roadway congestion and eliminate driver confusion, Hartsfield-Jackson on March 1 launched TruckPass, a reservation-based docking credential system.
“Simply put, it’s dock traffic control,” said Doug Strachan, the Airport’s innovation and strategic business development manager. “We’re taking what, in some cases, is a four-hour ordeal and turning it into a half-hour operation.”
The goal, of course, is expedited loading and unloading of cargo. But with that comes improved customer service. And improved customer service could help ATL recapture lost business and attract new business, thereby achieving the Airport’s ultimate objective: growing air cargo.
Air cargo is a fertile source of employment and economic opportunity in metro Atlanta. In fact, air cargo creates more than 27,000 jobs in Georgia. It transports high-value, time-sensitive items from cut flowers and fresh food to medical equipment and pharmaceutical products.
In 2016, ATL moved 648,595 metric tons of cargo, a 3.58 percent increase over 2015’s total. Although rankings for 2016 have yet to be released, Hartsfield-Jackson in 2015 was No. 12 in the nation among U.S. airports for cargo volume. To land a spot in the top 5, a key milestone set by Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, the Airport will need to triple its cargo volume to about 1.8 million metric tons a year.
Indeed, ATL is committed to that goal. The Airport – through its 20-year, $6 billion capital improvement program ATLNext – will add up to 1 million square feet of warehouse space, creating the capacity to accommodate future growth. And with TruckPass, ATL adds another unique value proposition.
“From my perspective, ATL is an important component in the global supply chain,” said Elliott Paige, the Airport’s director of air service development. “With that being the case, we have to make ourselves superefficient. To remain globally competitive, we have to give ourselves an edge. Trucks need to get in and out without delay.”
ATL’s South Cargo area sees more than 350 trucks during high-demand periods per day. On peak days such as Wednesdays and Sundays, traffic can be immobilized.
“The trucks are parked double-, triple- and quadruple-deep,” Strachan said. “So we went to the customer and asked, ‘How do we help you grow your business?’”
Enter TruckPass.
In the same way airlines depend on air traffic control towers to safely maneuver aircraft in controlled airspace and airports depend on ramp control towers to maneuver aircrafts on taxiways, TruckPass will help maneuver trucks in the South Cargo facility.
The system involves three simple steps. First, the truck pulls into the TruckPass lot at 1586 Sullivan Road in College Park. At the TruckPass Check-In Station, the driver provides the following: a cellphone number, name of airline, import or export and a reservation number (if applicable). The driver then either goes straight to his assigned dock or waits for a text message while parked in the TruckPass lot, a temporary holding area with controlled entry and exit.
At the dock, the clock starts.
“Besides creating order out of chaos, we will get all kinds of metrics on dock utilization,” said Strachan, noting that less time spent at each dock means more dock throughput.
“In essence, we’re wringing every last drop of efficiency out of these buildings,” he said.
The precision-driven process will save fuel and time while increasing operational efficiencies. Those efficiencies, coupled with positive word-of-mouth, could pave the way for 15 percent growth in air cargo, Strachan said.
“The air cargo community looks forward to this opening of the TruckPass lot and the efficiency gains it will create,” said Hope Chavez, president of the Atlanta Air Cargo Association.
For Paige, TruckPass is only the beginning of a multipronged approach to growing air cargo.
In addition to increased capacity as a result of ATLNext, Paige said Hartsfield-Jackson is working on a strategy to improve the standard of service with ground handlers – all part of an effort to make the Airport more customer-centric.
“We often like to say change is in the air at Hartsfield-Jackson,” Paige said. “But sometimes, change on the ground is just as important.”
By Anika Robertson Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis will be at ATL this Friday, Feb. 24 signing his award-winning “March” trilogy, a graphic novel designed for young people to learn about the civil rights movement through an eyewitness account. The signing will take place at Shellis News in the Domestic Terminal atrium at 2 p.m. and Simply Books on Concourse A at 3 p.m. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
Since 1986, Lewis has represented Georgia’s 5th Congressional District and is one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. Monday night, the Hyatt Regency Atlanta honored Lewis for his lifetime dedication to human rights as part of their 15th annual Heritage Celebration.
Rep. Lewis was born the son of sharecroppers on February 21, 1940, outside of Troy, Alabama. He grew up on his family’s farm and attended segregated public schools in Pike County, Alabama. As a young boy, he was inspired by the activism surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the words of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., which he heard on radio broadcasts. In those pivotal moments, he made a decision to become a part of the civil rights movement. Ever since then, he has remained at the vanguard of progressive social movements and the human rights struggle in the United States.
As a student at Fisk University, John Lewis organized sit-in demonstrations at segregated lunch counters in Nashville, Tennessee. In 1961, he volunteered to participate in the Freedom Rides, which challenged segregation at interstate bus terminals across the South. Lewis risked his life on those Rides many times by simply sitting in seats reserved for white patrons. He was also beaten severely by angry mobs and arrested by police for challenging the injustice of Jim Crow segregation in the South.
During the height of the Movement, from 1963 to 1966, Lewis was named Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which he helped form. SNCC was largely responsible for organizing student activism in the Movement.
While still a young man, John Lewis became a nationally recognized leader. At the age of 23, he was an architect of and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963.
Despite more than 40 arrests, physical attacks and serious injuries, John Lewis remained a devoted advocate of the philosophy of nonviolence. After leaving SNCC in 1966, he continued his commitment to the civil rights movement as Associate Director of the Field Foundation and his participation in the Southern Regional Council’s voter registration programs. Lewis went on to become the Director of the Voter Education Project (VEP), a member of Atlanta City Council and later congressman for the 5th Congressional District.
Read what other prominent leaders and publications have said about “March:”
“Congressman John Lewis has been a resounding moral voice in the quest for equality for more than 50 years, and I’m so pleased that he is sharing his memories of the Civil Rights Movement with America’s young leaders. In March, he brings a whole new generation with him across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, from a past of clenched fists into a future of outstretched hands.” – former President Bill Clinton
“March,” the full trilogy, should be shelved in every school library across the land as towering achievement. – The Washington Post
“March” is “a fresh and sometimes shocking work” for its violence and offers an “inside look at the leaders of the civil rights movement.” – NPR.org
It is an understatement to say that “March” is still relevant. – The New York Times
“Essential reading… March is a moving and important achievement… the story of a true American superhero.” – USA Today
“A riveting chronicle of Lewis’s extraordinary life… it powerfully illustrates how much perseverance is needed to achieve fundamental social change.” – O, The Oprah Magazine
Rep. John Lewis, co-author of graphic novel trilogy “March,” was honored by the Hyatt Regency Atlanta for his lifetime dedication to human rights at their 15th annual Heritage Celebration.
Government leaders from the City of Atlanta and Jamaica gather for the signing of the Sister Airport Agreement Feb. 9. From left to right: Chief of Staff for Mayor Kasim Reed Candace Hall, Interim Deputy General Manager Greg Richardson; Jamaica Minister of Transport Lester Michael Henry, Airports Authority of Jamaica President Audley Deidrick, and the Honorable Franz Hall, Consul General of Jamaica to the Southeastern United States. Photos by The Decisive Moment Photojournalism
By Anika Robertson Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport officials on Feb. 9 signed a Sister Airport Agreement with the Airports Authority of Jamaica, forging a relationship built on cooperation and the open exchange of ideas to increase efficiencies and boost travel and trade.
“Beyond making these amazing airports better, this agreement will help strengthen the ties that exist between our two great nations, promoting international understanding and goodwill,” said Interim Deputy General Manager and Chief Financial Officer Greg Richardson.
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) drew attendees from the City of Atlanta, Jamaica and Delta Air Lines as well as Consular Corps representatives from the Caribbean islands of Barbados, Guyana, Haiti and The Bahamas.
The Airports Authority of Jamaica oversees Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Kingston as well as Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in Montego Bay on the island nation.
Candace Byrd, chief of staff for Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, said the friendly relations between Atlanta and Jamaica can be attributed to longstanding commonalities.
“Atlanta and Montego Bay, which has Jamaica’s largest aerotropolis, are major logistics hubs,” she said. “Both our economies have strong export activities and are popular tourist centers. We also share a strong commitment to education, health and cultural expression.”
Under the leadership of former Atlanta Mayor Maynard Jackson, the City of Atlanta signed a sister city agreement with the City of Montego Bay in 1972. The current MOU – fittingly signed in the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal – expands the partnership by establishing an “exchange of ideas and information to increase passenger and cargo traffic.”
Airports Authority of Jamaica President Audley Deidrick said his country’s relationship established with Atlanta four decades ago served as the foundation for the MOU.
“The ATL-AAJ Sister Airport MOU also presents in a sense an extension of the Atlanta Montego Bay sister city relationship,” he said. “These objectives will be pursued through the establishment of a technical working group or working groups for exchange of these educational visits and act as goodwill ambassadors between the airports.”
During the signing, Jamaica Minister of Transport and Mining Lester Michael Henry paid tribute to the memory of Jackson and his visionary leadership that advanced ATL as a prominent international hub.
“You have shown through the work of ancestors that you can deliver a whole development here [in Atlanta], outside the realm of what was the basic economic structure,” Henry said. “As I adopt open skies, as I sign all the agreements that are necessary … I am seeking to ensure that we take our rightful place back in the connectivity of the transport of goods and services across the globe and create a whole new vision for Jamaica.”
The agreement marks the fourth MOU signed by the City of Atlanta with sister airports. ATL signed similar agreements with Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport (TLV), Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport (SAL) in El Salvador and Félix-Houphouët-Boigny International Airport (ABJ) in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.
Clockwise from top: Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts dancers soar at the ‘We Love Our Guests’ customer appreciation kickoff. Senior Deputy General Manager Michael Smith describes the sights and sounds to be experienced during the weeklong event. USO volunteer greeters prepare to distribute treats to passengers. A guest writes scribes a message on the “love wall.” Tasty chocolate hearts. Domestic Terminal atrium banners encourage all to share the love using hashtag #LoveATL. Photos by The Decisive Moment Photojournalism
By Anika Robertson Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
Love is in the air at the world’s busiest airport, as ATL leaders launch a weeklong celebration to mark Valentine’s Day and, more importantly, thank the 104 million guests who travel through Hartsfield-Jackson each year.
“This is the third year we’ve hosted this event to provide our guests with an entertaining, uplifting and memorable Valentine’s travel experience,” said Airport Senior Deputy General Manager Michael Smith at the campaign kickoff Feb. 8 in the Domestic Terminal atrium.
New this year is a specially constructed “love wall,” where guests can write personalized messages. At 24 feet long, the festively decorated wall near the atrium will remain visible throughout the Valentine’s celebration.
“We encourage our guests to take photos in front of our ‘love wall,’” Smith said. “What better way to express yourself on Valentine’s Day than writing a sweet note on the ‘love wall?’”
Event-goers enjoyed love-themed melodies, courtesy of a jazz ensemble from Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts, metro Atlanta’s first K-12 fine arts school, in Clayton County. Dancers from Stilwell gracefully performed in white and lavender.
As part of the weeklong celebration, volunteers from the Department of Aviation, USO of Georgia, Hojeij Branded Foods, Delta Air Lines, Atlanta Fire and Rescue, and other Airport partners will hand out candy and treats to guests throughout the Airport.
The love fest also includes an array of musical performances and festive decorations to brighten the mid-winter days with cheer and, of course, love. A large heart constructed of red ruffles stands in the atrium as well as the centerpoint of Concourse F.
“We are excited this week – and every week – to show our 104 million-plus guests how much we appreciate them,” Smith said. “This celebration is one small way in which we can express our gratitude.”
Hartsfield-Jackson guests, passengers and employees are encouraged to use hashtag #LoveATL and share messages on social media.
Hartsfield-Jackson is among the airports featured in PBS documentary, ‘City in the Sky.’ View of ATL’s traffic control tower at twilight on the airfield.
By Anika Robertson Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
This month, TV and online viewers get an inside look into the world’s busiest and most efficient airport. Public Broadcasting System (PBS) is airing a documentary on the aviation industry and ATL’s vital role.
“City in the Sky” is a three-part documentary series that goes behind the scenes to uncover the global networks and complex logistics that allow air travel to soar to new heights. The program is a collaboration between PBS and British Broadcasting Corp. (BBC) and will air, in various versions, in Asia, Europe and the Americas.
Airside Operations Assistant Manager John Ryan is featured in part three of the documentary.
“I am proud that I was chosen to represent ATL and show what our airside operations division performs on a daily basis to provide a safe and efficient airport, still while maintaining [the] title of world’s busiest airport,” he said.
The Department of Aviation’s Policy and Communications division provided special access to the BBC production crew. Filming took place over the course of eight days during the busiest travel period of the year: the holiday season.
That access offered “City in the Sky” producers a unique look at just how Hartsfield-Jackson managed more than 100 million passengers in a single year. “City in the Sky” also brings viewers to the world’s coldest airport (in Yakutsk, Russia) and the most dangerous airport for landings (Paro Airport in the Himalayas).
“City in the Sky” episode one, “Departure,” premiered Feb. 8 on PBS and Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) stations, and it is also available for viewing at http://www.pbs.org/show/city-sky/. The second segment, “Airborne,” will air Feb. 15 and part three, “Arrival,” will air Feb. 22.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was named the world’s busiest airport for the 19th consecutive year. ATL served 104,171,935 passengers in 2016, an increase of 2.64 percent over 2015’s total.
By Andy Gobeil Deputy Director, Policy and Communications
Mayor Kasim Reed announced Thursday, Feb. 2 at his final State of the City breakfast that for the 19th consecutive year — and in every year during his tenure as mayor — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) was named the world’s busiest airport.
ATL served 104,171,935 passengers in 2016, an increase of 2.64 percent over 2015’s total. ATL also saw 898,356 aircraft operations in 2016, more than any other airport in the United States and, pending final tallies from international airports, likely to be more than any other airport worldwide.
“No other airport in the world serves more passengers or handles more aircraft in a more efficient manner than Hartsfield-Jackson,” Mayor Reed said. “That distinction is sure to continue as a multibillion-dollar capital plan now underway at Hartsfield-Jackson will ensure ATL is positioned to lead the aviation industry in the decades ahead.”
“We are proud to be named the world’s busiest airport for the 19th consecutive year,” said Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. “We are just as proud to remain the most efficient airport in the world. We pledge to continue efforts to maintain both positions.”
ATL reached the 104.1 million total by hosting 92,696,320 domestic passengers while serving 11,475,615 international passengers.
Leaders gather in the fight against modern-day slavery for ATL’s Human Trafficking Awareness press conference. From left to right: youthSpark Executive Director Alex Trouteaud, United States Attorney John Horn, Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Lawson, Carol Smolenski, Executive Director, ECPAT-USA, Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr., State of Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr and Atlanta City Council Member C.T. Martin.
By Anika Robertson Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is marking it with a series of events to inform the public about its dangers, warning signs and heavy toll.
“Every year, men, women and children fall prey to human trafficking, which is believed to be the third largest criminal activity in the world,” Airport General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. told dozens of onlookers Tuesday, Jan. 10 at a press conference. “These victims are weakened, silenced and trapped in many situations … this is why in addition to encouraging our employees to be vigilant, we’re also asking our guests, the 101 million people who pass through our Airport each year, to be aware of suspicious activities.”
Council was joined by Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, U.S. Attorney John Horn, Clayton County District Attorney Tracy Lawson, ECPAT-USA Executive Director Carol Smolenski, and other federal, state and local law enforcement officials and outreach organizations.
Also Tuesday, ATL became the first airport in the world to sign the Tourism Child-Protection Code of Conduct, a document outlining ATL’s pledge to stamp out the sexual exploitation of children.
During the event, Horn stressed collaboration to fight human trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery that presents unique challenges to law enforcement, as victims are often reluctant or afraid to seek help.
“The prosecutions and the hard work of the organizations [against human trafficking] have collectively raised the consciousness and the awareness of the public to this problem,” Horn said. “Working together, we will have a positive impact.”
During his remarks, Carr underlined the state’s progress with youth victims under local nonprofit Georgia Cares. In 2016, 469 child victims were served by Georgia Cares. Since 2009, there have been more than 1,800 referrals for domestic minor sex trafficking from 102 counties, he said.
“After receiving Georgia Care services, 75 percent did not return to the life,” he said. “As Georgia’s economy continues to flourish and we accept new visitors from around the world for large-scale events like the Super Bowl, the Final Four and the College Football National Championship, we must continue to make it known that we will not accept this type of behavior.”
National Human Trafficking Awareness Month was established by presidential decree in 2010 and officially proclaimed National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch recently released a National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, which outlines what is being done for survivors and offenders.
“We have made great strides, but we still have a long way to go in the fight to end human trafficking,” Carr said. “One child who is safe from a life of bondage makes it all worth the effort.”
Hartsfield-Jackson will hold two additional events this month to call attention to human trafficking. A roundtable discussion with Airport stakeholders will take place Jan. 18 and a high school community outreach forum is set for Jan. 25.
Newly appointed General Manager Roosevelt Council, Jr. talks to a member of the media after his confirmation.
By Anika Robertson Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
By a unanimous Atlanta City Council vote Jan. 3, Roosevelt Council, Jr. took the helm of the world’s busiest and most efficient airport as general manager after serving more than seven months as interim GM.
With more than 101 million passengers last year and climbing, ATL takes more than good instincts to run, and no one knows that better than Council.
Each day, Council makes a deliberate effort to walk the halls of the Department of Aviation to speak to employees he encounters. “It helps me because it allows me to get to know who people are and what they do,” Council said.
Colleagues and managers describe Council as “logical,” “strategic,” “grounded,” “cool,” “detailed,” “approachable” and “dependable.” A few noted his keen sense of humor and neatly styled appearance. But in speaking with Council, his genuinely kind nature also emerges.
With a career spanning decades, Council is proud of the accomplishments reached at Hartsfield-Jackson and looks ahead to the monumental work underway.
Each day begins at 7 a.m. and typically ends about 6:30 p.m. “I can get a lot done between my last meeting and that time,” Council said while seated at his desk, where he balances incoming emails, mobile messages and phone calls.
In his office, awards adorn the walls and tabletops, along with sculptures and art from around the globe. A large hourglass and framed pictures of Council’s family line the shelves behind his desk. “Courage” by Gus Lee sits atop a wooden end table.
As ATL’s general manager, Council leads a department of 600-plus individuals, with a team of 12 who report directly to him, including leaders in business ventures, strategic planning, commercial and international business. Despite ATL’s burgeoning size and multibillion-dollar renovations underway, Council remains the consummate optimist.
“We have a ton [of work] in front of us, and there is something very seductive about that,” he said. “When you have so much to do, you don’t worry about what you possibly don’t need to worry about. You just keep going. And when you put people in key places and they understand what their role is, they keep going.”
Regarding the staff, he said he was surprised that many people were eager to help him and ensure the success of everyone.
“That gave me another indication of the level of pride that our team has in Hartsfield-Jackson,” he said. “And I am so encouraged by people’s deep-seated commitment to actually getting what needs to be done, done. It’s that commitment alone that keeps driving people to a certain level of excellence because they want to see it successful.”
Council comes from a strong family background, with parents who instilled the value of education and a strong work ethic. As one of seven children growing up in rural Mississippi, Council was named after his father, a movie theater owner.
“I was like any other kid; everything was sports,” Council said. “Whatever the season was, I played it.”
With his height, he excelled not only in basketball but also in tennis. During high school, he also worked at the movie theater’s concession stand but ultimately started running the projector once the regular projectionist became unreliable.
After high school, Council attended the University of Memphis with a focus on accounting. “For all of us, college was the next natural step,” Council said. “There was never a question.”
Adept with numbers, Council landed a position at a CPA firm, delivering tax returns. Puzzled as to why he wasn’t keeping books or preparing tax filings, the recent graduate approached his supervisor and requested more responsibility. It was that drive and initiative early on that kept him on the path to success.
“I always had good managers, but I also had a lot of initiative. I didn’t just sit back,” Council said. His supervisor promoted him.
With his amiable nature and keen intellect, Council continued to excel in financial management positions in the private and public sector, rising through the ranks at the Georgia Transportation Authority before landing the position as City of Atlanta deputy CFO and budget chief in late 2008.
He advanced to CFO under then-Mayor Shirley Franklin. When mayoral candidate Kasim Reed campaigned (and won) on the platform of revitalizing the city’s financial position, Council heard whispers that Reed might bring in his own team. Still, Council continued working in the finance department.
When an opportunity arose at Hartsfield-Jackson in late 2010, Council was open to the new landscape. He started as CFO but soon earned the role of deputy general manager of the commercial division.
“That worked out pretty well,” Council said. “At the time, we were introducing this very large concessions package, so we had to build out locations to [open] the stores. That’s when I realized how incredible the people who work here are.”
Council realizes his efforts are paying off.
“I’ve been out here six years, roughly,” he said, “but those six years have been knowledge-gathering years for me. When Mayor Reed made the decision to ask if I would step in as the interim general manager, once again I felt that he was showing confidence in me. I was almost floored by the amount of respect I felt for the mayor but also the amount of courage he had in selecting me to run a place like this. I didn’t find out until a little bit later how much he trusted me and my judgment. I realize that you build respect by doing what you need to do, not necessarily always touting what you can do.”
For Council, leading the Southeast’s global gateway is not about feeling pressure but more about making certain that all employees and ATL stakeholders are equipped with a clear understanding of their role and how it contributes to the Airport’s success.
“My vision is a simple one,” Council said. “Because we have so much talent here, it’s ensuring my leadership team is able to articulate exactly what we need to do to a very talented group of people. But we have to be steadfast in that commitment.”
He added: “My sense is that everyone here wants to play an influential part, not just a part. My sense is that people will stay when they feel like what they are doing is influential. You will leave quickly if you don’t feel like what you do is influential. My vision is to make sure that everyone is aware of what this Airport needs to be successful every day and they understand their role in that.”
And for the millions of passengers who travel to or through the Airport each month, safety and security measures remain vital. However, the general manager wants travelers and guests to have continuous positive experiences from curbside to gate.
“I’ve had so many people come up to me and say, ‘This place is always clean, you always have good choices, and as big as it is, I don’t seem to have hassles. Everyone just seems to move,’” he said. “And that’s good, but we don’t rest on those laurels.”
“There is something to be said for a pleasing aura that an airport presents,” Council said. “This place needs to be opening-day fresh every day so that passengers can easily find their way, we give them choices and their stay here is comfortable.”
The future of Hartsfield-Jackson is ATLNext, the $6 billion capital improvement plan that will expand and improve structures, increase sustainability and enhance the Airport’s visual appeal. It began in fall 2016, and Council advances its mission with weekly senior staff meetings, a bimonthly executive leadership council and monthly management forums.
“ATL serves as a hub,” he said. “We are a major cog in the aviation transportation logistics of this country. No other Airport comes close in this country. We’re going to have 105 million [travelers] this year. That means that next year we might hit 110 million, and that’s a lot of people. We have to be ready for that. For an Airport that completes almost 900,000 operations [landings and takeoffs] a year, it takes coordination to get all of that done and keep it moving. And that’s how Hartsfield-Jackson has been defined. We keep things moving.”
USO volunteers welcome Army soldier Trei Tweatt to ATL. From left to right: Becky Robinson, Trei Tweatt, Michelle Frank and Emily Harris. Lunch bags were decorated by local children at Sharon Elementary in Suwanee, Vickery Creek Elementary School and Pinecrest Academy in Cumming.
By Anika Robertson Senior Editor/Assistant Public Relations Manager
Heading home for the holidays is always a blessing, especially for our soldiers stationed all over the world. During the week of Christmas, approximately 6,000 service men and women travelled through Hartsfield-Jackson on their way home. Many stopped at the USO Center, the recently upgraded 3,200-square-foot facility on the third floor in the Domestic Terminal atrium.
Mary Louise Austin, president and CEO of USO Council of Georgia, Inc. runs the Center at ATL. Austin started with USO 48 years ago and is deeply committed to the organization. “I’m here every day [over the holidays],” she said. “It’s very wonderful to be able to spend it with others who are serving our country.”
The vacation time that is given to all soldiers for the holiday is referred to as holiday block leave, and it is a festive time at the USO Center. Guests have the benefit of receiving a warm welcome from volunteers and staff before they enter the facility. They receive a hand-crafted lunch bag filled with treats, and the outside artfully decorated with messages and drawings from local elementary school students. Once inside, soldiers can enjoy a buffet-style meal, Skype, watch television, relax, and enjoy gratifying amenities comparable to an airline club.
“This center is their home away from home,” Austin explained. “We help [soldiers] with their orders, lost luggage or if they don’t know where their next station is going to be. We help them with communication, transportation assistance, missed flights, food and beverages.”
Trei Thweatt, a new army recruit, recently visited the USO Center during his stayover at ATL on his way home to Maryland. The 19-year-old enlisted at a Washington Redskins football game this past July and just completed basic training.
Son of an army field artillery specialist, Thweatt loves his career choice. “I always wanted to be a soldier. Most important is the comradery, the brotherhood. We get to do a lot of cool stuff, like dismount operations, [and] riding around in Strykers and Humvees,” he explained.
Right now, Thweatt is looking forward to spending time with his family. “I haven’t seen my family in about a year,” he said. “[We] are pretty close, so definitely looking forward to seeing them.” The Silver Spring, Maryland native plans on having Christmas dinner at his grandmother’s home in Washington D.C. with his extended family, but appreciates the Southern hospitality of the USO.
“The USO [Center] is amazing. The volunteers here, the food,” Thweatt said. “I remember when I was a kid, I would [decorate lunch bags] for soldiers. I would write letters to them, so when I see that [here], it reminds me of when I was in elementary school.”
He views his army life as an adventure and is preparing for his time at Ft. Wainwright, a military base near Fairbanks, Alaska, where he’ll be stationed beginning January 2017.
The volunteers keep the center running 24 hours a day, seven days a week over the holiday season. “We have a wonderful volunteer corps that represents all segments of the community,” Austin said. “They come daily, and we provide a lot of hospitality for them. That’s what Hartsfield-Jackson is known for and we want to keep up that image.”
“Now it’s very happy, you see [volunteers] giving out gift bags and giving them treats,” Austin continued, “and they’re happy to go home. But come Jan. 1, [soldiers] will be back here again.”
Founded in 1941, the United Service Organization is a private, nonprofit organization with 160 centers around the world, the majority of which are near military bases and airports across the U.S. Its primary mission is to support the active men and women of our country’s armed forces.
Between 8,000 and 10,000 troops are expected to travel through Hartsfield-Jackson during the first week of January, and Austin anticipates large crowds at the USO Center. “A lot will be returning from holiday block leave, but the new enlistees will be going into training,” she said. “And when they return, we’re here to cheer them up to let them know we’re here for them and we look forward to their graduation day.”
