NORTH CANTON, Ohio – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recognizes the agency’s highest performers and the most effective teams of 2020. TSA selected the Akron-Canton Airport (CAK) as the “2020 Airport of the Year, CAT II-IV” for its size. Due to the current pandemic, the 2020 TSA Honorary Awards celebration will be conducted virtually this year to highlight the distinguished work of the recognized individuals and teams.
“I am proud of the Akron-Canton team that consists of more than 70 employees who are all deserving of the 2020 TSA’s Airport of the Year Category II-IV Award,” said Don Barker, TSA Federal Security Director for Ohio. During the pandemic, this team of professionals used focus groups to have periodic discussions and team activities to promote personal responsibility by every member of the organization. I appreciate their hard work, professionalism and commitment.”
After receiving the results of the 2019 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS), the CAK airport team decided to take steps to improvement the workplace. A cross-functional focus group was formed and addressed the survey results using continuous improvement procedures.
The airport team encouraged its coworkers to participate in the annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey and over 80% of the workforce responded. The survey resulted in establishing a focus group addressing the concerns in the four categories of Leaders Lead, Merit Systems Principles, Performance Recognition & Reward, and Training & Development. The focus group’s efforts resulted in assigning the specific action items to individuals or teams with a specific projected due date for each item. The action plan was made visible to the workforce for transparency and to help the team hold each other accountable.
As part of the CAK team’s 'It Starts with Me' campaign, coworkers reaffirmed their Oath of Office. The campaign included periodic discussions and team activities promoting personal responsibility by every member of the organization. A communication board in the breakroom was formed, a software upgrade recommendation for screening technology was made and implemented which impacted approximately seventy-five airports nationwide, and a scheduling committee was formed to provide key input to the scheduling process.
Although in previous years only one airport was named as the TSA Airport of the Year, this year three other airports were also recognized with the accolade: George Bush International Airport in Houston, Eugene Airport in Oregon and Miami International Airport in Miami.
TSA’s honorary awards are announced annually. Employees are encouraged to nominate colleagues whose work in the past year was extraordinary and supported the agency’s strategic goals. The awards will be presented virtually by TSA Administrator David Pekoske from agency headquarters in Springfield, Virginia.