2006 Employee of the Year Award
 
Mario Ellis
Airport Agent

Terminal Operations - Miami-Dade Aviation Department
 
In February 2006, Mr. Ellis went above and beyond the call of duty in assisting a 16-year-old stranded deaf-mute passenger who had flown in from Anchorage, Alaska and was trying to get to his grandfather's home in North Port, Florida. Mr. Ellis personally drove him to the Greyhound bus station, paid for his ticket with his own money, and phoned the boy's grandfather several times to reassure him he would soon arrive safely.

Carlos Villagra
Landside Officer 1

Rolando Barreto
Landside Officer 1

Landside Operations - Miami-Dade Aviation Department

Through caring and persistence, assisted two visually impaired customers having difficulty getting transportation.

Jeffrey Carter 
Store Attendant 

Aaron Paul 
Store Manager

California Pizza Kitchen - HMS-Host

Went to great lengths to return lost wallet.

Lee Harvey
Ticket Agent

American Airlines

Made extraordinary efforts to assist three passengers whose vacation was ruined by the death of their young relative. In their words, "We will never forget MIA.”

Linnette Christian
Fleet Service Clerk

American Airlines

While on her break, encountered mother and disabled child walking long distance to gate; escorted mother to gate and carried child on her back…

Mario R. Baro
Assistant Manager

Airport Parking Associates

Went out of his way to contact passengers after they lost important documents.

Geneva Hairs
Airport Specialist

Patricia Cardenas
Airport Agent

Terminal Operations - Miami-Dade Aviation Department

With caring and compassion, Geneva Hairs and Patricia Cardenas assisted an elderly disoriented passenger; taking him to stay at the home of a friend, going as far as laundering his clothes. They personify the concept of “above and beyond the call of duty.”

Jessie Muino
Landside Operations Equipment Specialist

Landside Operations - Miami-Dade Aviation Department
 
Assisted two airport patrons whose car stalled on the upper drive. He towed them to a remote area and did not leave their side until additional help arrived.

Mark Sepulveda
Superintendent

Facilities Maintenance - Miami-Dade Aviation Department

Assisted two stranded passengers on the outskirts of the airport and drove them to the terminal to assure they would not miss their flight.

Geneva Hairs
Airport Specialist

Terminal Operations - Miami-Dade Aviation Department

Two-time Winner!

Went above the call of duty by going through the security check point at concourse H to purchase Cinnabons for a passenger and her young son after learning they had been in the terminal for sometime looking for the Cinnabon establishment at concourse E which had close down.

Ernesto Alonso
Airport Agent

Terminal Operations - Miami-Dade Aviation Department

“Kind” and “thoroughly efficient.” This is how a passenger recently described Ernie Alonso.  When the passenger lost his Blackberry in October, he was certain it was gone forever.  The last thing he expected was a call from his sister telling him that his Blackberry was in the Lost & Found office at MIA. Ernie’s careful sleuthing paid off, allowing the passenger to retrieve his Blackberry on his next trip to Miami.

Noel Reyes
Customer Service Attendant

Smarte Cart

While working the midnight shift, Noel Reyes found a passport, an ID and $341 in a Smarte Cart. He immediately went to the information counter to turn them in, but the counter was closed. He located an Aviation Security Agent and turned the items over to him. The passenger later came looking for his items and these were returned to him. Thanks to Noel’s persistence in finding an Aviation employee to give the items to, the passenger, despite the hour (midnight) was able to quickly retrieve his belongings.

Carlos Sanchez
Manager

Secure Wrap

Carlos Sanchez, Secure Wrap Manager, went beyond the scope of his duties to assist a passenger find her lost bag after her airline advised her that her luggage had been lost. Carlos went into a storage area where bags with no identification are placed and found the missing bags.