Department of Aviation Occupational Safety Technician John Bonder is always willing to help. After assisting two passengers, he received the Caring Support award in Philadelphia International Airport's (PHL) Employee Recognition Program. This award honors individuals who deliver outstanding care and services to seniors, families with young children, disabled individuals, and others with special needs.
Within his role at PHL, Bonder teaches and promotes safety protocols within the Department of Aviation and among airport stakeholders. He began working for the City of Philadelphia in 2011 and has been at PHL for three years.
At PHL, Bonder demonstrates values of customer-centrism, prioritizing passenger needs, transcending expectations, and respect.
“The most meaningful part of my job is having employees come up to me and say that they learned a lot at the safety training I gave them,” said Bonder. “I want employees to know that there’s someone here for them.”
In his nomination of Bonder, Jed Riddell of the Lulu Shriners Shepherds Unit stated, “Part of our duties include transporting child patients to and from PHL as they arrive for treatment at Shriners Children facilities or go home after receiving care. My co-driver and I had difficulty contacting a child and mother traveling from Peru to Philadelphia via Miami. Their connecting flights had not worked out as planned, compounded by language barriers. Mr. Bonder had pulled up in a PHL vehicle near where I had parked our van. On a hope, I approached Mr. Bonder, asking for guidance. He made several phone attempts without success, so he left his usual duties and told us to wait at the base of the escalator. He said he was going where we would not be allowed. After a hopeful wait, he returned, telling us our party was right behind him using the elevator, as our patient was in a wheelchair. Not only did Mr. Bonder assure us of our meeting with her, but he also helped connect us with luggage that had been separated due to the flight issues. I am impressed and extremely grateful for his gracious help to us and our patient.”
Bonder enjoys seeing the planes take off, land at PHL, and witnessing Engine 78 in action. He is part of the Employee Engagement Committee and Safety Committee and enjoys participating in the airport blood drive, foreign object debris (FOD) walks, and Earth Day.
Bonder hopes that employees also apply safety procedures they learn at the airport at home when applicable. He counts receiving this Employee Recognition Award as one of his most memorable moments at PHL.
“My entire team is amazing,” said Bonder. “I especially want to thank Bob Gizinski for being a great help when I first began at the airport and for being a wealth of knowledge.”
The PHL Employee Recognition Program was established by the airport’s Guest Experience (GX) Department. Honorees are nominated by their peers and selected by the GX Council Steering Committee’s Employee Conduct and Recognition Committee. For more information about the program and to nominate an employee, click here.
