2021
DIRECTOR OF THE YEAR SMALL AIRPORTS
A MAN OF SERVICE Colleagues Say Rick Tucker Is Unwavering In His Commitment To His Airport, Community and Broader Industry BY SHAFER ROSS AND CAROL WARD Rick Tucker has been running the Port of Huntsville for more than a quarter century. He’s clearly enmeshed in the community, working in collaboration with local businesses large and small to elevate the small city to compete on the global stage. Colleagues say his commitment to the airport and the city is extraordinary. Tucker is also active in advocating for airports on a state and national level. Several of his key staff have been there for decades, a fact that many say points to Tucker’s effectiveness as a leader. Here’s what a few prominent colleagues have to say.
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GREGG PARADIES President and CEO Paradies Lagardère
“We’ve worked with Rick for many years. He’s probably one of the longest-tenured airport directors in the country. He’s very approachable and always has been. Even though he’s been CEO for 27 years he’s always been the person where we can pick up the phone and speak at a moment’s notice. He’s a very good partner. We’ve been through many cycles with Rick with 9/11, the Great Recession and most recently Covid. During the good times he’s been a great partner and during the worst of times he’s been a great partner. That’s not always the rule [in the industry]. Rick has always had a strong team around him that we work with, and he’s able to delegate well. The sign of a great leader is someone who builds a strong team around them, and Rick has been able to do that.”
CANDACE MCGRAW CEO Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport
“When I was chair of ACI, he was chair of the U.S. Policy Council. He was masterful on the U.S. Policy Council. He had a very good relationship with his senator and was very helpful, publicly and privately, driving some of the discussions and trying to drive particular issues throughout the U.S. Policy Council. Rick is a man of integrity. He only speaks when he has something worthwhile to say, which is unique. He’s an active listener, so he will listen, he processes and he will speak. As a consequence, people always listen to what he has to say because it’s worthwhile. It’s well thought out and useful to the discussion.”