16 AIRPORT VOICE, APRIL 2019
Training Manager Loves Coaching
and Mentoring her Employees
BY JESSICA MILITELLO
Patricia Brennan has been working for Swissport
at John F. Kennedy Airport for 21 years. As
a training manager, she often gets to meet new
hires personally and can walk through the different
floors of the airport, knowing most of her
employees by their first name.
Throughout her career with Swissport, Brennan
has held different roles, but her position in
training and mentoring new employees is a role
she truly enjoys because of a background involving
teaching and a positive attitude that she feels
inspired to spread to new hires, in the hopes that
they can enjoy their jobs as much as she enjoys
hers.
Brennan often deploys encouraging advice
as a trainer and tries to motivate others to leave
their comfort zone especially when it comes to
new opportunities.
“Because I have the ability to teach, coaching
and mentoring are high on my list,” said
Brennan “I always tell employees to explore
new opportunities and don’t be afraid, even if
you’re not ready, go for the interview. Don’t be
afraid to share what your strengths and weaknesses
are.”
Brennan, who earned her college degree in
physical education and fitness was initially involved
in the health and fitness industry. She
worked in an adult fitness club but was seeking
change in her career after starting her family
and having a son. Because of the often long and
WOMEN of ACHIEVEMENT
OCCUPATION /POSITION: airport trainer and
manager
EMPLOYER: Swissport
HOMETOWN: Long Island, NY
MENTOR: My mother
HOBBY: exercise, friends, family, walking golf
FAVORITE BOOKS-health/fitness genre
FAVORITE MOVIES: The Quiet Man
HAPPY PLACE: beach
FAVORITE QUOTE OR MOTTO: everything happens
for a reason
odd hours of shifts in the fitness industry, she
decided to attend an open house for an open position
at Swissport. Because of her background
in teaching and training in the health industry,
Brennan felt the change still bore similarities to
her interests and she was right, calling it “a perfect
fit.”
From desiring a career change to taking a
chance with a career in aviation, Brennan certainly
has no regrets in her decision.
“I love it, it’s a huge challenge as a manager,”
said Brennan. “But I believe that when you take
care of people, they take care of you, so I always
try to meet with new hires and express that I
hope they love the job as much as I do.”
Swissport Proudly Honors
Patricia Brennan
As a Woman of Achievement.
Patricia Represents the Leadership,
and Professionalism of all Swissport
Women Upon Which the Swissport Spirit is Built.