Airport Business - 54

UNDER

ADAM RAZAK, MSEE, PE, PM

S

eeing the impact that his work has on
one of the busiest airports in the world is
what Adam Razak, communications engineer
associate IV for Los Angeles World Airports
(LAWA), said he enjoys the most about his job.
"Most systems are networkbased and that's what I do every
day - support the network - and
that's what I enjoy, keeping
the systems up and running
and contributing to improving
our guests' experience at LAX
Airport," he said.
With 15 combined years in
the IT field, Razak has been in his role at
LAWA since January 2008. Most recently,
Razak served as the lead network engineer
for the LAX Terminal 1 Modernization
Program (T1MP). The four-year project
saw the overhaul of the aging LAX terminal
to improve guest experience and security.
Razak was responsible for in-house design,
configuration and commissioning of a new
network for the terminal and migrating the
existing network. The hard work paid off in

TYLER PITMAN

T

Communications Engineer Associate IV, Los Angeles World Airports
(LAWA)

Aviation is a very dynamic and
fast paced environment. There
is a lot to learn and I enjoy the
field work and meeting and
working with people in the
field.
the program being named the "best airport
concessions transformation" in the 2019
Excellence in Airport Concessions awards by
Airports Council International-North America.
Razak is now serving as the lead network
engineer for the Terminal 1.5 Modernization
Program (T1.5MP) that will build a connecting
structure between Terminals 1 and 2 at LAX,
further expanding the baggage claim areas.
Razak also teaches at the University of
California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Extension,
where he developed new computer networking

courses designed to prepare students for entrylevel IT careers in the aviation field.
"Supporting the airport is a 24/7 operation
and that's what I like about it, keeping those
systems up and running," Razak said.
Alma Mater: Attended University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA) for my Bachelor's and Master's
degrees, both in electrical engineering
Fun fact about myself: I have visited 16 countries
in five continents so far. Love traveling and video
logging (vlogging)
Favorite aircraft: F-35 Lighting II, which I
worked on as a Software Engineer with Northrop
Grumman
Are you a pilot? No
Someone I look up to in the industry: Jeff Bezos
and Elon Musk
My favorite thing about aviation is: It's a fastpaced and challenging environment
If I could change one thing about the aviation
industry: Improving the boarding and deplaning
processes
www.AviationPros.com/21093981

Vice President, Portfolio Development & Brand Partnerships, HMSHost

yler Pitman's drive derives from his love for
food and beverage and being around people.
He is the vice president of portfolio development
and brand partnership for HMSHost where he
helps make an oasis in food and
beverage at airports across North
America.
"When I started my career in
airports it was in development and
I learned just how different airport
space and restaurants are compared
to a regular restaurant business,"
Pitman said. "Something that I
would like to see for the future of
airports is larger spaces devoted to food and
beverage to create an oasis in airports for better
customer satisfaction," Pitman continued.
With HMSHost Pitman and his team curate
airport dining programs that are reflective of
the culinary landscape for each city. He helps
coordinate the layout and design, menu and the
flavours of each HMSHost restaurant. Pitman
has led business opportunities, planning new
flags for HMSHost at Louis Armstrong New
Orleans International Airport, Austin Berstrom

Alma Mater: Boston University - B.S. Hospitality
Administration, School of Hospitality Administration
Fun fact about myself: I'm from Bermuda and carry two
passports - US & UK
Favorite aircraft: Usually the one that I'm traveling on any
given day/week - if I had to pick, I'd say the Airbus A380.
It's the most comfortable ride in the sky
Are you a pilot?: I am not a pilot - my father was in to
flight simulators when I was a kid so spent a lot of time
pretending to be, but that is as close as I got. I leave that to
the professionals

industry, every day is different - I have the best job in both
industries. To be a part of the change and evolution of food
& beverage in Airports, impacting the options that guests
and fellow travelers alike have to choose from - all while
understanding and introducing different cultures around
the globe, it's special. To bring travel + F&B together - I'm
blessed to do what I do
If I could change one thing about the aviation industry:
The amount of space, available utilities and overall
infrastructure in the development and planning of US
Airports

Someone I look up to in the industry: Restaurant Industry
- Jose Andres; Aviation Industry - Steve Johnson (President
& CEO, HMSHost) and Jeff Yablun (COO, HMSHost)
My favorite thing about aviation is: The restaurant

International Airport and LaGurdia Airport as
well as the U.S. airport debut of Pret A Manger.
The restaurant business is one of the only
things that Pitman has ever known starting his
career with renowned chefs including Bobby
Flay. He transitioned to the airport environment
to help develop sprawling sanctuaries for food
and beverage across the world.
Pitman has helped develop a creative
new take on the airport dining experience
by thinking of airport restaurants as a regular

54 \ AIRPORTBUSINESS / NOVEMBER 2019

standalone restaurant and how the restaurants
want to be perceived and what the people want
in that area.
"The best part about my career and role at
HMSHost is building relationships, establishing
partnerships and crafting programs that help
make the airports successful which, in turn,
helps make Host successful, creating the best
experience possible for all guests" Pitman said.
www.AviationPros.com/21094293
http://www.AviationPros.com/21093981 http://www.AviationPros.com/21094293
Airport Business

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