November/December 2023 - 10

Hometown:
Bennet, NE
Alma Mater:
University of
Nebraska-Lincoln
Age: 35
Number of years in
the industry: 3
Rachel Barth, C.M.
Lincoln Airport Authority Director of Communications and Customer Engagement
As the Director of Communications and Customer Engagement
at the Lincoln Airport Authority, Rachel Barth is faced
with challenges like empty facilities, lack of customers,
and the unfamiliarity of the aviation industry. However,
her relentless efforts to connect, create, and tell stories
have made an immediate impact on the Lincoln Airport
(LNK) and the industry as a whole.
" It wasn't until I was hired did I realize LNK had a huge
problem, passengers forgot we were an option coupled
with the crippling effects of the pandemic, " Barth said. " I
took it as a challenge to work to strengthen our community
partnerships, enhance our marketing across the state
and hone in on customer service and the things we can
control. 'Nebraska Nice' isn't just a saying it's truly what
we live by each and every day and I want our airport to
do the same. "
Barth's transformative initiatives include the creation of
a Drive-In Movie Program at LNK, drawing impressive
attendance numbers and turning the airport into a thriving
community space. She successfully negotiated LNK's
position as the Official Airport of Husker Athletics, marking
a pioneering partnership that allowed LNK to participate
in the NCAA Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) program with
Husker volleyball player Ally Batenhorst.
One of Barth's significant achievements was overseeing
the launch of Red Way, a new form of air service under
Part 380 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Despite the
ultimate decision to pull the service from LNK, Barth's
marketing strategies generated significant hype around
flying local and revitalized the Lincoln Airport's relevance
in passengers' minds.
Barth is involved in industry groups such as ACI's Marketing,
Communications, and Customer Experience
Working Group, and has obtained her Certified Member
designation from the American Association of Airport
Executives (AAAE).
Barth's commitment to the industry goes beyond her role
at LNK. She took on the responsibility of planning and organizing
events for the annual conference of the Great Lakes
Chapter of AAAE, showcasing her dedication to giving
back. As the Chair of GLCAAAE's marketing committee,
she continues to contribute to industry-wide initiatives.
www.AviationPros.com/53077764
Hometown:
Bogota, Colombia
Alma Mater:
University of Houston
Age: 39
Number of years in
the industry: 4
Augusto Bernal
Houston Airports Director of Communications and Public Relations
Augusto Bernal's resilience and dedication were honed
during his years as a television news reporter and anchor,
where he became an Emmy Award-winning journalist and
gained a reputation for calmly and accurately reporting
breaking news.
Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Bernal currently serves
as the Director of Communications and Public Relations
for Houston Airports.
His contributions to Houston Airports during the COVID-19
pandemic are particularly noteworthy. As the public information
officer, he played a pivotal role in developing the
Telly Award-winning FlySafeHouston campaign, educating
employees and the public on safety precautions.
His crisis communication skills and ability to provide a
reasonable and relatable voice in times of irregular airport
operations were further demonstrated during Winter Storm
Uri in 2021 and the Southwest Airlines meltdown in 2022.
As the director of communications, Bernal has improved
Houston Airports' external messaging. He initiated a shift
towards transparency, showcasing the airport's response
to challenges such as the malfunctioning air conditioning
10 \ AIRPORT BUSINESS / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
system during a heatwave. His approach gained national
attention, and Bernal was invited to brief members of ACI
on his successful communication strategies.
Bernal is an active member of ACI, the Public Relations
Society of America, and has attended a PWorld Crisis
Communications Bootcamp. Additionally, he consistently
seeks to enhance his knowledge through FAA training and
emergency management drills.
Most significantly, he transformed the airport director's
annual State of the Airports address, empowering his
team to produce the presentation in-house, fostering
creativity and collaboration. Under his leadership, Houston
Airports achieved 5-Star and 4-Star Skytrax ratings
in 2022 and 2023.
" It is extremely satisfying when we achieve our goals and
objectives, which can only be done with an incredible
team, " he said. " Fostering collaboration and creativity
within our communications department has really motivated
me to succeed in telling the story of our airports and
the men and women who make it all happen. "
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November/December 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November/December 2023
