Airport (MSP) and six general aviation airports, where he served as CFO.

This is a great way for us to enter the new year. Atif’s experience in the aviation industry will be an asset as we move forward with key infrastructure upgrades and cargo expansion plans designed to make our airport one of the best in the world.

Before we turn the calendars to 2023, we will handle what will be the busiest Thanksgiving/winter holiday travel season we’ve had since 2019. We will be working hard with all of our airport stakeholders to ensure we provide our passengers with the best experience possible while at PHL.

For many of your departments, holiday preparations have been under way for weeks. I know that stopping to take a break during this time is often difficult, but with many added demands at home and work this time of year, self-care is especially important. I want everyone to have a happy and healthy holiday season and be ready for 2023.

Thank you for everything you do for the airport and our guests every day and for the support you have given me as Interim CEO.

Happy holidays!

Keith

Atif Saeed Appointed as the new CEO of the City’s Division of Aviation

Atif Saeed will become the new Chief Executive Officer of the Division of Aviation on December 1. Read the announcement from Mayor Jim Kenney here.

​

HR Updates

PHL/PNE P.R.I.D.E Award Nominations 

PHL/PNE staff strive to provide professional excellence in every aspect of service we offer to our staff, stakeholders, and passengers. P.R.I.D.E. awards recognize employees who have exhibited one or more of our P.R.I.D.E. values over the past year.  

People First - Our employees, stakeholders and passengers. 

Respect - To ourselves, our customers and our environment. 

Integrity - We hold ourselves responsible for what we do, say and think. (Talking the talk, walking the walk). 

Diversity – Purposefully Inclusive and accepting of all. 

Excellence – We hold ourselves to the highest standards of service, innovation, and efficiency. 

Nominees are selected in accordance with award criteria, based upon the degree of demonstrated excellence and the impact of the nominee’s actions.  If you believe a staff member’s efforts and good works have impacted the Airport communities in a meaningful and significant way, please complete the attached form to nominate them for a P.R.I.D.E. award.  Any full-time, permanent DOA employee in good standing may be nominated.  You may not nominate yourself for an award.   

DOWNLOAD NOMINATION FORM: Employee Recognition Nomination v2022.docx 

Nominations must be submitted by end of day, Monday, November 21, 2022.  Return completed forms to [email protected]. 

Save the Date - Employee Recognition Event w/ P.R.I.D.E. Awards 

This year’s employee recognition event is scheduled for December 12 at 1:00 PM via Zoom.   

Upcoming City Resource Group Meetings 

Email [email protected] for information on how to join. 

ABOUT CRGs: City Resource Groups are designed to ultimately make the City of Philadelphia a more inclusive place to work. All City Resource Groups must align with the three focus areas including: Networking, Talent Development and Enhancing Diversity & Inclusion Strategies and Initiatives. 

If you are interested in participating or leading a Resource Group at PHL/PNE, email your ideas to [email protected]. Must have five people and a leader to implement. 

Thurs-yay, Water Cooler Conversations: Heritage Month Edition 

Celebrate Indigenous People/Native American Heritage Month 

Join us at noon on November 17 via Teams to learn about Indigenous People/Native American culture and enjoy a fun and informative educational session. 

Join on your computer, mobile app or room device:  

Click here to join the meeting  

Meeting ID: 228 040 238 26

Passcode: LcNs8n  

Download Teams | Join on the web 

Thurs-YAY! Water Cooler Conversations allow employees to take a mid-day break, connect, and relieve some stress!  

Red Cross Blood Drive

On October 27, the Division of Aviation held its first blood drive since the pandemic. Thank you to the 65 staff members that donated 59 units of blood to help residents across the Great Philadelphia region. 

Join us as we host Madam Registrar, Tracey L. Gordon from the Office of Registrar of Wills.   

Topic: Office of Registrar Workshop 

Time: Nov 14, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) 

Join Zoom Meeting 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89706897647?pwd=a1RESmVqSWN4eHFLdHVaTzk1L2EyQT09 

Dial by your location 

        +1 646 558 8656 US (New York) 

Meeting ID: 897 0689 7647 

Passcode: 196373 

Congratulations to the ‘Step It Up’ challenge winning teams!! 

1st place: Between a Rock and a Hard Place, 1,610,897 steps 

Members: Keith Brune, Shannon Clark, Susan Bailey, Alec Gever and Mae Mitchell. 

2nd place: SneakerNet, 1, 446,133 steps 

Members: Damian Oravez, Wayne Lawrence, Peter Yong and Tony Alfonse. 

3rd place: Movers & Shakers 1,043,880 steps 

Members: Liz Moselle, Nicole Maddox, Megan O’Connell, Kate Sullivan and Leah Douglas. 

Click here to see a slideshow of the awesome participants. To fully enjoy, play the PowerPoint in presentation mode and click the music buttons on each slide. 

To receive notification of employee updates directly to your phone, email [email protected] with your email and/or cell phone number. 

Staff Promotions

Congratulations to Tasia Carlton, who was promoted to Contract Clerk, in October.

New Hires 

Welcome to L. Courteney Henderson, who was hired as Minority/Disadvantage Business Enterprise Coordinator, and Mohammad Ilyas who was hired as Graduate Mechanical Engineer in October.

The City of Philadelphia’s Combined Campaign for Employees Returns

The City of Philadelphia's annual Combined Campaign kicked off on October 12 and will run through November 25. For the 2023 campaign season, the City has set a fundraising goal of $400,000. To date, we are currently at 21 percent of the donation goal set for the 2022-23 effort. Unfortunately, employee contributions have been down over the last two years, due to the pandemic’s economic effect on City workers and their families.

Each year, two City officials are named as co-chairs of the current year’s campaign effort. Their job is to help drive engagement within City agencies. The co-chairs for 2022-23 are Kimberly Ali, Commissioner of the Department of Human Services and Mike Zaccagni, Human Resources Director. Both Ali and Zaccagni are excited to be named co-chairs; they hope to bring renewed energy to the City’s fundraising efforts.

Zaccagni said “The COVID-19 pandemic has put charities in a precarious and difficult position, as the need for the most basic of human services has increased exponentially, while resources have continued to dwindle. Many organizations have had to close their doors, leaving citizens desperately in need. As we kick off the 2023 Combined Campaign, I ask you to please open your hearts and consider supporting the most important work of our charities, so that they may continue to support and uplift the most vulnerable among us.”

Ali echoed “Times are increasingly challenging for communities such as ours. As DHS Commissioner, I have seen the devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our families and children. As the federal government begins to roll back COVID safety nets and assistance programs, local organizations must step up to provide crucial services and resources. Charities, non-profits, and community organizations are charged with supporting our residents in the struggle for daily living. Your contribution to the Combined Campaign ensures that these organizations may continue their work, making Philadelphia a city of resilience and compassion.”

Last year was particularly crushing for the charitable community. From the very start of the COVID-19 pandemic, nonprofits were there on the ground, providing critical relief and support to people, families, and communities across Philadelphia and beyond - especially those that were hardest hit by financial challenges.

Why give through the Combined Campaign?

• The City of Philadelphia 2023 Employees’ Combined Campaign is a way for City employees to make a difference in communities across Philly and beyond.
• Funds help feed the hungry, shelter the homeless and animals, protect our environment, assist youth and the elderly, and much more.
• Set it and forget it: pledge now and pay in 2023. Payroll deduction allows you to have a big impact without taking a big chunk out of your bank account, since you can take as little as $2 of each paycheck all year long.

Raising funds through the Combined Campaign is the most effective way for a charity to raise sustainable support for its programs and services. Since the Campaign is a single, coordinated appeal, rather than hundreds of individual fundraising drives, it significantly reduces the administrative burden on charities. If you would like to donate to the Combined Campaign, click here for information on how to contribute online or contact PHL’s CC captain [email protected].

PHL Food and Shops

In October, PHL welcomed two new restaurants – Qdoba in Terminal F and Sbarro in Terminal A-West. PHL Food & Shops also celebrated Onsite News and Bud & Marilyn's with ribbon cuttings on October 25 and 31, respectively. 

OrderAtPHL celebrates the Eagles! 

One more reason to root for the Eagles: Special discounts for OrderAtPHL/Grab the day after a win. Register and look for special promo codes sent to your phone or email when the Eagles win. 

Grab will also offer a special promo for National Day of Giving on November 29: $5 off using code GIVE22.

PHL to Celebrate America Recycles Day

PHL will celebrate America Recycles Day on November from 10am to 1pm at the B/C food court event space. There will be games, prizes and information on composting! Employees will be able to pick up a new recycling bin courtesy of the Philadelphia Department of Streets.

The Latest from PHL's Online Newsroom

At the Airport

City of Phila. Division of Aviation Welcomes New Additions to the Strategic Partnerships – Revenue Team

The City of Philadelphia Division of Aviation, operator of Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE) has announced Edgar Antístenes Vesga-Arias, MPR, CMI as its new Director of Air Service Development and Cargo Services, and Megan O’Connell as Director of Marketing and Branding.

Philadelphia International Records Exhibit Opens at PHL

Leon Huff, who, along with Kenny Gamble and Thom Bell, founded the legendary Philadelphia International Records (PIR), was at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) on October 19th to witness the dedication of an exhibit that highlights 50 years of music produced by the record label and rightfully called “The Sound of Philadelphia”. The exhibit is located near Terminal A-East.

PHL is Like a Zoo!

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is pleased to welcome the return of the monthly live animal visits by the Philadelphia Zoo. Prior to the pandemic, the Zoo brought different animals to PHL to educate and entertain passengers each month. Guests are surprised to encounter zoo animals in the middle of an airport. Rushing passengers often stop and do a double take to see what’s going on with the live display- especially if they are traveling with children.

Capital Development

PHL Opens First-Ever Built-in Lactation Suite

On Friday, October 7, members of the Division of Aviation and U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon (Pa. 5) gathered in Philadelphia International Airport's (PHL) Terminal B/C Food Court for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the airport's newest restroom set, which features PHL's first built-in lactation suite.

People at PHL

PHL Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month: American Airlines Latin Diversity Network Spotlight

Philadelphia International Airport celebrates National Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing the efforts of the American Airlines Latin Diversity Network (LDN) chapter in promoting Hispanic contributions, culture, and history.

PHL Caring Support: Travelers Aid Volunteer Program Manager Christine Datesman

Travelers Aid Volunteer Program Manager Christine Datesman recently received the “Caring Support” award in PHL’s Airport Employee Recognition Program. This award recognizes employees who provide exceptional care and services to passengers.

PHL Concludes Hispanic Heritage Month with Roundtable Discussion

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) concluded its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with a roundtable discussion hosted by its Racial Equity Advisory Council (REAC). The discussion highlighted Hispanic contributions in the business, aviation, finance, and healthcare fields.