The airport professional's source for airport industry news, articles, events, and careers.
Issue link: http://airportbusiness.epubxp.com/i/193245
40 under forty AGE 29 ANTHONY BANOME ❘ ANTHONY Banome, who handles FBO fuel sales and customer service at Meridian, has always had a strong drive to compete. At just 29, it didn't take the aviation industry long to figure this out. After graduating from St. John's University Peter J. Tobin College of Business, Banome joined the Meridian Teterboro family in 2007. He instantly became an integral part of the FBO operation. Learning from some of the best in the FBO industry, such as Meridian owner Ken Forester Jr. and Vice President Betsy Wines, as well as strong outside influences Russ Boy Jr. and Gene Condreras, Banome has been able to forge his own image in the heart and soul of the business—fuel sales. FBO FUEL SALES & CUSTOMER SERVICE MERIDIAN Banome's character combined with his pioneer mentality led to the creation of a new department in 2011 where he infused his innovative ways of assessing and increasing market share. Results did not take long to follow. At Teterboro Airport, a market that sees more than 40 million gallons pumped annually, Banome steered Meridian's Fuel Division to increases in volume, market share, and margin. In addition to driving incremental domestic business, Banome tackled expanding the company's international market as well. With Meridian's newfound capability to service international arrivals on a U.S. Customs and Border Protection ramp, he has taken his tactics to a larger stage. By spawning relationships across the globe, Banome continues to personify all that Meridian has to offer. As a Staten Island resident whose community was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, he led a group of volunteers laden with tools and supplies personally flown in via Meridian clientele. Resiliency, combined with friendships generated throughout the industry, has translated into changing lives in devastated communities. This was by far his greatest achievement of the year. With Meridian continuing to expand, and Banome as part of its pulse—the best is yet to come. And it is for certain that Banome will be a part of it. "Certain industries tend to trap you in a bubble—and for me aviation rivals YEARS IN AVIATION that very notion," he says. 6.5 "I want you to understand Bill's determination in running the airport as an efficient business, rather than just another government division. Specifically, he negotiated a 40-year contract that resulted in a 418 percent increase in the tenant's lease, and another contract that resulted in a 289 percent lease increase, and additional $211,200 in annual revenue for the Meacham airport." JAMES BURRIS, ADMINISTRATION MANAGER, CITY OF FORT WORTH AGE 35 WILLIAM WELSTEAD ❘ BILL Welstead does all he can to overcome the challenges that come with being the director of three airports. As the director of the City of Fort Worth Airport System, he provides key support to the assistant city manager. He has full management responsibility for the system and recommends policies to the Aviation Advisory Board and Fort Worth City Council for strategic planning and operation of Alliance, Meacham International and Spinks airports. Prior to serving as director, Welstead served as an airman in the United States Coast Guard at Los Angeles International Airport and Mobile Regional Airport; public information officer for the Nebraska Department of Aeronautics; operations supervisor at Omaha's 16 airportbusiness October 2013 DIRECTOR OF AVIATION CITY OF FORT WORTH AIRPORT SYSTEM medium hub commercial airport, Eppley Airfield; and airport manager of Meacham International Airport. Welstead is an accredited airport executive, a member of the American Association of Airport Executives (A.A.A.E.), the A.A.A.E. Finance and Administration Committee, the A.A.A.E. Airport Operations/ Safety/ Planning Committee, the ACI-NA Finance Committee and the Transportation Research Board (TRB) Committee on Airport Terminals and Ground Access (AVO50). Welstead also provides technical guidance to the Transportation Research Board of the National Academies through the Airport Cooperative Research Program. Welstead received his Bachelor's degree in aviation management from the University of Nebraska Omaha where h e g ra d u a te d w i t h h o n o rs a s Av i at i o n Student of the Year. He is also a pilot and continues to enjoy flying today. His advice to other young people hoping to break into an aviation career is that "it may feel like a slow process getting there, but if you have a plan and work that plan, you will succeed, regardless of who you are or where you're from. Don't make excuses; just push hard in pursuing your goals." YEARS IN AVIATION 17