Aviation Pros to Know September 2025

Brittany Gudex has been hired as the new air service and business development manager at Appleton International Airport.

In her new role, Gudex will oversee efforts to expand the airport’s revenue streams and handle outreach in the community. She will be responsible for developing new air service destinations from Appleton (ATW) and guiding economic development on airport-owned properties.

Prior to this appointment, Gudex spent approximately 15 years working in the automotive and powersports industries. According to her LinkedIn profile, she has held leadership roles in those sectors. Her educational background is not detailed in the announcement.

Lisa Robert has been named Chief Executive Officer at RS&H.

In this capacity, Robert will lead the company’s strategic direction and oversee its operations, building on past growth efforts and guiding future initiatives.

Before this appointment, Robert served as Chief Operating Officer of RS&H. She joined the company in 2010 and has led large, transformative initiatives within the firm. Robert is a licensed professional engineer and is active in professional organizations including ACEC and ARTBA.

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Dr. Kanama M. Bivins has been appointed Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at the Norfolk Airport Authority.

In her new role, Bivins will lead the authority’s financial operations, supervise strategic financial planning, and ensure the fiscal stability of the organization. She will also support the airport’s infrastructure development and growth in passenger volume.

Before joining the Norfolk Airport Authority, Bivins served as Chief Financial Officer and Acting Associate Director at NASA’s Langley Research Center. She has held senior financial leadership positions within the Department of the Navy and as a financial manager in the U.S. Air Force. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Maryland, a Master of Business Administration from Saint Leo University, and a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership from Regent University.

Justin Wortman has been named Associate Vice President and Senior Project Director, Aviation at RS&H.

In this role, Wortman will lead large-scale airport programs nationwide, providing oversight for planning, design management, and program delivery across RS&H’s aviation portfolio.

Before this appointment, Wortman accumulated over 20 years of experience in airport program leadership, working on major projects at airports such as Dallas/Fort Worth, San Francisco, Phoenix Sky Harbor, O’Hare, Washington Dulles, and LAX. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design (Architecture) from North Carolina State University and a Master of Architecture from the University of Southern California.

Donata Russell Ross is set to retire as Chief Executive Officer of Concessions International, LLC, and Nikki Tinsley Harland will succeed her as CEO.

In her new role, Harland will assume responsibility for leading the company’s operations, strategic direction, and oversight of its airport concessions business.

During her 42-year tenure at Concessions International, Ross has served in various leadership capacities and has led the company as CEO since 2013. Harland joins from Paradies Lagardère, where she served most recently as Chief Operating Officer and has accumulated over a decade of experience in the travel retail and concession sector.