Elizabeth A. Schuette
20 AIRPORT VOICE, APRIL 2020
Managing Director of “The Ark” at JFK, LLC
Elizabeth A. Schuette, Managing Director of “The
ARK” at JFK, LLC is responsible for managing all
day-to-day operations of JFK International Airport’s
animal health, reception and quarantine center.
The ARKs provides safe and humane animal handling
and transport services to airlines and their
ground handling agents, shippers and brokers, corporate
accounts, rescue organizations and individuals
in support of federal agency requirements for the
import and export of all animals – including horses,
goats, pets, zoo animals, exotics and laboratory animals.
In this capacity, Schuette works closely with senior
TSA, CBP, USDA and CDC offi cers, Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey offi cials, IATA representatives,
as well as airline executives. The ARK’s
small animal division – ARK Pet Oasis–also provides
shipping and agency services for importing, transporting
and exporting companion animals. Schuette
is an active contributor to animal shipping trade organizations
including the International Pet and Animal
Transportation Association (IPATA) and Animal
Transportation Association (ATA).
Prior to taking on her responsibilities at “The
ARK”, Schuette served as managing director with
Racebrook Capital, the developer of “The Ark”, with
strategic planning, compliance and oversight responsibilities.
She is a licensed real estate broker in
Connecticut, Florida and Rhode Island. In addition,
Schuette is president of George Washington Mortgage
& Investment Corp. – a closely held boutique
fi rm that manages real estate assets in New York and
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
OCCUPATION: Managing Director
EMPLOYER: The “ARK” at John F. Kennedy
International Airport
HOMETOWN: Manitowoc, Wisconsin
MENTOR: her mother
HOBBY: running and fitness
FAVORITE BOOK: Gone With The Wind
FAVORITE MOVIE: Forrest Gump
FAVORITE PLACES: Velden, Austria
FAVORITE QUOTE/MOTTO: “The grass is always
greener on the other side”
Maryland and provides consulting services on asset
portfolio acquisitions.
Earlier in her career, Schuette managed the operations
division (credit analysis, servicing and asset
disposition) of banks and equipment leasing companies
including ICON Capital, HSBC/Concord Leasing,
Household International and Citytrust (acquired
by Chase). She was a fi nancial/portfolio analyst with
Booz Allen and Hamilton and Kaplan Smith and Associates
(acquired by Boston Consulting Group).
Elizabeth received her B.A. in economics with
high honors from The College of William and Mary
where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, and a
M.A. in economics from George Washington University.
Suzette Bather-Taylor
Sr. Program Director of Strategic Capital Initiatives
Offi ce Diversity and Inclusion of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Suzette Bather-Taylor serves as senior program
director of strategic capital initiatives
in the Offi ce of Diversity and Inclusion for the
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
She has previously worked for the Mayor’s Offi
ce of MWBEs, The Governor's Offi ce and JP
Morgan which provided a “seamless” transition
to her current position.
Taylor is currently involved in the Port Authority
minority concessions programs for the
Port Authority airports redevelopments and is
in the process of establishing a program to help
those interested is setting up a concession.
She gets satisfaction from her job by enacting
the agency's agenda around diversity and
inclusion and representing the company’s
workforce goals and requirements. She fi nds
inspiration in the team she works with and by
making her family proud. She is most proud to
witness the growth and success gained by diverse
business owners she has been a part of
assisting.
She holds an MBA that she says has offered
a lot of insight into managing complex business
issues but that there is no specifi c educational
training for working in diversity and inclusion.
She values education and hard work which
were instilled by her family. She believes her
will, drive and ambition have made her successful
WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT
OCCUPATION: Senior Program Director of
Diversity and Inclusion
EMPLOYER: Port Authority of New York and
New Jersey
HOMETOWN: Brooklyn, NY
MENTOR: Joy Crichlow and Michael Massiah
HOBBY: Real estate investment
FAVORITE BOOK: The Bible
FAVORITE MOVIE: Ghost
FAVORITE PLACES: With her family
FAVORITE QUOTE/MOTTO: “To whom much
is given, much will be required.”–Luke 12:48
and her supportive and “brilliant” partner
and husband.
She attended Dartmouth College TUCK
School of Business, Pace University Lubin
School of Business and Binghamton University
where she received a BA in psychology. She
was awarded the 2014 Rising Star award and
has also received the Notable Public Service
award for dedication and commitment in public
service. She has served on multiple panels
discussing diversity and inclusion.