The Airport Consultants Council (ACC) is pleased to announce the selection of San Diego County Regional Airport Authority (SDCRAA) President and CEO Thella Bowens as the recipient of the 2014 ACC Aviation Award of Excellence. The award will be presented on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 during the ACC Annual Conference & Exposition awards luncheon in Ft. Myers, Florida.
The ACC Aviation Award of Excellence is presented annually to honor the visionary and innovative contributions of an individual, group or organization that have advanced the airport and aviation industry and have served the general public
The lifetime achievements of the recipients are also taken into consideration.
Bowens was selected as the recipient of this award in recognition of her support of innovation in project delivery, sustainability and airport design, as witnessed by the award winning Terminal 2 "Green Build" program at San Diego International Airport; respectful partnership with the consultant community; and the grace, integrity, and commitment to success that has marked her unflappable leadership of SDCRAA and industry organizations.
"We are honored to present this award to Thella," said ACC President T.J. Schulz. "Her career as a public official in aviation is a strong example of productive collaboration with private industry and dedication to serving the good of both the local community and the industry at -large."
Bowens has over 25 years of experience as a leader in the aviation field. She spent seven years as director of aviation of the San Diego Unified Port district before planning and implementing the transfer of the airport to its role as an independent entity. Since 2003, she has served as president and CEO of SDCRAA, the owner and operator of San Diego International Airport which generates more than $9 billion annually in economic impact for the region. Bowens also serves on a number of regional boards, including, but not limited to, the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to her time in San Diego, Bowens served as the deputy executive director of the Kansas City Aviation Department and budget administrator for Dallas/Ft. Worth International Airport. Bowens has held a number of prestigious industry positions. She is the current president of the California Airports Council Board of Directors, a member of the World Governing Board of Airports Council International (ACI), and a member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE)Policy Review Committee.
