plans based on your teams’ results. I’m committed to making sure that the input you provided in the Employee Engagement Survey helps us build trust and move the needle toward a happier and more productive workplace. 

One of the areas identified as having room for improvement in the surveys was “Communications and Teamwork.” The Department of Aviation is a complex organization with many teams. As a first step to improve communication and break through departmental silos, I’ve asked each leader to deliver presentations introducing their groups at our monthly Extended Staff management meeting. We want to share these presentations with you each month in the newsletter and via email. I hope that you enjoy learning more about your peers and the important work they accomplish. 

The first groups to be highlighted are Community Relations, PNE and Government Affairs. There are links in the article to the presentations made by Keesha Lane, John Brewer and Shane Doud and Lexi McDowell.  

Thank you for everything you do for our airports. Happy holidays to you and your family.  I’m looking forward to a wonderful 2024.  

Regards,  

Atif 

Getting to know the Department of Aviation’s Teams 

An In-depth look at Community Relations, PNE and Government Affairs 

Community Relations 

Keesha Lane is the Assistant Director of Community Relations. In this role, she cultivates goodwill among our neighbors, helping residents understand the value we deliver and encouraging future generations to want to work in our airport system. “I truly do love what I do!” said Keesha who emphasizes she wants to close the gap between intent and impact and meet community needs through acts of kindness. 

The department’s mission is three-fold:  

• Relationship-building – by being proactive and collaborative with partners and neighbors. 
• Provide an Information Hub - to share information and opportunities with the community. 
• Communicate early and often – to develop trust. 

Community Relations strives to create positive relationships with our neighbors within the footprint of the airport including Tinicum Township, Eastwick and South Philadelphia, and Northeast Philadelphia. Keesha’s department works closely with a Community Participation Plan (CPP) which is required by the FAA. The plan addresses neighborhood impacts such as noise management, construction projects underway, and master plan updates. 

Other programs she leads:  

• Volunteerism efforts – encouraging PHL/PNE staff to engage within the community to provide services and donations to the homeless, veterans, youth and disabled. 
• SWING – Southwest Initiatives for Neighborhood Growth – specifically targeting Southwest Philadelphia to provide opportunities and workforce development. 
• Youth programs to build a future workforce pipeline – PHL has hosted tours with 10 schools impacting 250 students and she has coordinated staff to visit 10 schools and colleges for career days.  

Looking ahead, among some of the Community Development teams’ goals include creating a Youth Aviation Academy, a more immersive experience for young people to learn about the aviation industry and hosting a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math (STEAM) Expo, a fun-filled day where young people can meet professionals and learn more about potential careers. Explore more about the programs on the PHL website Community Relations | PHL.org.

View the presentation link.  

Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) 

PNE began in the 1930s in an area that was mostly fields, says John Brewer, Airport Operations Manager at PNE. Today, the airport spans 1,150 acres and John and the onsite staff of 17 manage Pennsylvania’s 4^th busiest airport (out of 120 public use and 285 private use airports). It has 85 t-hangars, a federal tower, 9 corporate hangars and 6 storage hangars. PNE’s economic impact is estimated to support 4,097 jobs and $973,966,300 economic impact.  

PNE is a “General Aviation Reliever Airport” which is a public airport that does not have commercial airline service. It is designed to provide “relief” or additional capacity for a primary commercial airport (PHL). Operations at PNE include business flying, personal and charter flying, aerial photography, law enforcement, banner towing, skydiving, sightseeing, medevac, organ transplant, crop dusting, and more. While most of these activities involve smaller planes and helicopters, PNE can accommodate corporate jets. There are also 4 flight schools at PNE, that have 300 students enrolled on average. Students have the benefit of having a flight tower and the ability to gain that communications experience while they train. 

“By relieving smaller traffic, we help PHL to thrive to be a world class gateway of choice,” says John. “Many Fortune 500 Companies use PNE on a regular basis. We have better airfield systems, large runways, a control tower and the support of PHL which sets the airport above many of the options throughout the region.” 

Some noteworthy tenants of PNE include: 

Leonardo Helicopters US - manufactures helicopters onsite and recently opened a training academy for pilots and maintenance technicians from all over North and Central America. Select Philadelphia recently created a video highlighting the growth of this important company for our region. 

Chubb – the world’s largest property and casualty insurer has a corporate hangar which is a premier facility in the U.S. 

Atlantic Aviation – provides services such as fuel maintenance, rental cars, hotel reservations and catering. 

Others - the FAA, News Choppers 3 and 6, the Philadelphia Police Department, Wawa and the Philadelphia Soccer Club are among PNE tenants. 

The airport is so busy that a new runup pad is planned that will allow aircraft to position themselves while they’re waiting for runway clearance. Other planned projects include: 

• It is one of 32 airports to be slated for a new Air Traffic Control Tower with construction expected 2024/2025 
• $10 million investment for a new Aero Center Northeast 5,000 square foot terminal 
• A new $4 million administration building with construction slated for early next year  
• $11 million rehabilitation of Taxiway Lima is currently under construction 

Learn more about PNE on its webpage. 

View the Philadelphia Northeast Philadelphia Airport slide deck 

Government Affairs 

According to Shane Doud, Director of Government Affairs, the department serves as a bridge between the Department of Aviation and our elected officials and local, federal, and state agencies.  

Shane and Lexy McDowell, Assistant Director, ensure the Department’s needs are met through legislation, funding requests and other initiatives. They work with stakeholders in Philadelphia City Hall, Harrisburg and Washington, D.C., Delaware County and Tinicum Township. They advocate for grant funding, policy changes, staffing and resources.  

The team has helped secure nearly $75M in grant funding since 2019. Key to their efforts is the legislative process and engaging stakeholders and legislative champions.  

Because we are a department of the City of Philadelphia, contracts and agreements are voted on by the City Council. PHL literally sits between two counties, with 70% of the airport living in Delaware County, Tinicum Township and the remaining in the City of Philadelphia. Government Affairs helps communicate our capital development needs and impact reports such as environmental or traffic concerns with local leaders.  

Some of the current priorities include support for cargo and air service development within the state budget. At the federal level, they work with senators and representatives from PA and surrounding states on FAA reauthorization priorities and securing other grant funding.  

The department members are always ready to meet with teams throughout the airport to find solutions through legislation and funding. Working with associations and lobbyists can be complex and dynamic. This department is critical to the success of the Department of Aviation. 

View the Government Affairs Slide deck. 

HR Updates

Covid-19 Reminder

News of the Omicron EG.G variant (aka “Eris”), which has become the latest dominant circulating variant in a recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., has heightened concern about current COVID-19 protocols and preventive measures. So far, there has been no change in the CDC guidance or the City of Philadelphia’s COVID-19 protocols. The current policy statement, last updated May 2023, is available for review. 

COVID-19 exposures and confirmed positive cases must be reported immediately to [email protected] for contact tracing. Employees will be provided direction on leave usage and return to work on a case-by-case basis. The minimum quarantine/isolation for a confirmed positive case is (5) days followed by (5) days mandatory masking while working. 

• Continue to self-monitor for COVID-19 symptoms, cough, sore throat, runny nose, sneezing, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and altered sense of smell 
• Employees should stay home when sick or work remotely if possible 
• Employees experiencing sinus/allergy symptoms should wear masks while working with others and test to confirm a negative COVID-19 status. 
• Employees should avoid close contact, confined or closed spaces and crowded places. 
• Employees should continue practicing hand hygiene and disinfecting common use and frequently touched areas.  

Thank you for your vigilance and continued support in maintaining a safe and healthy workplace.

Training Calendar

*=Provided by the City of Philadelphia

DOA HR Training & Development Unit in Partnership with K- FERG Training Presents new 6-PART “Project Leadership Series”

The “Project Leadership Series” at PHL is a Leadership Development series focused on empowering Leaders and equipping them with the tools they need to successfully manage projects and tasks at PHL. This series is a collection of learning offerings designed to help leaders explore better ways to lead and deliver projects. Email [email protected] to register.

“Managing Emotional Intelligence for Project Results” (Part 3 of 6-Part Series)

Tuesday, December 5, 10 AM-12:30 PM

In this course, we’ll explore using emotional intelligence to enhance project performance. As leaders, we must foster a workplace culture in which team members can communicate effectively, navigate challenges, and be decisive. Understanding and using emotional intelligence in project leadership helps us motivate, guide, challenge, and support our teams. 

Virtually instructor-led via Zoom (Link will be provided once registered)

 PHL WELL has partnered with Penn Medicine again to relaunch our Fall 2023/Spring 2024 “Mental Health Series”, available to all DOA staff!

No registration required! Accept the calendar invite and you’re all set! Email [email protected] for Zoom info and more details.

Join us on December 14th, 2023, from 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM for our last Penn Medicine workshop of 2023

Zoom login Info is provided within calendar invite that was sent out to all DOA staff.

“Conflict Resolution: Work, Family & Friends”| Mental Health Series | Penn Medicine | Facilitated by: Rachel Warsaw, LCSW, SAP EAP Clinician

NEW! Financial Planning Workshop Series, "Identity Theft"

December 12th, 2023 from 11:00 AM- 12 PM

Hosted by Truist Bank in partnership with "The Urban Affairs Coalition"

This training will be offered in a hybrid, virtual, and In-person format

In-person location: 2 International Plaza, Suite #325, 3rd FL Training RM

Virtual login info: Registration link will be provided in the calendar invite.

No registration required! Accept the calendar invite and you’re all set!

Meeting ID: 843 5217 0809| Passcode: 544294

City Resource Group (CRG) and Airport Empowerment Group (AEG) Meetings

CRGs

• AAPI: Meets on the last Thursday of every month. 
• Latindad: Meets on the fourth Thursday of every month.  
• LGBTQ+: Meets on the third Wednesday of every month.  
• New and Expecting Parents: Meets on the second Friday of each month.  
• Women of Color: Meets on the last Friday of each month.  

For questions about the City of Philadelphia City Resource Groups, contact Brenna Schmidt at [email protected]. 

AEGs 

In November, the YoPros met at Bar-ly in Chinatown for happy hour. In December they will be meeting at Silk City for happy hour and gathering at International Plaza for a holiday potluck.

Starting January, YoPro will meet the fourth Wednesday of each month and the December meeting has been canceled. If you have questions or would like to join, please reach out to Stacey Lennon or Alec Gever.

ABOUT CRGs & AEGs: Employee Resource groups are designed to ultimately make the City of Philadelphia and DOA more inclusive places to work. Focus areas include networking, talent development and enhancing diversity and inclusion strategies and initiatives. If you are interested in participating or leading an AEG at PHL/PNE, email your idea(s) to [email protected]. There must be five people and a leader for implementation. 

TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE UPDATES DIRECTLY TO YOUR PHONE, EMAIL [email protected] WITH YOUR EMAIL AND/OR CELL PHONE NUMBER.

New Hires 

Welcome to our November new hires:

Andre Holston, Industrial Electrician 1

Karen Simmons, Clerk 3

Wesley White, Engineering Technician

Zabria Briscoe, Public Relations Specialist Trainee

Promotions

Congratulations to all employees promoted in November: 

Mario Robinson, Custodial Supervisor 1

Tachina Burgess, Airport Communication Operator 2

Tsuefeng Moua, Design & Construction Project Manager

Vernon Lampkin, Custodial Supervisor 1

Holiday Cyber Security Tips

As the holiday season rolls in with its festive cheer and the promise of travel, it’s crucial to keep a watchful eye on our cybersecurity practices. It’s not just the season of giving, but also, unfortunately, a prime time for cybercriminals looking to make merry with your personal information. Whether you’re gearing up for holiday shopping sprees or packing for a trip to a dreamy winter destination, remember cyber safety is your best travel companion.  

When diving into the holiday shopping frenzy, be it online or in a bustling market abroad, your digital security should be at the top of your gift list. A crucial layer of this protection is Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). Just like how you wouldn’t travel without your passport and boarding pass, never access sensitive accounts without the extra security that MFA provides. It’s your digital seatbelt, ensuring that even if your password falls into the wrong hands, your accounts remain secure. As you swipe your card for that perfect gift, remember that public Wi-Fi networks are like mistletoe for hackers - best admired from a distance. Use a VPN to shield your online activities, just as you would use sunscreen on a sunny beach getaway. And about those passwords - let’s make them strong and festive. “SantaIsComingToTown2023!” is far better than “Password123”. Also, be wary of those phishing emails dressed up as holiday offers; they’re more trick than treat. Keeping a close eye on your credit card statements is as important as tracking your flight details. Unexpected charges should only come from your secret Santa endeavors, not from a cyber thief’s shopping spree. 

So, as you enjoy your hot cocoa and plan your holiday adventures, let’s stay vigilant in our cyber practices. Whether you’re home or away, your cybersecurity awareness, bolstered by MFA, is the invisible armor that keeps the holiday spirit bright and worry-free. Safe travels and secure shopping to you! 

Warmest holiday wishes, 

Your Devoted InfoSec Team

Bridge: Let’s Take Aim Together

The Workforce Development Unit is pleased to announce the DOA's Bridge Program Upskilling service will begin December 4. Upskilling is the process of learning new skills to improve one's competencies. This service is for staff members who are interested in planning out their career progression to ensure they meet their long-term goals.  

For more information, please email [email protected].

Upcoming Events

PHL Food and Shops

It's Back! Check out the Runway PHL Fashion Show December 7

Runway PHL is back this holiday season! Join the live fashion show- featuring PHL models- in the B/C Connector on Thursday, December 7, between 11AM –2PM.  

Enjoy Holiday Happenings 

Free Gift with Purchase

Now thru December 24, airport employees and guests can receive free gift wrapping with a purchase from any PHL airport retailer. Services are available between Terminals B and C from 7 AM – 9 PM (hours subject to change based on retail hours).  And, with the same-day receipts totaling $75 or more from PHL retailers, you can receive a free gift of Philadelphia-themed socks.

To sign up for employee discounts, text PHLSHOPDINE to 267-550-0996. 

Live Demonstration 

"Dream Poet for Hire" Marshal James Kavanaugh will hold a live demonstration in the Terminal E Rotunda on Thursday, December 21, from 11:30 AM-1:30 PM. Stop by for your own custom-made poem based on any subject that you provide. 

Philadelphia Zoo Visits PHL

If you can't visit the Zoo, the Zoo will visit PHL on December 21, bringing with them selected animals for your amazement and education. Make sure to stop by B-C stage between 1-3 PM. 

The Latest from PHL's Online Newsroom

At the Airport

A Showcase of Personal Treasures 

Tchotchkes, knickknacks, trinkets- no matter what we call our personal treasures, the one thing they have in common is how invaluable they are to their owners. 

Very Important Puppies (VIPs) Visit PHL 

PHL hosted 25 Very Important Puppies (VIPs) for a special event on November 4. German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Labrador/Golden Retriever mixes. 

Press Releases 

City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation Announces Donna Jackson-Stephans as Deputy Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 

The City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation has announced the appointment of Donna Jackson-Stephans as Deputy Director for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). Jackson-Stephans is the Department of Aviation’s first Deputy Director of DEI and will report to Chief Administrative Officer Delicsha Wilds. 

Northeast Philadelphia Airport

What is a General Aviation Airport? 

A general aviation airport is a public-use airport that does not have commercial service or has scheduled service with less than 2,500 passenger boardings each year. Typical operations include business flying, personal flying, industrial flying, and charter activity, aerial photography, law enforcement, banner towing, skydiving, sightseeing flights, medivac, organ transplant transport, search and rescue. Those airports can be used for agricultural purposes, such as scrub dusting or mosquito spraying. More than 90 percent of civil aircraft registered in the United States are general aviation aircraft. And, over 80 percent of US-certified pilots operate general aviation aircraft.  

People at PHL 

PHL Impression Makers - Prime Flight Aviation - American Airlines Baggage Service Agent Tamra Nickerson 

Prime Flight Aviation - American Airlines Baggage Service Agent Tamra Nickerson recently received the “Impression Makers” award from PHL's Employee Recognition Program. This award recognizes customer-facing employees who provide direct customer service to passengers. 

PHL Unsung Heroes Department of Aviation Custodial Worker II Tyrek Rouse 

Department of Aviation Custodial Worker II Tyrek Rouse recently received the “Unsung Heroes” award from PHL's Employee Recognition Program.    

PHL Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) Communication Dispatcher Barbara Miller and Department of Aviation Communications Center Operator II Affaf Aitidir 

Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) Communication Dispatcher Barbara Miller and Department of Aviation Communications Center Operator II Affaf Aitidir recently received the “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work” award in PHL's Employee Recognition Program.