The Arizona Airports Association (AzAA) awarded an Airport Executive of the Year, a Corporate Member of the Year, and announced the President’s Award at its Spring General Membership Meeting. Brian O’Neill received the 2022 Airport Executive of the Year Award, Charlie McDermott received the 2022 Corporate Member of the Year Award, and Alice Bimrose received the President’s Award. Each honoree has made lasting positive impacts on airports in Arizona, and AzAA recognizes their outstanding contributions.
Brian O’Neill, A.A.E., who currently serves as Executive Director and CEO at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority (PMGAA), was awarded Airport Executive of the Year. He joined PMGAA in 2015 and prior to that worked at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport for twenty years. He serves on the Board for the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Visit Mesa, East Valley Partnership, and Tempe Tourism Board. Under Mr. O’Neill’s leadership Gateway Airport has experienced unprecedented recovery from the pandemic, setting records for five of the last seven months. 2021 was Gateway Airports second-best year on record with 15 new destinations added. PMGAA also announced that Gulfstream Aerospace would be making the largest private investment in airport history by building a $70, million 250,000 square-foot MRO facility. In addition, he led the announcement and recruitment of a master developer for Gateway East, a 400-acre non-aeronautical, mixed-use development that will begin in 2022. Brian is an active member of AzAA, testifying in the Arizona legislature in support of AzAA issues, and encourages staff membership. Finally, Brian supports an internship with ASU Polytechnic and the Mesa Leadership Program as well as a just-announced partnership with ASU on an airport student volunteer program.
Charlie McDermott, LEED AP was named 2022 Corporate Member of the Year. Mr. McDermott is the Aviation Planning Manager at Dibble. In his 35 years working in the aviation consulting industry, Charlie has worked at over 100 airports, from general aviation to large hub commercial service, in 17 different states. Since moving to Arizona over 10 years ago he has been active with AzAA twice serving as Corporate Director. Charlie specializes in airport planning and environmental issues at airports, especially as it relates to FAA requirements and grant funding. Of note he created a vision for sustainable airport master planning and worked with his client at Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (New York) to develop a master plan fully incorporating sustainability into the planning process. This master plan project was nationally recognized. In Arizona he has led Master Plan projects at both Prescott Regional Airport and Buckeye Municipal Airport as well as serving as the President of the Scottsdale Airport Advisory Commission.
Alice Bimrose, A.A.E., ACE, received the President’s Award and is Special Projects Administrator in the Facilities & Services Division at City of Phoenix Aviation Department. Ms. Bimrose has worked for the city for over 24 years in Public Relations, Capital Management, Design & Construction, Business Office, Directors Office, and HR. Before joining the city, she worked in private and non-profit organizations. Alice has been a member with AzAA since 2003 and has served on the Board since 2019. She’s also consistently active with both SWAAAE and WTS. She has served on multiple conference committee’s and chaired the 2022 AzAA Spring Conference Committee. Alice is an Accredited Airport Executive and Airport Certified Employee. She has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Marquette University and a master’s degree in Human Resources Development from Ottawa University-Phoenix. She continues her work on the AzAA board now consistent with her tireless commitment to our industry.
