Manager of Airport Operations Oversees Safety
With Hard Work and Passion
WOMEN of ACHIEVEMENT
OCCUPATION /POSITION: manager of airport
operations: JFK airport
EMPLOYER: Port Authority of NY and NJ’s aviation
department
HOMETOWN: Long Island, NY
MENTOR: my mom
HOBBY: spending time with my two puppies,
family, focusing on my faith
FAVORITE BOOKS: the bible
FAVORITE MOVIES: red and red 2, funny girl
FAVORITE QUOTE OR MOTTO: “Trust in the lord
with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways submit to him, and
he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Community Outreach Gives Back to Her Community
28 AIRPORT VOICE, APRIL 2019
and Provides Opportunity
BY JESSICA MILITELLO
As the community outreach for the Redevelopment
of LaGuardia, Shanel Thomas has a
chance to reach out to the community she grew
up in and help to make a difference in the lives
of others.
Thomas was born and raised in the East Elmhurst
section of Queens, NY. Now years later,
as the community outreach for the Redevelopment
of LaGuardia airport, Thomas works in
a role where she is in the center of the community.
Being able to provide opportunities to people
surrounding the area she was born and raised
in has been an exciting experience for Thomas.
“I enjoy having the ability to give back to the
community that I was born and raised in,” said
Thomas. “We’re providing opportunities to people
that otherwise may not be aware of them or
may not have the opportunity to participate in
a program this large.”
Thomas’ first experiences involving the aviation
industry came from a job at Anton’s Deli
at LaGuardia airport when she was 16-years
old. Years later after graduating from Howard
University in Washington, D.C with a bachelor’s
degree in business and a master’s in public
administration she returned to her hometown
in Queens, NY. Thomas was introduced to the
Kiwanis Club of LaGuardia airport through
her work of community organizing and development
and became a member of the group. She
WOMEN of ACHIEVEMENT
OCCUPATION /POSITION: Community Outreach
EMPLOYER: LaGuardia Redevelopment
HOMETOWN: East Elmhurst (Queens) NY
MENTOR: My Mom
FAVORITE BOOK: Rich Dad Poor Dad
FAVORITE MOVIE: Coming to America
FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT: Venice Italy
FAVORITE QUOTE OR MOTTO: My goal in life is
to prepare the next generation to ascend beyond
what I have achieved; if they can begin their journey
where we end ours, that’s true progress
became acquainted with LaGuardia airport’s current
general manager, Lysa Scully, who offered Thomas a
role as community outreach for the Redevelopment of
LaGuardia airport.
For Thomas, the opportunity to help others in the
community and make a positive impact in the lives
of others, serves as a source of inspiration for her
work.
“When I wake up every day, I have this motto,”
said Thomas. “I woke up today, so I have nothing to be
upset about. There’s food on my table, a roof over my
head, and I think oftentimes we take it for granted.
What’s it worth if you have the means and the opportunity
to do something, but you don’t help the next individual
that doesn’t have those same means or opportunity
to get ahead.”
BY JESSICA MILITELLO
Teresa Rizzuto is the manager of airport operations
at John F. Kennedy Airport for the Port
of New York and New Jersey’s Aviation Department.
For over 27 years, Rizzuto has worked at
JFK, where she first began her career in aviation
for United Airlines. As the manager overseeing
the safety of the airport, Rizzuto has the privilege
of a career that she loves and has worked
very hard for.
Throughout her day-to-day, making sure the
airport meets the standards for safety is truly a
team effort, but Rizzuto’s constant supervision of
everyday functions and compliance is instrumental
to the entire process.
For Rizzuto, her passion for what she does has
stayed with her throughout her career. From the
time she first joined the aviation industry, it was
a perfect fit.
“I love it,” said Rizzuto. “Many people in the
aviation industry will say it’s an addiction. Once
you get into this business, you just love it and you
can’t get out, it’s the most amazing thing.”
Before Rizzuto’s career in aviation, she worked
for her family’s business specializing in prosthetics
and orthotics. However, she longed for a career
in the aviation industry. In 1992, a friend informed
Rizzuto of an opportunity to interview for a position
as a ramp agent for United Airlines. Rizzuto
saw it as a chance for a change by entering into an
industry she always wanted to break into. Now, as
the manager of airport operations for JFK airport,
Rizzuto is responsible for the safety and oversight
of the airport in accordance with state and federal
laws. Rizzuto has earned many distinctions, such
as the U.S Secretary of Transportation award, as
well as serving on the Executive Board of the New
York Aviation Management Association.
When Rizzuto began her career, it was a big
change from working with a family business in
a different industry. But everyone, especially
women, should give the aviation field some consideration.
“I believe that there are many opportunities
now,” said Rizzuto. “Years ago when I would sit at
the table, I would be the only woman, it’s not like
that today.”