FORT WORTH, Texas, June 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- American
Airlines Group has recognized four employees with the 2014 Earl G.
Graves Award for Leadership in Diversity for influencing positive
change, setting an example and leaving a lasting impact on those
around them.
- Fleet Captain Kathi Durst
Capt. Durst is American's first female pilot in a management
leadership role. She is active with Women in Aviation,
International, leads career improvement presentations and mentors
young pilots. With the backing and support of many co-workers, she
chose to become a visible role model and stepped up to assume the
Fleet Captain position for the 737 fleet.
- Vice President of Airport Integration Bob Ciminelli
Ciminelli has served as an Executive Sponsor for the African
American Diversity Network and is frequently involved with other
Employee Business Resource Groups such as the Christian EBRG. At
the US Airways hub in Philadelphia, he challenges and engages the
Resource Groups to manage themselves well and connect with our
employees.
- Senior Analyst Sales Strategy Anila Jivanji
Jivanji joined the Family Matters Employee Business Resource Group
where she strongly advocated for the Mothers Room built at American
Airlines headquarters. Jivanji also helped lead two of the
company's biggest on-campus events –Take our Sons and Daughters to
Work day and Trick or Treat for UNICEF.
- Staff Assistant Linda Kozma
Kozma collaborated with our Veteran's Initiatives department to
present the first Marine Week at Chicago O'Hare international
Airport, working closely with the Marine Corps Community
Services. Their efforts resulted in an invitation for the
Resource Group to tour the Pentagon, where staff provided
guidelines and protocol for Military Human Remains/Planeside
Honors.
Since 2008, American Airlines has been honoring recipients with
a diversity award for leadership in honor of Earl G. Graves, a successful African American
businessman, entrepreneur and former AMR board member who showed us
that respecting and appreciating each other's differences is the
right thing to do and is key to our continued success.
"This year marks a milestone as we opened nominations for
employees from American Airlines and US Airways," said Cindy Fiedelman, vice president – People &
Diversity, American. "Not only are we proud to recognize employees
for exceptional leadership in diversity, but we are proud to have
so many employees willing to take time and nominate their fellow
colleagues. It's truly inspiring."
American's long-standing commitment to diversity is part of the
company's culture of coordinated, collaborative teamwork and mutual
respect and has been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign, the
Association of ERGs & Councils, PRISM International and
Diversity MBA Magazine. For more information, please visit
aa.com/diversity.
About American Airlines Group
American Airlines Group
(NASDAQ: AAL) is the holding company for American Airlines and US
Airways. Together with wholly owned and third-party regional
carriers operating as American Eagle and US Airways Express, the
airlines operate an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to 339
destinations in 54 countries from its hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort
Worth, Los Angeles,
Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. The American Airlines
AAdvantage and US Airways Dividend Miles programs allow members to
earn miles for travel, vacation packages, car rentals, hotel stays
and everyday purchases. Members of both programs can redeem miles
for tickets as well as upgrades to First Class and Business Class.
In addition, AAdvantage members can redeem miles for vacation
packages, car rentals, hotel stays and retail products. American is
a founding member of the oneworld alliance, whose members and
members-elect serve nearly 1,000 destinations with 14,250 daily
flights to 150 countries. Connect with American on Twitter
@AmericanAir and Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines and follow US
Airways on Twitter @USAirways and Facebook.com/USAirways.
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SOURCE American Airlines Group