november-december 2021 - 46

Zachary Bass, CM
Growing up on Air Force bases gave Zachary Bass an early
understanding of aviation, and he would later join the Air Force
himself. After his time in the Air Force, Bass worked briefly in
composite aviation manufacturing before ultimately finding
work at the Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM).
" I found a position here at the airport as a business manager.
And about a year into that, our airport director left and I was
given the opportunity. And so, I have been here since as the
director since right around 2016, " described Bass.
Age: 38
Hometown: Military Brat/
Lebanon, Missouri
Alma Mater: University of
Portland and Penn State
University.
Fun fact about yourself:
I really enjoy ping pong
and chasing my three kids
around.
Someone I look up to in
the industry: Chris Jensen
My favorite thing about
aviation is: The people that
work in aviation.
www.AviationPros.com/21245446
As airport director, Bass manages an annual budget of more
than $20 million to provide services to more than 1 million
commercial airline customers, 113 based aircraft and over
2,600 acres of airport property.
RDM is a smaller regional airport experiencing exponential
growth, of which Bass has adeptly managed while continuously
seeking ways to improve the airport and its customer experience.
From little things like implementing nursing stations and
a flybrary, to massive reconstruction and expansion projects,
Bass navigates it all with an approachable and collaborative
style that makes people want to be part of his team.
" I think it's the breadth of what occurs in aviation, especially
as an airport director every day, " Bass said of what he enjoys
about his work. " There's been days where I'm helping negotiate
a land lease for a $50 million hotel right on airport property. And
then in the afternoon, I'm meeting with my operations guys to
try to figure out how to relocate owls from the airfield. And so
it's a great example of just really how different and how never
boring working in an airport is and to that point - every day
there's new challenges and trying to solve them is something
I really enjoy, " Bass said.
Bass has overseen the reconstruction of both runways and two
taxiways, including a three-week full airport closure, worth $40
million and the successful construction a new Operations (SRE)
Building, 500-stall parking lot, third TSA Lane, and terminal
ramp expansion worth $25 million. Bass has also planned,
financed and manages $60 million in projects over the next
eight years to include a terminal expansion and Quick-turn
Around Facility. He oversees 30 full-time employees and another
20 contract employees, doubling staff during tenure. And
Bass was named Oregon Airport Manager of the Year 2017.
Age: 37
Nicholas May
Nicholas May has his hands on the technology of tomorrow.
While working for Schneider Electric, May worked with airport
staff, design firms and construction managers to help digitize
and electrify U.S. airports.
" We see an acceleration of airports commitments towards CO2
reduction with goals to be carbon neutral initially, then net
zero prior to 2050. This coincides with most all airports' need
to increase their power capacity for applications like eBuses,
eGSE, eCargo aircraft and eVTOL. Then consider how impactful
a power outage is on airport operations. It's a great industry
to be a part of and rapidly changing, " May said.
Hometown: Noblesville,
Indiana.
Alma Mater: Purdue
University and BI Norwegian
Business School
Fun fact about yourself:
Studied Energy and
Sustainability in Oslo,
Norway.
Someone I look up to in
the industry: Ginger Evans
It's a great industry to be a part of
and rapidly changing.
May's work has, in part, helped the industry keep up with
the shifting landscape of the COVID-19 pandemic. In April
of 2020, he led a team that piloted the first Mass Thermal
Screening program in the U.S. that succeeded in covering the
front entrance of LAX Tom Bradley Terminal and screening
for elevated body temperatures.
May's work on the project was recognized by Justin Erbacci,
CEO of LAWA, and Eric Garcetti, mayor of Los Angeles. Shortly
after, May was asked to lead a working group for AAAE's ACT
initiative. His team made up of industry consultants including
Arup, Jacobs, RS&H, and Swanson Rink took direction from a
steering group of U.S. airport directors and published a report
with recommendations to help airport teams best position their
HVAC systems to address COVID-19. Good and bad information
was being disseminated throughout the industry, but May and
his team gave trusted guidance.
As May turns his eyes to the future, his goals are to help airports
navigate the complex process of decarbonization, electrification
and creating a more sustainable aviation industry. In
November of 2021, May will be taking a new role leading
the NAM and LATAM markets as the transportation segment
director at Baker Hughes.
www.AviationPros.com/21244903
" We stood up four different thermal imaging solutions in
the Tom Bradley International Terminal front entrance. The
intention was to screen at mass the flow of incoming passengers
to see if they had an elevated body temperature. It was
impactful in helping understand if this technology should be
implemented terminal wide, campus wide, or if the technology
wasn't ready to be deployed at scale. " May described.
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november-december 2021

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