Airport Business - 40

UNDER

NIKKIE KENT

Executive Vice President, Mamava

W

hen Nikkie Kent isn't taking care of
her two children, both under the age of
five, she is an innovator in the airport customer
service experience industry trying to create
an easier world for on-the-go-mothers who
sometimes don't have a private,
clean, comfortable and dedicated
place to pump milk or breastfeed
their baby.
Kent is the executive vice
president for Mamava where
she is a voice and a leader for
mothers on-the-go. Kent's
personal experience of being a
traveling, working mom helped contribute to
the Mamava mobile app that helps mothers
find a dedicated lactation space. The app
not only finds the Mamava pod but helps to
unlock it and the smart platform designed for
a personalized experience, supportive content
and a way to provide feedback.
Kent and her team have a mission to
transform the culture around breastfeeding,
making it more accessible for every mother
regardless of her circumstances.

STEVEN KOSS, PE

S

"Traveling with a baby or just after having
a baby is difficult and every on-the-go
mother should have a choice, or option, of a
private place to go to breastfeed or to pump
breast milk," Kent said. "A place that is clean,
comfortable and accessible. It is not OK to sit
on the f loor of bathroom to make food for
your baby."
Kent and her team give airports an easy,
f lexible solution to provide dedicated space
for breastfeeding moms. Mamava's freestanding lactation suite was the first of its
kind, meeting a need for both airports and
passengers. Through her leadership, she has
supported the efforts of Mamava's entry into
53 airports, airline partnerships and mass transit
environments. This work is not only impacting
traveling passengers but for employees as well.
Kent was an advocate to the legislative
endorsement for the Friendly Airports for
Mothers Act (FAM Act), which Senator
Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) introduced and
got passed to ensure better accommodations
in large and medium size airports.
"I want to change the paradigm for the next

generation of moms so that they do not have to
have the same experience that I had. Having
a baby is hard enough, their breastfeeding
journey should be supported and celebrated,"
Kent said.
Alma Mater: University of Vermont
Favorite Aircraft: Boeing
Someone I look up to in industry: People who
create culture change and passenger experience.
Director of Aviation Gene Richards of Burlington
International Airport
Favorite thing about aviation: Many airports are
supporting traveling women and their families
Fun fact about myself: Division one athlete in
college-soccer
If I could change one thing about the aviation
industry: Every airport should have a Mamava
pod or dedicated lactation rooms to support
breastfeeding employees, passengers and their
families

www.AviationPros.com/21094053

Aviation Project Manager, Burns & McDonnell

teven Koss was handed an electrical circuit
building starter kit from his father when he
was a kid. As Koss grew older, he moved beyond
the simple starter kit to build his first computer.
He was hooked and knew that
electrical engineering was what
he wanted to do with his life.
Koss earned a bachelor's degree
as well as went on to get an MBA.
He took his aptitude for learning
and went into the aviation field
where he specializes in aircraft
parking layouts, preconditioned
air systems and automated docking
gudience systems. Koss currently works for
Burns & McDonnell as an aviation project
manager and senior electrical engineer.
"One of the coolest things about being in
the aviation field is being next to these big
aircraft and going into the hangers with this
big piece of machinery. It's not something that
everyone gets to see," Koss said.
Koss has a keen eye for detail and
dedication to learning the latest trends in the
industry. Koss was involved in two innovative

I want to also improve
customer experience while
being in the air. I think that
is the next step to help
provide even better customer
experience.
projects at Chicago O'Hare International
Airport (ORD) as project manager and lead
engineer. He was the project manager for
the installation of automated visual docking
guidance system (AVDGS) for an airline
partner. Koss is currently working as project
manager for a major expansion program at
Dulles International Airport.
Koss was the project manager and electrical
engineer responsible for upgrading the
electrical and mechanical infrastructure of an
maintenance ramp to expand its capabilities

40 \ AIRPORTBUSINESS / NOVEMBER 2019

and capacity. It is now the largest maintenance
ramp at O'Hare. The project helped reduce
emissions and noise at the airport with the
installation of the electric GSE.
For the advancement of airports, Koss
said, "I would like to see Wi-Fi on all flights.
This would be a great step for the passenger
experience. Having a good experience while
you are in the air can make a big difference.
By not having to disconnect during your flight
can really help further customer satisfaction."

Favorite Aircraft: Dreamliner 787
Someone I look up to in the industry: Dick
Cloud
Favorite thing about aviation: Being around the
big aircraft
Fun fact about myself: Taught self to play piano,
and can ride a unicycle

www.AviationPros.com/21094057
http://www.AviationPros.com/21094053 http://www.AviationPros.com/21094057
Airport Business

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