CEEA EnoAirMAX Program

Eno AirMAX

DEN CEO Welcome Letter

Dear Eno AirMAX participants,

On behalf of the entire Denver International Airport (DEN) team, it gives me great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to the Mile High City! We are truly honored to host the inaugural Eno Air Multi-Agency Exchange (AirMAX) program and are enthusiastic about connecting with all of you – the emerging leaders of the aviation and infrastructure sectors.

Your participation in Eno AirMAX marks a significant milestone in your professional journey. Those selected for this program represent the industry’s leaders with the highest potential and we believe that your involvement will not only propel your own career development but also foster a collaborative environment that will benefit all participating agencies.

As you convene this week to exchange insights and establish lasting connections, please recognize the pivotal role each of you plays in shaping the future of aviation. You confront similar operational, planning and staffing challenges daily and by coming together, you have the opportunity to learn from one another and explore innovative solutions to make our industry more dynamic and inclusive.

DEN understands the value of this program in fostering a collaborative leadership platform across agencies. We are eager to engage with each of you and embrace the chance to exchange ideas and expertise. The insights and recommendations that emerge from this exchange will be invaluable, and we are equally excited to share our best practices with you. We anticipate witnessing the tangible impact that this inaugural cohort will have, and we eagerly await your accomplishments.

May your time in Denver be both enriching and fulfilling. I look forward to meeting each of you and I am eager to witness the passion and ingenuity you will bring to our community and the broader industry.

Once again, welcome to the Mile High City!

Phillip A. Washington Chief Executive Officer Denver International Airport

Mike Nakornkhet

Chief Financial Officer

DEN Executive Team

Phillip A. Washington

Chief Executive Officer

Maria G. Meleandez

Chief of Staff

Steve Jaquith Chief Operating Officer

Penny May Chief Commercial Officer

Jim

Starling Chief Construction and Infrastructure Officer

Everett Martinez General Counsel

DEN Senior Leadership Team

Andrea Albo

Deputy Chief of Staff

Dave LaPorte

Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Michael Biel

Deputy Chief Financial Officer

Jessica Allen

Assistant General Counsel

Ken Cope SVP, DEN Real Estate

Pam Dechant SVP, Concessions

Amy Edinger

SVP, Commercial Business Development

Brandon Gainey

SVP, Design, Engineering and Construction

Greg Hegarty

SVP, Finance Business Operations

Chayot Ing-Aram

SVP, Financial Planning

George Karayiannakis

SVP, Airline and Commercial Affairs

Kyle Lester

SVP, Airport Maintenance

Juan Lucero

SVP, Business Technologies

Sarah Marquez SVP, Airport Operations

Scott Morrissey

SVP, Sustainability

Mark Nagel

SVP, Parking and Transportation

Heidi O’Neil

SVP, Accounting

Bill Poole

SVP, Planning and Design

Michael Sheehan

SVP, Special Projects

Shawn Smith SVP, Culture and Strategy

Stacey Stegman

SVP, Communications, Marketing and Customer Experience

DEN by the Numbers

Host Week Agenda

Sunday, May 19

Time

Sunday, May 19 - Business Casual

4:30 p.m. Reception and Mixer

5 p.m. Welcome Remarks, Orientation and Dinner

4 p.m. Travel to DEN Westin Hotel

6 p.m. Icebreaker Activities

7 p.m. Networking

8:30 p.m. Adjourn

Monday, May 20

Dress Casual is the attire for the day. The day will include a photo with DEN CEO Phil Washington and an Operations tour in the morning. Low-heeled, closed-toe shoes are a safety requirement for this tour.

Monday, May 20

8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast

7:45 a.m. Travel to DEN DEN Press Room*

8:55 a.m. Safety Briefing

9 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks

* The DEN Press Room is located on Level 6 of the Jeppesen Terminal on the West side, overlooking South Security. Guides will be available daily to assist with directions.

Host Week Agenda

Eno AirMAX Cohort hosted by Denver International Airport

Tuesday, May 21

11:30 a.m.

12:45 p.m. Global Communications and Marketing

2:15 p.m. Break

2:30 p.m. Peer Networking (ATL and CDA) and DEN Business Development Workshop

4:30 p.m. Recap, Review for Next Day, Adjourn

4:45 p.m. Early Dinner: DEN at Night Participants

7:45 a.m.

8:30

9:15

Host Week Agenda

Wednesday, May 22 Noon Lunch and Business Project Information Exchange (ATL/CDA)

2 p.m. Break

2:15 p.m. Eno Situation Room and Professional Development Workshop

4:30 p.m. Recap, Review for Next Day, Adjourn

Thursday, May 23

Smart Casual is the attire for the day. The schedule includes Construction and Infrastructure tours in the morning. Low-heeled, closed-toe shoes are a safety requirement for these tours.

7:45 a.m. Travel to DEN

8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast

8:55 a.m. Safety Briefing

9 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks

Thursday, May 23

9:05 a.m. Construction and Infrastructure Presentations

9:50 a.m. Construction and Infrastructure Tour Noon Lunch

12:45 p.m. Finance

Friday, May 24

7:45

8:30 a.m.

9:05 a.m.

9:15 a.m.

24 - Business Casual

DEN Inaugural Cohort

Jennifer Billingham Director of Customer Engagement

As director of customer engagement in DEN’s esteemed Customer Service Department, Jennifer Billingham has the privilege of leading teams focused on winning the hearts of customers.

Jennifer oversees several key initiatives aimed at ensuring every traveler’s journey through DEN is seamless and memorable. This includes managing the Information Booth and International Arrivals teams, who aid passengers navigating the concourses and international arrivals facility. Additionally, Jennifer oversees DEN’s volunteer programs, including the Ambassadors and the beloved Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS) Teams.

Prior to DEN, Jennifer’s career was shaped by years of immersive customer service experience, particularly during her tenure at Macy’s. There, she honed her ability to leverage customer insights and drive operational excellence while spearheading initiatives to enhance the shopping experience.

Jennifer also holds a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University. Jennifer remains deeply committed to fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration and is eager to learn more about airport best practices to elevate the customer experience for DEN’s valued passengers.

Bud R. Geng, IAP, PMP Senior Design and Construction Project Manager

Bud Geng brings 13-plus years of diverse experience in both heavy civil and commercial design/construction management to DEN. He prides himself on his ability to open lines of communication between all stakeholders to deliver project objectives successfully.

Geng currently manages DEN’s Baggage Handling System (BHS) Capital Improvement Projects, work that includes enabling projects that support the overall Great Hall Completion Program. He has been serving DEN in this role for the past two years.

Before joining DEN Special Projects, Geng served as the sole project manager for the Colorado Springs Airport, where he managed and delivered multiple large-scale design and construction projects ranging from heavy civil rehabilitation to complex commercial construction. This work was varied in terms of funding sources and required different delivery methods to meet schedules and budgets as well as exceed stakeholder expectations.

Geng holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from New Mexico State University and a current PMP® certification (PMI), as well as a more recent International Airport Professional (IAP) accreditation from ACI/ICAO.

DEN Inaugural Cohort

Biographies

Andrea Thorsted Airline Affairs Contract Administrator

In 2014, Andrea Thorsted started working at DEN as an aircraft cabin cleaner to get through college. She quickly came to love being around planes and learning more about the airlines, so she moved on to customer service roles and later served as a supervisor, later rising to the rank of assistant station manager.

In 2018, Thorsted started working for the City and County of Denver’s Department of Aviation in the Parking and Transportation division with Lost and Found, Employee Parking, Public Parking and Commercial Transportation. Now, she works in the Airline Affairs division as a contract administrator.

Thorsted graduated from the University of Colorado with a bachelor’s degree in political science and she continues to be passionate about learning languages. Thorsted is fluent in Spanish, and she’s taught herself Russian and learned German. She’s always picking up more knowledge about global languages.

In 2015, Thorsted studied abroad in Moscow, Russia, where she met her husband of seven years, Alex. They both work at DEN and whenever they travel, enjoy seeing other airports’ operations and services.

Chason Runkle Airport Emergency Operations Specialist

Chason Runkle is DEN’s airport emergency operations specialist. Runkle grew up in Tallahassee, FL, where he received his bachelor’s degree in professional aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Runkle began his career at DEN shortly after relocating to Denver and initially worked in the Communications Center before transitioning to various roles within Airport Operations. These roles included assistant aviation operations manager, ramp tower controller and emergency operations manager.

Runkle has demonstrated leadership in crisis management, and he specializes in emergency planning, focusing on developing comprehensive plans for various hazards like extreme cold temperatures, wildland fires and infrastructure recovery. Additionally, Runkle played a key role in the planning and execution of the first 5K on the Runway event at DEN. He recently received the inaugural DEN CEO Visionary Award for Operational Excellence, which only increases his drive to be a part of new projects and initiatives to better the airport.

Runkle and his wife continue to enjoy their Colorado adventure, now enriched by their two lively toddlers.

Michelle Sandoval Director of Strategic Outreach and Engagement

Michelle Sandoval is the director of strategic outreach and engagement at DEN. She works with the team to help identify barriers that historically underutilized businesses are experiencing at DEN. Through this work, Sandoval supports DEN’s pledge to double the number of prime contracts and increase the contracted dollars awarded to historically underutilized firms.

Michelle joined DEN in 2022 after working for 20 years in the construction industry. She is the past president of the board of directors for the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado (HCC), a nonprofit organization supporting small businesses in the construction industry. In addition to her professional work, Michelle volunteers and serves the local community with various organizations, including Contractor Academy, Society of Marketing Professionals, Black Construction Group, Society of American Military Engineers and Associated General Contractors of Colorado Diversity Committee.

Michelle holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and social services from the University of Puget Sound and professional certificates in construction management and equity, diversity and inclusion from Colorado State University, the University of Denver/Latino Leadership Institute and the University of South Florida.

Zachary Selby Airport Planner

As an airport planner at Denver International Airport (DEN), Zach has harbored a fascination with aviation and airports since his youth. Graduating with a degree in aviation management from Metropolitan State University of Denver, he embarked on a journey that would see his passion flourish. His introduction to the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) during his university years sparked a growing interest, culminating in valuable experiences through tours and aviation events at DEN.

Zach’s career trajectory took flight with an internship in DEN’s Planning Department, where he absorbed invaluable knowledge and skills. Transitioning to the Operations team, he spent nearly five years immersed in the intricacies of airport operations, gaining insights into the collaborative efforts among various departments. Last summer marked a significant milestone as Zach returned to the Planning team, focusing on airfield, terminal and concourse projects. Embracing new challenges with enthusiasm, he relishes the opportunity to contribute to DEN’s rapid growth and expansion.

Looking ahead, Zach aspires to further his professional development within DEN, actively preparing the airport for future demands and advancements. His dedication, coupled with a relentless pursuit of learning, positions him as an asset in shaping DEN’s trajectory in the aviation landscape.

DEN Inaugural Cohort

Biographies

Shan Obaidullah Senior Financial Analyst

Carol Reagan, MS, CPACC

ADA/Title VI Administrator

Shan Obaidullah serves as a senior financial analyst within the Fiscal Policy Division of Finance at Denver International Airport (DEN). His DEN journey spans six years, initially as an accountant in the Accounting division. Subsequently, he transitioned to Fiscal Policy, assuming the role of a financial analyst.

After graduating from business school, Shan began his career in the Financial Administration division of a bank in Bangladesh. He pursued a master’s in business administration from the University of Dhaka. He migrated to the USA and undertook a master’s in accounting at Colorado State University. Subsequently, he served at Grant Thornton as a financial auditor, gaining valuable experience in auditing practices. He also briefly worked as an accountant in an Australian company before eventually transitioning to DEN.

Shan is a sports enthusiast and enjoys playing soccer, cricket and badminton. He also participates in various chess tournaments in Colorado as a member of both the Colorado Chess Association and the United States Chess Federation. He is a proud father to two boys.

Carol is the ADA administrator in Culture and Strategy at Denver International Airport (DEN). She has worked in accessibility for eight years. Carol collaborates with teams across DEN, community stakeholders and legislators to ensure an accessible and inclusive experience for all travelers. Carol also serves on the City and County of Denver Commission for People with Disabilities.

Before her role at DEN, Carol worked at UCHealth, on the Anschutz medical campus, as the ADA coordinator where she focused on improving healthcare access and customer experience for patients with disabilities and limited English proficiency.

Carol holds a master’s of science in health services administration and a certification in accessibility core competencies from the International Association for Accessibility Professionals. Carol was born and raised in Denver. She is married and has a son.

Key Contacts

Denver International Airport (DEN)

Luis Zazueta

626-494-6817

Luis.Zazueta@flydenver.com

Areli Bonilla

303-815-6724

Areli.Bonilla@flydenver.com

Stephanie Burke 720-610-4249

Stephanie.Burke@flydenver.com

Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA)

Denise Turner Alston

denise.turneralston@cityofchicago.org

Eno Center for Transportation

Emily Kilheeney 240-935-1988 ekilheeney@enotrans.org

Jasmine Crews jcrews@enotrans.org

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

Corliss Davenport Corliss.Davenport@atl.com

Subriana Smith Subriana.Smith@atl.com

Mustang, © 2008 by Luis A. Jimenez, Jr.

CEEA Team

Biographies

Stephanie A. Burke Director, Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation

Stephanie A. Burke is the director of the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation at Denver International Airport (DEN). She has spent the last decade of her career in the transportation field and most recently joined the aviation industry. In her current role, she leads the Career Pathways program, dedicated to fostering an aviation talent pipeline and research and innovation initiatives aimed at conducting industry research and identifying best practices.

She has been a public sector employee for over 15 years and has worked in a variety of industries such as parks and recreation, law enforcement and security and workforce development. A common theme in the work she has done is utilizing her skillset to develop people and manage projects.

Stephanie holds a bachelor’s of arts in criminology, law and society from the University of California, Irvine and a master’s in leadership and management from the University of La Verne. She holds a project management certificate from the University of California, Los Angeles and is a certified project management professional. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer, traveling and spending time with her husband and two sons.

Rebecca Tate Manager of Innovation

Rebecca Tate manages the Innovation Program for Denver International Airport’s (DEN) Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA). She connects airport operational challenges to those who may help solve those challenges in the business and academic communities. She also works to equip students and employees with tools and techniques to support innovation in aviation.

Prior to DEN, Rebecca served at the Regional Transportation District (RTD) in Denver where she began their continuous improvement and performance management programs. She worked on projects as diverse as optimizing electric vehicle charging to implementing the agency’s strategic plan. Both experiences taught her the importance of a people-first approach when implementing change to any degree.

Rebecca holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from McGill University in Montreal and master’s degrees in urban and regional planning and business administration from the University of Colorado Denver.

Nicole Jones Manager, Youth Career Pathways

Luis E. Zazueta Jr. Manager, Employee Career Pathways

Nicole Jones serves as the manager of Youth Career Pathways at Denver International Airport (DEN) for the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA). In this role, she devises innovative strategies that harmonize the needs of both employees and employers.

She draws from a rich tapestry of more than 10 years of experience in teaching, motivation and empowerment and stands ready to elevate and empower youth through advice, guidance and hands-on experiences.

Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with a minor in chemistry from Lane College in Jackson, TN and a master’s of arts in psychology with a focus in behavior trauma from New York University. Nicole recently gained her Certified Workforce Development Professional Certification and is working toward her Strategic Leadership Certification from Harvard Business School Online. Nicole serves on various boards including the Urban Leadership Foundation of Colorado Alumni Action Committee and the State Apprenticeship Council on New and Emerging Trades for Colorado.

Nicole is the mother of two daughters, a son and two bonus sons with her husband, Marquise, who is also a DEN employee. She was born and raised in Denver.

Luis Zazueta is a manager in the Career Pathways Program in the Center of Equity and Excellence (CEEA) and Denver International Airport (DEN).

Luis’ transportation career started at the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). He held positions in the Talent Development Department and the Office of Extraordinary Innovation. He led various emerging workforce development programs, including the New Employee Experience, Metro Leadership Academy and Eno Multi-Agency Exchange. Through a partnership with the SEED Foundation, he contributed to the establishment of the first transportation-focused curriculum in Los Angeles County, for the “The Seed School of Los Angeles County.”

In his role within the Office of Extraordinary Innovation, Luis played a pivotal role in managing the department’s budget and overseeing significant initiatives: administering the department’s Unsolicited Proposal Process, Mobility Wallet Pilot Program, and Travel Rewards Pilot Program. These initiatives explored innovative solutions that could enhance mobility, equity and environmental outcomes across Los Angeles County’s 88 cities.

Luis Zazueta holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in public administration from the California State University, Los Angeles.

CEEA Team

Marianna Hernández Manager of Research

Heather

Ellis Program Manager, Career Pathways

Marianna Hernández is a manager for the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) at Denver International Airport (DEN). With over nine years of experience in education and research, she is adept at crafting data-informed, accessible and engaging user experiences.

She is a first-generation Latina, legal guardian to a sibling with a cognitive disability and former special education teacher. These experiences ignited her passion for fostering a more equitable and accessible world. She thrives in spaces where she can uncover problems, innovate and co-design alongside and for historically marginalized groups, especially people with disabilities.

Marianna holds a bachelor’s of science in special education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a user experience design certificate from General Assembly. She spent seven years in the classroom before transitioning to research.

Outside of work, she enjoys all things related to food, exercise, travel and pugs (ask her about her two pugs). You can find her working on a jigsaw puzzle, weightlifting or volunteering at one of her brother’s Special Olympics sporting events.

Heather Ellis is a program manager for the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) at Denver International Airport (DEN). Her aviation journey began at 12 years old when she took her first flight lesson above NYC. Heather’s role entails building CEEA’s aviation talent pipeline through the implementation of a matriculated Career Pathways program. She has a passion for showing others the excitement and variety of careers that the aerospace industry has for them.

Prior to CEEA, she was an airport operations manager where she ensured that DEN ran smoothly behind the scenes. This includes everything from managing wildlife activity, coordinating aircraft emergencies, orchestrating complex runway snow removal and ensuring the 10,000+ airfield lights are working properly at night.

Heather graduated from Daniel Webster College in Nashua, NH with degrees in aviation management and homeland security. She also earned her private pilot certificate and her Certified Member (C.M.) and Airport Certified Employee (ACE) qualifications from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Outside of DEN, Heather embraces every season Colorado has to offer from booking it down the mountains on her snowboard or hiking in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her husband.

Areli Bonilla Career Pathways Administrator

Areli Bonilla serves as the Administrator for DEN’s Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation where she supports the Career Pathways program, focusing on workforce development for city aviation employees. She has six years of service with the City and County of Denver.

Prior to her current role, Areli excelled as a contract administrator with the DEN Business Operations team, managing a variety of contracts, and contributing her expertise to the certification team at Denver Economic Development and Opportunity, aiding small minority businesses.

A graduate of the University of Colorado Denver with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a minor in marketing, Areli continues to pursue excellence through education. She is a proud alumna of the Leadership DEN cohort program and is currently enrolled in the Latino Leadership Institute Ignite program, furthering her leadership journey.

Outside of work, Areli finds joy in outdoor pursuits such as running, camping and exploring the world with her fiancé.

Anthony J. Clark

Research and Innovation Administrator

Anthony is a research and innovation administrator at Denver International Airport’s (DEN) Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA). Working alongside his team, Anthony uncovers operational challenges at the airport and links them to people in the business and academic community who can identify solutions.

Before joining DEN, Anthony was a pilot training planner, where he was responsible for the planning aspect of the pilot’s initial training and recurrent training. Anthony served as assistant director of scholarship programs at the Organization of Black Aerospace Professionals (OBAP) where he and his colleagues advanced minority employment in the aerospace sector through partnerships with leading companies such as United Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Boeing and JSX.

Anthony holds a double major in aviation management and aerospace operations from Metropolitan State University of Denver, as well as a master’s in business administration from Regis University. In his leisure time, Anthony enjoys traveling, immersing himself in the outdoors through activities like running, hiking, and kayaking, exploring Colorado’s vibrant food and beverage scene and capturing the beauty of architecture, art, aviation and design through his photography platform, The 16,000 Studio®.

Resource Page

Click on the various links below to access online information

Official Visitor Guide

Visitor Guide

Food and Beverage Suggestions

Food and Drinks

Breweries

Michelin Guide Denver

Local Highlights and Tourist Info

Things To Do

Red Rocks Amphitheater

How to Get Around

Transportation Information

Denver Airport Rail Transportation

Thank you to our partners!

THANK YOU !

Eno AirMAX

Cohort

HOSTED BY DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT