With over 16 years of combined experience in journalism and public relations, Heath Montgomery knows how to tell a story.
“At my core, I consider myself a storyteller and, fortunately for me, airports are really endless stories,” he said. “The best part of my job is finding new and creative ways to tell the story about LAX.”
Montgomery made the transition to public relations after a decade in journalism, and not long after was referred by a friend to an open media relations director position at the Denver International Airport (DEN) – where he caught the aviation bug.
“The entire experience in Denver really hooked me more than I ever expected it would have,” Montgomery said.
“The first time I got to stand next to a runway, and I remember it very clearly, there was a 787-9 Dreamliner that Boeing was still putting through trials and it was coming through Denver,” he continued. “I got to stand next to the runway and take video of it taking off right next to me. And I think that was the moment that really hooked me on aviation.”
When he arrived at DEN in 2013, Montgomery rebuilt the airport’s social media program into one of the industry’s most engaging airports. Seeing an opportunity to change the way airports engaged their passengers and employees, he created a sense of place and a voice that relied on being authentic, funny and highly sharable.
One of Montgomery’s winning strategies was leaning into DEN’s conspiracy theories, which include underground aliens and secret government bunkers. Construction updates on the “bunker” highlighted the real terminal hotel construction; April Fools pranks helped showcase exceptional artwork and architecture; and Darth Vader gave a tour of the airfield to highlight DEN’s operations.
In addition, he has handled crisis communications for bomb threats, terminal evacuations, aircraft fires, emergency landings and a pandemic.
Montgomery has won numerous awards from ACI-NA and others, including the Skift Most Effective Brand on Social Media.
Currently, Montgomery is the Director of Public Relations, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), leading public relations, social media and media events for the nation’s second-busiest airport during the simultaneous challenges of a massive $14 billion modernization program and the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I have had the good fortune of representing two of the finest airports in this country, in my opinion,” Montgomery said. “If something you do doesn’t make you sit for a second and marvel at where you are and how you got there, it’s not the right place for you and airports make me feel like that all the time; I know I’m in the right place.”
