Each year at our Annual Dinner, EDC honors a business executive who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in addressing challenges and making significant contributions to improving our region. We are honored to announce Thella F. Bowens as the 2017 Honoree of the Herb Klein Civic Leadership Award.
The Herb Klein Civic Leadership Award is presented by:
Thella Bowens was appointed the first president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority in 2003. In this role, Ms. Bowens was responsible for management oversight of the Airport Authority and its operating budget, which generates more than $9 billion in annual economic impact for the region.
Throughout Ms. Bowens tenure, she has been dedicated to expanding route service domestically and internationally, and making our region a more competitive business and tourism destination. Under her leadership, San Diego International Airport has grown to become the busiest, single-runway in the country. San Diego now has non-stop daily service to London, Tokyo and Los Cabos. Beginning later this year, we will also have non-stop daily service to Frankfurt and Zurich. Building upon its infrastructure, the airport has expanded Terminal 2 and added a new Rental Car Center. Ms. Bowens has worked tirelessly with the business community to promote San Diego as a global destination.
Ms. Bowens is a member of the California Airports Council Board of Directors, a member of the World Governing Board of Airports Council International, and a board member of the American Association of Airport Executives Policy Review Committee.
Locally, she is a member of the boards of San Diego Regional EDC, San Diego Tourism Authority, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and Kyoto Symposium Organization. Ms. Bowens has previously served on the boards of the San Diego United Way, the San Diego Symphony and the National Conflict Resolution Center.
Please join us at SeaWorld on April 20 to celebrate Thella Bowens and more.