Daniel Fordyce
General Manager – Operations at JFK Terminal 4
Hudson Group
Age: 30
- Alma Mater: State University of New York College at Old Westbury
- Favorite Aircraft: Airbus A380
- Favorite Book: Like A Virgin: Secrets They Won’t Teach You at Business School – Richard Branson
- Favorite TV Show: Parks and Recreation
- Favorite Movie: Moneyball
- Favorite Hobbies: Boating, Traveling, Beach Volleyball
Daniel Fordyce, Hudson Group’s general manager of operations at JFK Terminal 4, truly embodies the Hudson motto of being ‘The Traveler’s Best Friend,’ according to his nomination form. “Dan exhibits all the traits that one would look for in an operations leader. He is driven, hard-working, personable, a natural leader, strong negotiator, and excellent communicator,” it said.
Fordyce says the best part about his job is that he gets to come to an airport every day. I’ve been fascinated with planes since I was a kid. So to be surrounded by planes, flight crews and passengers makes for a fun and unique environment,” he said. “My team has a direct impact on the passenger experience every day. We strive to be the Traveler’s Best Friend by reducing the stress that comes with air travel.”
There wasn’t one specific experience that led Fordyce into aviation. “I’ve been fortunate to be involved in many parts of Hudson’s business from facility projects to IT programs,” he said. “My exposure to different areas of Hudson’s operations are helpful because it helps me understand the business and be successful.”
One big project Fordyce worked on while at Hudson that he’s particularly proud of is the construction of Hudson’s central distribution center in 2015. “It’s a 35,000 square-foot facility that serves LaGuardia, JFK and two other facilities in New York City,” he said. “I spent six months on that facility helping develop operational processes and establishing best practices. Looking at the operation now, it works smoothly and it’s a big success. Knowing I was a part of it was pretty special.”
Fordyce enjoys the aviation industry because it’s always changing. “No day is ever the same. And it’s a unique industry because it’s impacted by factors that don’t impact other industries, like something as simple as the weather,” he said. “And if you look at where aviation has come from and where it’s going, with new airports and new aircraft, the sky’s literally the limit.”
