New Members of Executive Team will Help Ensure Operational Excellence and Enhanced Passenger Service

(October 13, 2023) – The Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Aviation Administration announces the recent appointment of two distinguished leaders to its executive team. Keiva Rodriques has been appointed Chief Operating Officer for the administration, and Diana Leon Brown has been named Chief of Staff. The additions are part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to provide exceptional service and enhance the passenger experience. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Keiva and Diana to our executive team,” said Ricky Smith, Executive Director/CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration. “Their proven leadership will play a vital role in the continued growth and success of our airports. We look forward to their work on behalf of our customers and their valuable contributions in shaping the future of the Maryland Aviation Administration.”

Chief Operating Officer Rodriques is responsible for providing guidance and management for internal affairs related to the Maryland Aviation Administration. Ms. Rodriques is a seasoned management and engineering professional with more than 20 years of experience in government and the private sector. Since 2019, she served as the agency’s Deputy Chief Engineer in the Division of Planning and Engineering. In that role, she oversaw the management of $1.5 billion in capital programs and projects at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall and Martin State airports.

Prior to joining the Maryland Aviation Administration, Ms. Rodriques worked as a consultant for the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Aviation Administration. providing strategic planning and project management. Ms. Rodriques holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Baltimore. She is a licensed Professional Engineer, a Project Management Professional, a Certified Construction Manager and a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives.

Chief of Staff Brown is responsible for guiding Maryland Aviation Administration external affairs. Ms. Brown is an executive with more than 20 years of experience in strategic partnerships, advocacy, external relations and program management, with a proven ability to create and maintain strong relationships with government and private-sector organizations.

Her career includes service as Director of Strategic Partnerships for the Prince George’s County Executive, Senior Administrative Officer with Broward County Board of County Commissioners and Executive Director for the Artem Leadership Institute. She held leadership roles with the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington, the Haitian Diaspora Federation and the Black Student Fund.

Ms. Brown earned an undergraduate degree in Economics from Harvard University, a Master’s degree in Statistics and a Master’s of Business Administration in International Business and Finance from George Washington University School of Business. She serves on the board of the Congressional Award Foundation, Vital Voices and the Pull-up Fund. Ms. Brown has received several recognitions including honors from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Maryland Legislative Caucus.

The Maryland Aviation Administration fosters the vitality of aviation statewide and promotes safe and efficient operations, economic viability and environmental stewardship. Responsible for the operation of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport and Martin State Airport, the agency provides convenient facilities and excellent customer service, and develops enhanced domestic and international passenger and cargo opportunities.

Airport wins $2,500 in Cintas products and services

CINCINNATI — September 28, 2023 — Ready™ to fly. Cintas Corporation (NASDAQ: CTAS), is proud to name the Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport the winner of the 2023 America’s Best Restroom® contest. As this year’s winner, the BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport will get to properly crown their restrooms with prizes from Cintas. This includes a Cintas UltraClean® restroom cleaning service and $2,500 in Cintas products and services for restroom cleaning or facility management to keep their restrooms Ready for the Workday®, along with a coveted spot in the America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame.

The newly constructed restrooms at BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport maximize occupant capacity while enhancing the overall passenger experience. The entrance welcomes travelers with an aesthetic mural and seating area while they wait for their companions. The new restrooms feature bright, spacious, fully enclosed stalls for privacy, touchless fixtures and individual lactation, adult changing and family assist rooms. Each restroom features a state-of-the-art smart restroom system that integrates with color-changing, LED stall occupancy lights and digital signage at the restroom entrances showing current availability. The smart restroom system also provides real-time inventory tracking and usage counts for custodial services.

“We’re honored to be recognized by Cintas and contest voters for our commitment to providing a positive passenger experience and outstanding facilities,” said Ricky Smith, Executive Director/CEO of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. “Passengers rank restrooms as an airport’s number one amenity. That’s why we work so hard to provide creative, clean and inviting restrooms to make travel more enjoyable.”

In its 22nd year, the America’s Best Restroom contest, hosted by Cintas, celebrates innovative and hygienic public restrooms across the country. The BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport was one of 10 finalists that were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. The public had the opportunity to vote for the following 10 finalists (in alphabetical order) between July 11th and August 11th at bestrestroom.com/us/:

• Baltimore/Washington (BWI) Thurgood Marshall Airport (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Clear Lake and Des Moines River Safety Rest Areas (Jackson, Minnesota)
• Drusie & Darr (Nashville, Tennessee)
• El Rio (San Francisco, California)
• Frying Pan (New York, New York)
• Hell ‘n Blazes Brewing Company (Melbourne, Florida)
• Juban’s Creole Restaurant (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)
• Little America (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Rabbit Hole (Greenville, South Carolina)
• Snowbasin Resort (Huntsville, Utah)
  

“The state of their public restroom can have large impact on the public’s perception of a business,” said Julia Walsh, Marketing Manager, Cintas. “The BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport restrooms are bright and airy and the embodiment of clean, with natural light and room for luggage. We’re proud to crown them as America’s Best Restroom.”

By Joseph Ilardi – Digital Producer, Baltimore Business Journal

Sep 26, 2023

In the most hustling, most bustling airport day since 2019, BWI Airport logged 34,745 security screenings on Friday, the highest total since before the pandemic. As leisure travel booms, BWI’s airline seat capacity is 17% higher now than at the same time last year, and 3% higher than this time in 2019 before the world shut down, a spokesman for the airport said. Thankfully, travelers at BWI have shorter security waits than at most large airports, even as airlines add more capacity for warmer locations.