Indy Airport Deepens Its Commitment to Women in Leadership
The list of senior-level women in leadership roles at the Indianapolis Airport Authority continues to grow, with the recent addition of Tenley Drescher-Rhoades as the new IAA general counsel, as well as current Director of Supplier Diversity Holli Harrington accepting an expanded role, becoming the IAA’s first diversity officer.
Drescher-Rhoades has practiced law in the Indianapolis area for the past 19 years, with most of that time spent in the private sector developing many relationships both at the local and state levels. She has counseled cities and other units of government representing their interests in a myriad of economic development and municipal financing transactions. Most recently, she was involved in the early stages of Indianapolis’ new Community Justice Campus, as well as the new convention center hotel development on Pan Am Plaza.
Harrington, who joined the IAA in 2013, has an expanded role from Director of Supplier Diversity to all aspects of the IAA as its new Diversity Officer. While she has done an outstanding job in sustaining a culture where those doing business with the IAA are as diverse as the community we serve, this new role will also allow her to take her skills throughout the organization into all aspects of IAA business. In this new, expanded role, Harrington will partner with leadership to promote equity and equality in IAA operations, processes and systems, working to ensure all passengers, visitors, vendors and employees are met with respect and feel both welcome and included.
Drescher-Rhoades and Harrington will join three current members of the senior leadership team who are female: Senior Director of Commercial Enterprise Marsha Stone, Senior Director of Audit & Compliance Procurement Maria Wiley and Senior Director of Human Resources Rachel Stevens.
In addition, the IAA Board includes three women, all appointed by Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett: President Barbara Glass, and board members Kathy Davis and Tamika Catchings.
“To continually be ranked as the best airport in North America, you need a broad range of insights, viewpoints, and skills, as well as diverse knowledge and experiences,” said Rodriguez. “Our workforce and board makeup reflect our organization’s commitment to these goals and will be enhanced even more by Tenley’s addition and Holli’s expanded role. We will remain committed to the board inclusion necessary to properly represent our workforce, travelers, and the Central Indiana community as a whole.”
