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2024 Employee Recognition Award Nominees and Recipients

I am pleased to announce the 2024 Employee Recognition Award Nominees and Recipients. This year, we received a total of 72[1] nominations across nine award categories: (1) William R. O’Brien Employee of the Year; (2) Administrative Professional Excellence; (3) Care; (4) Equity; (5) Innovation Excellence; (6) Safety and Security Excellence; (7) Team Recognition; (8) Custodial Services Russell J. Mayweathers Award for Employee Excellence; and (9) Skilled Trades Employee of the Year Award.

The nominations reflect our Core Values to the fullest and a true commitment to excellence, and I am incredibly proud of our SFO team. Selection is never easy, and I want to sincerely thank this year’s Nomination Review Committee, who thoughtfully reviewed each nomination and provided recommendations to our leadership team.

Below you will find the 2024 Award Nominees and Recipients for each award category. Again, warmest congratulations to you all on your well-deserved recognition!

 

2024 William R. O'Brien Employee of the Year Award for Employee Excellence

Every year, an Airport employee is honored for their exemplary contributions to the San Francisco Airport Commission and for demonstrating outstanding performance and/or services beyond the call of duty. This year, sixteen (16) individuals were nominated for this award:

  • Alex Tsai, People, Performance & Development
  • Alice Un, Accounting
  • Andrea Caporale, People, Performance & Development
  • Bernardo Baba, Electric Shop
  • Briana Zhen, Environmental Operations
  • Charles Schuler, Marketing and Communications
  • Christopher Birch, Customer Care
  • Donna Yurgeles, Communications Center
  • Eddie Lu, Information Technology and Telecommunications
  • Kyle Hill, People, Performance & Development
  • Maria Buyco, Landside Operations
  • Michelle Hu, Accounting
  • Michelle Tripp, Airside Operations
  • Teresa Tan, Accounting
  • Tiffany Chintanakochapak, Airport Integrated Operations Center
  • Tiffany Ip, Engineering
     

This year’s recipient of the William R. O’Brien Award is Eddie Lu.

 

2024 Administrative Professional Excellence Award

The Administrative Professional Excellence Award recognizes outstanding administrative secretarial and/or clerical support demonstrating substantial contributions in the following areas: consistently exceeds expectations by performing at a high level above and beyond general job requirements; takes initiative to enhance quality and efficiency of administrative processes and systems; proactively addresses issues and demonstrates resourcefulness and sound judgement in problem solving; and fosters collaboration, positive communication, and teamwork amongst own team and across all Airport divisions. This year, seven (7) individuals and one (1) team were nominated for this award:

  • Betty Soo Hoo, Director’s Office
  • Erika Vargas, Strategy and Social Impact
  • Karen Ng, Chief External Affairs Officer
  • Kimberly Martin, Safety and Security Management Office
  • Mintong Chen, Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITT)
  • Nicholas Lewis, Airport Integrated Operations Center (AIOC)
  • People, Performance & Development (PPD) Administrative Team: Ana Maria Florentino, Charmian Desales-Ablang, Peter Schmid, Vanessa Parungao
  • Vince Vallejo, Safety and Security Administrative Programs
     

This year’s recipient of the Administrative Professional Excellence Award is Betty Soo Hoo.

 

2024 Care Award

The Care Award recognizes outstanding efforts to promote the well-being of the Airport’s guests, tenants, community, and/or other Airport employees. This year, five (5) individuals and seven (7) teams were nominated for this award:

  • C3C Project Delivery Partners: Claudia Luquin, Jacob Ehrenberg, Judi Mosqueda, Trudy Homer
    Claire Tsai, Museum
  • Clipper BayPass: Abubaker Azam, Alex Cheung, Analyn Tam, Andrea Caporale, Andrew Angeles, Annie Chung, Bebe Leon. Brian Coffman, Carol Liu, Cathrine Cole, Charles Schuler, Cynthia Avakian, Eva Cheong, Grier Mathews, Jeffery DelRio, Julie Viet, Monica Baranovsky, Ray Ho, Robin Brown. Soniya Rajwani, Stephanie Dea, Sumy Nair, Teresa Tan, Teresa Whinery, William Wu, Yvette Gamble
    David Ong, Noise Monitoring
  • GoSFO2 Vallejo Line Team: Aaron Ng, Abubaker Azam, Adam Gubser, Alex Mann, Andrew Abou Jaoude, Andrew Angeles, Annie Chung, Antonio Carcellar, April Newell, Beaver Yldefonzo, Brandan Ratmansky, Buddy Carranceja, Carlos Zabat, Carol Liu, Charles Schuler, Christopher Birch, Chris Donnelly, Cindy Garcia, Claudia Hofmann, Connie Woo, Corina Monzón, Dana Glaraga, Derek Wong, Diana Chow, Edwina Duenas, Erica Cline, Erika Vargas, Eugene Chang, Eva Cheong, Gina Priest, Grier Mathews, Hilary LaRowe Medeiros, Humberto DeAlba, Jason Santos, Javad Hadizadeh, Jeffery DelRio, Jennifer Kazarian, Jerrica Hau, Jorge Garciagodos, Julie Viet, Katherine Biesty, Kevin Murray, Larry Phan, Martin Munoz, Matthew McCormick, Natalie Hoffmeister, Nora Chin, Olga Elizalde, Pete McDonagh, Queena Lu, Rita Ohaya, Ronald Perez, Roony Ruiz, Sean Murphy, Seth Morgan, Soniya Rajwani, Stephanie Francisco, Steve Lash, Suzanne Lau, Teresa Whinery, Tiffany Yee, Yiquan (Edmund) Xiao, Zeke Zamora
  • ITT CrowdStrike Incident Response: Adnan Mirza, Ahmad Wahidy, Alex Aquino, Ana Zivanovic, Anita Zhen, Anthony Wong, Aqsa Noreen, Audie Gaspar, Benson Liu, Bobby Singh, Braydon Hart, Christine Valerio, David Chow, David Morales, Deidra-Mae Tandoc, Earl Begley, Eddie Lu, Elson Jian, Eion Manering, Eric Xu, Ethan Sue, Giselle Marston, Gordon Ly, Guy Clarke Jr., Hazel Yu, Hector Kahn, Humphrey Loe, Isabel Falcon, Iyad Hindiyeh, Jiajie He, Joaquin Warren, John Lertora, Johnathan Kaplan, Joseline Saucedo, Joseph Chang, Kevin Macayan, Khwaja Abdur Rehman, Kwok Chan, Marco Del Grosso, Maria Manuel, Marilyn Pagan, Max Wheatly, Melvin Jefferson, Michael Ordona, Mintong Chen, Nathan Sherman, Neetu Bhatia, Nina Bachvarova, Pedro Garate, Peter Yu, Reginald Chow, Rene Leedeman, Robert Viceral, Roberto Aguilar, Rodrigo Lamas, Ronald Thai, Shoaib Shaikh, Sophia Hom, Su Sandi, Thant Hein, Vivian Fong, Zack Kremnitser
  • Lisa Bronson, Safety, Health & Compliance
  • Maryam Khatoon, People, Performance & Development
  • Rick Thall, Project Management
  • Sensory Room Team: Alejandro Pimentel, Alice Lau, Audrey Lawarence, Brian Horne, Christopher Birch, Connie Woo, Denise Baylor, Doug Yakel, Erica Cline, Farrah Young, Grier Mathews, Jacob Ehrenberg, Jose Lemus, Josep Rosson, Kai Caemmerer, Katherine Biesty, Keith Chow, Ken Chung, Kris Opbroek, Kristen Allen, Lydia Du, Lisa Trokic, Peter Domingo, Ryan Louie, Sherry Phun, Soniya Rajwani, Stephanie Francisco
  • SFO Mail Services Team: Alice Talley, Kim Soo
  • Talent Mobility: Alfredo Rivas, Andi Aliko, Francesca Garciagodos, Gabriella Rodriguez, Ignacio Montorio, Joachim Perlas, Maryam Khatoon, Nicholas Winn
     

This year’s recipient of the Care Award is the Sensory Room Team.

 

2024 Equity Award

The Equity Award recognizes exceptional contributions to promoting workplace inclusion, respect, and belonging; significant efforts to build an antiracist workplace; or successful implementation of an initiative, program, or policy designed to improve equitable outcomes for all. This year, two (2) individuals and three (3) teams were nominated for this award:

  • Charles Balderama Sanchez, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Charles Schuler, Marketing and Communications
  • Plane Talk: Anielka Ruiz, Courtney Carroux, Cynthia Avakian, Diane Tong, Dyanna Volek, Eddy Chan, Enkhtuya Bliss, Giselle Marson, Janelle Dung-Sapantay, Kathy Mark, Kyle Hill, Leroy Sisneros, Linda Hui, Meranda Hui, Michael Hayat, Michele Charles, Pedro Ortiz, Raunak Tuladhar, Richard O’Neal, Rosemary Arguello-Martinez, Sarah Li, Stephanie Francisco, Stephen Meder, Suki Ho, Timothy Carlisle, Viviana Soper, Will Gagen
  • Strategy and Social Impact Team: Andrew Abou Jaoude, Angelo Valero, Barbara Spears, Bill Wong, Charito (Cheri) Luz, Colette Lam, Corina Monzón, David Vallecillo, Edwin Suriano, Enrique Calvo,  Gabriella Rodriguez, Hilary LaRowe Medeiros, Ignacio Montorio, Jazmin Williams, Jerrica Hau, Kevin Murray, Linda Rosa, Mallika Hari, Margaret Nyakio,  Olga Elizalde, Omorede (Rico) Hamilton, Queena Lu, Rita Ohaya, Saleem Grey, Stephanie Francisco, Tabitha Shikuku, Tahseen Chowdhury, Tiffany Yee
  • Talent Mobility Team: Alfredo Rivas, Andi Aliko, Francesca Garciagodos, Gabriella Rodriguez, Ignacio Montorio, Joachim Perlas, Maryam Khatoon, Nicholas Winn
     

This year’s recipient of the Equity Award is the Talent Mobility Team.

 

2024 Innovation Excellence Award

The Innovation Excellence Award recognizes employees who have developed and successfully implemented an innovative idea resulting in operational improvements, minimized resources usage, and/or an enhanced airport experience. This year, two (2) individuals and twelve (12) teams were nominated for this award:

  • AIOC T-360 Team: Adrian Brussolo, Ana Zivanovic, Andrea Gomez, Ara Balian, Brian Horne, Cathlena Morrison, Cathy Busby, Dushyant Singh, Eunice Au-Yeung, Humphery Loe, Iyad Hindiyeh, JC Danganan, Katie Lei, Lindsay Beavers, Maria Takapu, Martin Taras
  • Air Traffic Control Tower - Cabin HVAC Innovation and Repair Team: Abram Mission, Fernando Gaberial, John Augustin Toledo, Les Collins, Matthew Santelises, Reynold Cabral, Robin Lui, Shayna Lee
  • Airfield Parking Coalition Team: Cherie Gubisch, Daryl Dris, Ed Barnes, Enrique Guadiamos, Luis Salvador, Mike Adams, Natalie Hoffmeister, Neil Weingarten, Stephen Meder, Suki Ho
  • Briana Zhen, Environmental Operations
  • Candidate Journey Map Project Team: Alex Tsai. Charlene Cun, Cynthia Maltez, Iris Goh, Marilú Rincón, Nina Huey, Rie Butler, Sangeeta Bali, Vicky Lee, Yvette Gamble
  • Cipher Codes Team: Dushyant Singh, Eric Beachum, Eric Xu, Humphrey Loe, Keaboka Molwane, Neetu Bhatia, Roberto Aguilar, Zack Kremnitser
  • Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Team: Aric Lang, Daisy Lewis, Guy Michael, Mitchell Durner
    Guy Michael, Infrastructure Information Management
  • Information Technology and Telecommunications (ITT) Team: Mubin Bajighar, Neetu Bhatia, Nicholas Lewis, Nicholas Persky, Paul Drury, Ray Ricardo, Robin Gottschall, Thant Hein, Tiffany Chintanakochapak, Tim Moore, Tom Colosi, Veronica Oldenberg
    Lindsay Beavers and Andrea Gomez, Airport Integrated Operations Center
  • SFO’s Inaugural Tech Day Team: Abedoon Jamal, Adam Gubser, Adrian Parr, Alaister Fullerton, Alejandro Pimentel, Alfy Wong, Ana Zivanovic, Anthony Masoli, Anthony Yambao, Brian Johnson, Christine Valerio, Clarissa Mamaril, Daniela Escoto, David Morales, David Sanchez, Deidra-Mae Tandoc, Diana Tsui, Doug Yakel, Edwin Corona, Erik Kessler, Erika Vargas, Erin Cooke, Ethan Sue, Gabriel Phung, Giselle Marston, Gloria Portillo, Guy Clarke, Isaac Potter, Iyad Hindiyeh, James Win, John Buse, Jonathan Kaplan, Joseline Saucedo, Judi Mosqueda, Katherine Biesty, Kelly McCray, Kenneth Fung, Martin Taras, Matt Bufka, Maurice O’Grady, Michael Lynch, Michael Seals, Murali Nanduri, Nancy Byun-Riedel, Neetu Bhatia, Nina Bachvarova, Pratik Pramanik, Qi Chang Huang, Queena Lu, Ramiro Castillo, Ray Ricardo, Reginald Chow, Ricky Chen, Rodrigo Lamas, Rudy Ragan, Sandy Kwan, Sanjay Mehta, Sean Kerrisk, Sofia Barraza, Soniya Rajwani, Sophia Hom, Stephanie Dea, Steven Doyle, Sung Kim, Tabitha Shikuku, Thant Hein, Vlad Oshmansky, William Ford, Win Htaik
  • SFOCite Development Team: Abubaker Azam, Annie Chung, Carol Liu, Cassandra Tou, Eric Xu, Faye Bremer, Humphrey Loe, Jack Chen, Keith Aganon, Maria Buyco, Martin Taras, Michael White, Neetu Bhatia, Radhika Madaan, Ricky San, Roberto Aguilar, Sanjay Mehta, Shali Sasidharan, Thant Hein, Zack Kremnitser
  • Special Events Request Form Team: Ana Zivanovic, Aqsa Noreen, Assem Bettaibi, Catherine Cole, Cathlena Morrison, Crystal Davis, Gordon Ly
  • Wayfinding Team: Anthony Nguyen, Bob Rotiski, Briana Zhen, Briana Zhen, Christopher Birch, Denise Baylor, Diana Tsui, Erica Cline, Erin Cooke, Eva Cheong, Ho-Yin Ko, Humphrey Loe, Jacob Ehrenberg, Jennifer Acton, Joe Coric, Julie Delos Santos, Keith Chow, Ken Chung, Leroy Sisneros, Lidia Morales, Lisa Lin, Lydia Du, Maria Donnelly, Michael Lynch, Michael Watkins, Peter Domingo, Robert Cavagnaro, Sarah Scheidt, Stephanie Francisco, Steve Shea, Veronica Oldenberg, Warren Donald
     

This year’s recipient of the Innovation Excellence Award is the GIS Team.

 

2024 Safety and Security Excellence Award

In keeping with SFO’s Core Values, the Safety and Security Excellence Award recognizes an employee or team of employees for their outstanding efforts in promoting safety and security at SFO - displaying exemplary efforts that have enhanced safety and security for Airport employees; exemplary efforts that have enhanced safety and security for the traveling public; and/or improvement in methods resulting in overall enhancement of our safety and security culture. This year, two (2) individuals and seven (7) teams were nominated for this award:

  • Cheryl Choi, Facilities Management
  • Chester Nares, Mechanical Maintenance
  • Emergency Management Team: Alice Hsieh, Anthony Perez, Charito (Cheri) Luz, Jeff Airth, Larry Mares
  • Ground Support Equipment Safety Inspection Program (GSESIP) Team: Kristine Truong, Douglas Mairena, Glenn Brotman, Henry Choy, Henry Hoshii, Hugo Rodriguez, Jeffery Chin, Joseph Petrella, Kevin Delee, Michael Chew, Michael McCaffery, Niam Algaheim, Simon Tang, Victor Guerrero
  • Ground Transportation Team: Faye Bremer, Jack Chen, Michael White, Ricky San, Robert (Keith) Aganon
  • HAZMAT Cleanup Team: Brian Kuhn, Damian Davis, Ken Chung, Liborio Yap, Sarah Scheidt
  • Safety and Compliance Team: Anthony Mickens, Daryl Dris, Steven Meder, Suki Ho
  • Security Access Office Team: Ace Conanan, Alyssa Jones-Garner, Darren Ash, Elizar Imperial, Elliot Ten, Emma Pulu, Eugene Hsin, Hue Yang, Jeanette Constanza, Jonathan Sy, Keaboka Molwane, Kit Andrade, Lan Tan, Lesly Santana, Maria Teresa Joy Otanes O'Neill, Marites Asido, Michele Parente, Pamela Tillery, Rose David, Sabrina Lemalu, Zina Booker
  • Security Operations Center (SOC) Team: Alvin Deo, Ashley Kualii, Brian Zhou, Chris Kanemori, Christina Aatlo, Daisy Espiritu, Donald Wang, Eddy Chan, Hepson Chau, Jacqueline De Leon, John Aclado, Katherine Fastidio, Lisa Trokic, Max Slepnyov, Merilyn Chang, Oscar Garcia, Paolo Cardenas, Patrick Frogge, Rosemary Arguello-Martinez, Tony Siew, Wayne Wong
     

This year’s recipient of the Safety and Security Excellence Award is the Emergency Management Team.

 

2024 Team Recognition Award for Outstanding Team Performance

Since 2001, teams of employees have been carefully selected for the Team Recognition Award for Outstanding Team Performance based on exemplary efforts to complete a project or significant task that advances the Airport’s Strategic Goals and/or Mission while demonstrating inclusive practices to foster teamwork, including open communication, trust, cooperation, and respect. This year, eight (8) teams were nominated for this award:

  • 606 Central Receiving/682 Skills Trade Warehouses Team: Carlo Caparaz, Chris Lee, Dave De La Rosa, Frank Hansen, James Weston II, Jason Tsai, Joaquin Salazar, Lichun Feng, Thomas Mahley
  • Accounting General Ledger Team: Candice Leung, Christina Zhou, Jing Xue, Qi Liu, Shelly Shou, Teresa Tan
    Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) Transition Team: Aaron Craig, Art Castro, Brian Kuhn, David Mondani, Glen Price, Jennifer Acton, John Copello, Kris Nipple, Liborio Yap, Patrick D’Arcy, Raul Menjivar, Sarah Scheidt, Stephen Graham, William Jones
  • Airport Integrated Operations Center (AIOC)/T-360 Team: Adrian Brussolo, Allyson Castro, Andrea Gomez, Ara Balian, Brian Horne, Carole Feger, Cathlena Morrison, Cathy Busby, Chris Spain, JC Danganan, Josh McMeechan, Katie Lei, Leo Iniguez, Lindsay Beavers, Maria Takapu, Michelle Tripp, Nacy Byun Riedel, Nicholas Lewis, Nicholas Persky, Peyton Parrish, Robin Gottschall, Theo Meek, Tiffany Chintanakochapak, Tim Moore, Tom Colosi
  • EXPO24 Planning Team: Alfredo Rivas, Cynthia Maltez, Francesca Garciagodos, Joachim Perlas, Kyle Hill, Maryam Khatoon, Olivia Quiñonez
  • Facilities Runway/Taxiway Repair Team: Kevin Kyan, Sean Cleary, Vincente De Ara Ibarra
  • SFO BayPass Program Team: Abubaker Azam, Alex Cheung, Analyn Tam, Andrea Caporale, Andrew Angeles, Annie Chung, Bebe Leon. Brian Coffman, Carol Liu, Cathrine Cole, Charles Schuler, Cynthia Avakian, Eva Cheong, Grier Mathews, Jeffery DelRio, Julie Viet, Monica Baranovsky, Ray Ho, Robin Brown. Soniya Rajwani, Stephanie Dea, Sumy Nair, Teresa Tan, Teresa Whinery, William Wu, Yvette Gamble
  • SFO Museum Team: Aaron Cope, Alisa Tsuji, Andrew Green, Bao Li, Chad Anderson, Christopher Smith, Claire Tsai, Connie Wood, Daniel Calderon, Debbie Khan, Dennis Sharp, Duma Mock, Gabriel Phung, Jamie O’Keefe, Jason McInnis, Jennifer McCabe, Jesse Gidcumb, Jessica Quant, Jon Chester, Julie Takata, Kai Caemmerer, Kelvin Godshall, Kenneth Yazzie, Kristina Singleton, Michael Kreher, Nicole Mullen, Patrick Gin, Paul Porambo, Roman Korolev, Sam Robbins, Sam Scott, Sandy Kwan, Sara Wagnor, Tomohiko Aono, Tyler Ormsby, Vincent Balgemino
     

This year, two teams will receive this award. Recipients of the SFO Team Recognition Award are the EXPO24 Planning Team and SFO BayPass Program Team.

 

2024 Russell J. Mayweathers Memorial Award for Employee Excellence

The Russell J. Mayweathers Award for Employee Excellence is presented annually by the Airport’s Custodial Section to recognize a custodial employee who best exhibits the qualities of dedication, service, and teamwork that were exemplified by Custodial Supervisor Russell J. Mayweathers (1917-1996).

This year’s recipient of the Russell J. Mayweathers Award is Custodian Qi Yi (Julianna) Yu.

 

2024 Skilled Trades Employee of the Year

The Facilities Skilled Trades Award is presented annually by the Airport's Facilities Division to recognize a Skilled Trades team member who demonstrates outstanding performance while exemplifying the Airport's Core Values.

This year’s recipient of the Skilled Trades Employee of the Year Award is Juan Gonzalez from the Paint Shop.