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 recognized 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 20 years. He serves on the board for the Mesa Chamber of Commerce, Visit Mesa, East Valley Partnership and Tempe Tourism Board. Under O’Neill’s leadership Gateway Airport has experienced unprecedented recovery from the pandemic, setting records for five of the last seven months. In 2021, Gateway Airport recoreded its 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. O'Neill is an active member of AzAA, testifying in the Arizona legislature in support of AzAA issues, and encourages staff membership. Finally, O'Neill supports an internship with ASU Polytechnic and the Mesa Leadership Program as well as a just-announced partnership with Arizona State University on an airport student volunteer program.
Charlie McDermott, LEED AP was named 2022 Corporate Member of the Year. McDermott is the aviation planning manager at Dibble. In his 35 years working in the aviation consulting industry,McDermott 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. McDermott 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. Bimrose has worked for the city for over 24 years in public relations, capital management, design & construction, business office, directors office and human resources. Before joining the city she worked in private and non-profit organizations. Bimrose 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. Bimrose 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. Bimrose continues her work on the AzAA board now consistent with her tireless commitment to our industry.
AzAA was formed in 1979 to bring together the representatives of public and private airports and others interested in the general benefit of aviation to provide information, expertise and support to all those in Arizona’s aviation industry. Further, the association works to foster public recognition of airports and the airport executive profession, and to assist in the future development of air transportation in Arizona. For more information, visit azairports.org.
