Linell Homentosky
Age: 32
Aviation Planning Project Manager
AECOM
- Alma Mater: Kent State University, University of Scranton
- Fun fact about yourself: I was named after my grandfather.
- Favorite book: The Alchemist
- Favorite TV show: Jeopardy
- Favorite movie: Stuck in Love
- Favorite hobby(s): Spending time with family & friends, traveling, and the beach
For Linell Homentosky, it all started with a family trip to Disneyland when she was 5 years old. “At the time of the trip, I went into the cockpit, where the pilot showed me around and gave me a set of wings. You can see me wearing them in family photos from that vacation,” she recalled.
That encounter sparked Homentosky’s interest in aviation. “I told my parents that I wanted to fly planes. When I was looking at colleges, I still wanted to fly planes,” she said. “I became a pilot, but in college, I decided that the business side of the industry was more suited to my strengths.”
At the age of 32, Homentosky has been a key contributor to a number of airport planning projects including master plans, state system planning and terminal redevelopment planning. She has worked on large-scale airport expansions including the $300 million Terminal D/E Connector and Terminal E Concourse at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL).
Seeing a project go from an idea on a computer screen to being built brings enjoyment to Homentosky. “I get a sense of pride when I’m walking through a terminal or looking at a runway,” she said.
The airport is its own community, said Homentosky. “We all have a common goal. We connect businesses and at the end of the day, we bring people together, and I love that aspect of airports,” she said. “When I worked at Philadelphia International Airport, I loved going to the arrivals hall. No one is ever sad there. It has energy and we’re all behind that.”
Homentosky wants to see airports be a more positive part of the travel experience. “I don’t want it to be a necessary evil for passengers. I want them to think of the airport as the positive beginning of their trip,” she said.
And her life outside of her job is an extension of her work. Homentosky serves on the board of the Women's Transportation Seminar Philadelphia chapter.
“I wish I could tell those pilots that they changed my life and inspired me back when my family took that trip,” said Homentosky. “They probably thought they were just making a 5-year-old happy.”
