Episode 129: The Value of Receiving Criticism w/ Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge

Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, Executive Director at the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, on the Something Extra Podcast

How long does it take to change someone’s life? Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge would suggest you only need five seconds to do so. Acknowledging your humanity in leadership and remembering the people in your company are just like you could be the radical change you’re looking for in 2021. In our 129th episode Rhonda and Lisa discuss the beauty of being human, leading through turbulence, and much more!

Bio: Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge has been the Director of St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) since January 2010 as appointed by St. Louis City Mayor Francis Slay.

The Airport is the primary air carrier facility for the St. Louis region that serves nearly 16 million passengers annually. Ms. Hamm-Niebruegge manages 500 employees with revenues of more than 183 million dollars in 2019. She is also Chairwoman of the 17-member St. Louis Airport Commission.

Prior to STL, Ms. Hamm-Niebruegge logged over 25 years in aviation management positions with American Airlines, Trans World Airlines (TWA) and Ozark Air Lines; a majority of her career has been based in St. Louis, Missouri. Ms. Hamm-Niebruegge retired in 2009 as the Managing Director of American Airlines’ St. Louis operation, a position she held beginning in 2002. Before the American and TWA merger, she held the position of Vice President of TWA’s North American Operations, responsible for an $800 million budget encompassing 100 airports and 8,000 TWA employees.

Ms. Hamm-Niebruegge’s airline management resume began in 1984 as a customer service agent for Ozark Airlines in New York City. Ozark’s merger with TWA brought her to the St. Louis hub where she took on roles of Supervisor Administration, Ramp Supervisor, Manager Passenger Services and ultimately into executive-level operational management positions.

Ms. Hamm-Niebruegge currently serves as chairperson on the Airport Oversight Committee of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, a research program supported by the FAA. She formerly served on the National Freight Advisory Committee, an advisory board serving the U.S. Department of Transportation. She is currently serving as chair of the board of Christian Hospital (BJC HealthCare). She is a board member for several other organizations, including the St. Louis Regional Chamber, the International Women’s Forum, Ranken Technical College Board, and the St. Louis Civic Pride Foundation. She’s the former Chairperson of the Advisory Board of John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University and a past President of the Board Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis

Rhonda’s Something Extra: Don’t forget that you’re human and the people in your company are just like you. Make sure you recognize every level of the organization and take those five extra seconds to go out of your way to thank the individuals for the role that they play in your company.

Links and Mentions: 
St. Louis Lambert International Airport

Credits:
– Lisa Nichols, Host
– Scott Crosby, Executive Producer
– Daniel Williams, Recording Engineer

LISTEN ON: