Awards and Recognition
We not only move individuals from place-to-place, but we move them by providing a memorable, positive travel experience. This speaks to customer service, as well as the cleanliness, safety, and efficiency of our facilities. We help businesses meet their objectives by affording them efficient, cost-effective, and convenient travel routes, while also offering facilities for tenants and vendors. We help our industry advance by actively participating in development of new equipment, processes and technology, as well as stimulate economic opportunity and growth for the communities in our region.
We work hard to recognize and appreciate our employees through a variety of ways, including the below award programs.
The Plane Awesome Award
This award, retired in October 2023, was presented to an individual or company operating within RNO celebrating outstanding service to our passengers and airport. The past recipients excelled in various aspects, such as building strong customer relationships, proactively understanding customer needs, effectively managing expectations, and fostering collaboration among colleagues and airport stakeholders. Their dedication enhanced the passenger experience at our airport, making them a deserving winner.
We congratulate all of the previous winners for their extraordinary service to RNO.
Congratulations Siaosi!
- Siaosi Tuifua Afu, McCarthy Building Companies, Inc, 2022
- RNO Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 2021
- Robert W. Arroyo, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 2020
- Jordan Ruiz and Blanca Rivera, McDonald’s, 2020
- Maryknoll Clark and Irish Bernardo, Avis Car Rental, 2019
- Melissa Farnsworth and Don Clark, Southwest Airlines, 2018
- David Apkarian, American Airlines, 2017
- Wes Daniels, Prologis, 2017
THRIVE Awards
The Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority encompasses a culture of teamwork, honesty, respect, innovation and excellence. This THRIVE culture is part of what we do every day, and employees are recognized for their dedication to our values through the RTAA THRIVE awards.
As part of our THRIVE awards, each year a RTAA employee is awarded with the President/CEO “We Move You” award. Recipients include:
- George Lanyon, 2022
- Annie Turner, 2021
- Shawna Carpenter, 2020
- Airport Duty Managers, 2019
- Airfield Team, 2018
- Lissa Butterfield, 2017
- Loretta McNabb, 2016
- Ted Ohm, 2015
- Rick miller, 2014
- Trish Tucker, 2013
- Julie Sternberg, 2012
- Aaron Wolfe-Payton, 2011
Feedback from Our Passengers
In a recent survey sent to our newsletter subscribers, they had the following to say about RNO.
“Coming into this airport is like coming home. You have the shops, the coffee places, the wonderful signs. Your people are friendly and helpful. Keep that feeling.” – Cathy
“I love using RNO because it has retained its friendly hometown quality though it has grown so much over the years. It remains my favorite airport ever. And flights are usually on time!” – Lisa
“I really appreciate the very helpful employees. Of all the airports I’ve been to, Reno is the easiest and most comfortable for me.” – Stephanie
The heart of this positive feedback are the airport employees and tenants, who are dedicated to providing the best first and last impression of our region.
