Tiana Rossow
Marketing & Communications Manager, Rochester International Airport
AGE: 34
- Alma Mater: University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
- What is your dream job? Professional Traveler – I’d love to see the world and get paid to do it!
- Who has impacted your career the most? John Reed, RST Executive Director – John encourages opportunities for career growth and never holds our team back.
- If I could go anywhere, it would be: Costa Rica – It’s been at the top of my list for a long time and just haven’t gotten there…Yet!
- If I could have dinner with anyone living or dead: Louis Zamperini – World War II Survivor and subject of “Unbroken”
- Favorite airport restaurant/eatery: Garrett Popcorn Shop at O’Hare – a great souvenir/snack to bring home
During her time at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Tiana Rossow was studying Spanish with a business concentration and didn’t have aviation on her radar for a career path. However, after she graduated and moved to Rochester, Minnesota, it was hard to find a job, so she started doing temp work through an agency, when she saw there was a part-time position at the airport.
Rossow started as a part-time temporary employee in the administrative office at Rochester International Airport (RST) in Rochester, Minnesota in 2006. She wanted to develop a career with the airport, so she worked hard and was eventually hired on full-time. She was eventually named marketing and communications manager.
“I thought that’s a great place to go and get more business experience and I also love travel so it seemed like a great fit,” she said. “So I came out here to work as a temporary employee and definitely found it was a unique environment to work in with the industry changing constantly and I found a lot of opportunity to build a career, so I decided to stay on and pursue it as a career.”
In her role, Rossow oversaw a rebranding process for the airport and relaunch of the website. She developed a community outreach plan while spearheading a “Fly Local” campaign to gain the support of local businesses to use RST when they fly. The initiative has garnered the support of 81 local businesses in Rochester, including the Mayo Clinic.
She also develops partnerships with local organizations such as the chamber of commerce, convention and visitors bureau and area non-profits like the Boys and Girls Club and Ronald McDonald House.
Rossow established marketing plans for new air service announcements and launch events. Daily departures rose 65 percent in 2017 alone.
She also worked outside her official duties to enhance the overall traveler experience at the airport, by launching new customer service programs, such as a free mini library and pet therapy program.
Rossow represented RST as a member of the Leadership Greater Rochester’s Class of 2016-2017 and was awarded the honor of being named Emerging Leader of the Year 2016 by United Way of Olmsted County
