Syracuse Hancock International Airport

1000 Col Eileen Collins Blvd., Syracuse, NY 13212

syrairport.org

Media Brief Planning Document

Event Logistics
• Nov. 15, 2024, at the Syracuse Regional Airport at 5 p.m.
• Speakers: Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Executive Director Jason Terreri,
Chief Commercial Officer Jason Mehl, Debi Marshall Director of Human Resources
About the Company
• Syracuse Hancock International Airport is operated by the Syracuse Regional Airport
Authority, a New York public benefit corporation with an 11-member board. The
Syracuse Regional Airport Authority was established on Aug. 17, 2011, and the
Airport’s FAA operating certificate was transferred from the City of Syracuse to the
Syracuse Regional Airport Authority to operate the airport on March 1, 2014. The
airport is Central New York’s gateway to the world with nonstop service to 29
destinations. Syracuse Hancock International Airport is a great place to begin your
journey.

Recent News
• Syracuse Regional Airport Authority proudly partners with the Arc of Onondaga and
United Airlines to Bring Airport Rehearsal to Individuals with intellectual and
Developmental Disabilities.
• Allegiant Air Expands from Syracuse to Myrtle Beach to Include Spring Break
• Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Welcomes Miss Prissy’s, a minority women
owned soul food business to Syracuse.

Speaker Biographies
• Executive Director H. Jason Terreri

o
o Jason Tererri is the executive director of the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority at
Syracuse Hancock International Airport, with over 15 years of experience in senior
airport management. He has held leadership roles at Airports Worldwide, Inc., Horry
County Department of Airports and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Tererri holds degrees in Aviation Management and Public Administration, is a
licensed commercial pilot and has earned several industry certifications, including
A.A.E. and IAP. He is actively involved in aviation leadership, serving on boards like
NUAIR and the ACI-NA U.S. Policy Council.
 • SRAA Chief Commercial Officer Jason Mehl

o
o Jason Mehl is the Chief Commercial Officer of the Syracuse Regional Airport
Authority at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport, where he leverages
over a decade of experience in business management and commercial
development. Mehl leads initiatives that strengthen Syracuse Hancock
International Airport's position as a key regional transportation hub. Known
for his expertise in stakeholder collaboration and operational efficiency, Mehl
is dedicated to fostering economic growth for the region through sustainable
and customer-focused airport operations.
• Debi Marshall Director of Human Resources

o
o Debi Marshall serves as the Director of Human Resources at the Syracuse
Regional Airport Authority at the Syracuse Hancock International Airport,
bringing extensive expertise in talent management, organizational
development, and employee relations. With a strong commitment to fostering
an inclusive and high-performance work environment, Marshall leads HR
initiatives that support the growth and well-being of the airport’s workforce.
Her strategic approach to workforce planning and employee engagement
ensures the Syracuse Hancock International Airport attracts and retains
dedicated employees, contributing to its mission of delivering exceptional
service to travelers and the community.

Objectives
• We hope to clarify that the overlapping of events had nothing to do with each other.
• The airport does not align with the values of all of the brands they host.

Audience
• Rick Moriarty, Buisness news and consumer issues for The Post-Standard,
rmoriarty@syracuse.com.
• Brenda Duncan, Content Assistant at Syracuse.com, bduncan@syracuse.com
• Don Cazentre, Reporter at Syracuse.com and NYUP.com, dcazentre@nyup.com
• Matthew Saffer, Assistant News Director at WSTM-TV, msaffer@cnycentral.com
• Henry Daley, Assistant Copy Editor at The Daily Orange, hdaley@syr.edu

Key Messages
• Syracuse Hancock International Airport does not necessarily align with the values of
all the companies hosted within the airport.
• As a brand, the airport values diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
• We value creating a diverse and inclusive environment within our airport.
• The Chick-fil-A opening, and the Syracuse University Trans Remembrance event
overlapping was not intentional and was merely a coincidence.
• We are proud to have the guests attending this event fly with us and always value our
LGBTQ+ visitors.
 •In the future, we will consult community organizations to ensure that our events are
mindful and do not take away from any major events in the community.
Event Details
• The speakers will be dressed in business casual.
• Event will be catered by Chick-Fil-A.
• The Stage for the media briefing will be in the lobby of the Syracuse Airport right when
you enter before the airport security checkpoint.
Tough Q&A
• Question #1: What is your response to LGBQ+ passengers that may feel targeted as
they travel to your airport for an event in celebration of them?
o Recommended Response: We value the experience of all of our customers,
regardless of their identities. We do not adopt the values of the companies
hosted in our airport and we intend to make all passengers travelling through
our airport for this event welcome and comfortable.
• Question #2: Given the backlash to Chick-fil-A's past controversies regarding LGBTQ+
issues, what factors led the airport to believe this partnership was appropriate for this
region?
o Recommended Response: We aim to provide amenities for our passengers that
cater to different tastes and preferences. As Chick-fil-A is a popular brand
with strong customer demand, we anticipated this partnership to be well-
received by its large customer base. That said, we recognize the broader
community values and concerns raised by this partnership and we are taking
additional steps to ensure all passengers feel welcomed and respected at
Syracuse Regional Airport.
• Question #3: Is Chick-fil-A required to uphold any specific inclusivity standards or
policies to comply with the airport’s supposed dedication to being a welcoming and
inclusive space?
o Recommended Response: All vendors at Syracuse Regional Airport are
required to comply with our policies on inclusivity, equitable treatment and
non-discrimination. Chick-fil-A is required to adhere to our policies as well as
all anti-discrimination laws as part of our partnership to ensure that everyone,
regardless of background, feels welcome and respected. We take this
responsibility seriously and will work closely with all our vendors and
partners to ensure these standards are upheld.

• 1.Carly> Executive Director H. Jason Terreri

o We acknowledge and value the diversity of our passengers who travel with us
daily and understand the concerns raised by the decision and timing of this
opening
o Our business partnerships are determined through a process reliant on
customer demand and location suitability
o We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all passengers,
employees and business partners to encourage a respectful and welcoming
space
o We acknowledge the unfortunate coincidence of the opening aligning with the
Transgender Remembrance Event
o This mistake was not intentional, and we apologize for any distress it may
have caused our passengers, staff or business partners
o We are reaching out to LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and leaders in our
community to collaborate on initiatives that will reinforce our commitment to
inclusivity and ensure a mistake like this does not happen again
 o We encourage feedback from our travelers to provide the best experience and
ensure that our airport remains a welcoming space for everyone regardless of
their identity

• 2.Ella> Debi Marshall, Director of Human Resources

o We value all customers and flyers that come through our airport and want to
make sure everyone has a pleasant experience while at the airport.
o All members of the LGBTQ+ community are welcomed at the airport and
deserve to have an inclusive place to be and fly from.
o Been working on our many DEIA initiatives to display this, i.e. Airport
practice run throughs
o Worked closely with staff and customers to bring restaurants they are
interested in and enjoy to the airport.
o Excited to continue to bring more business to the airport and throughout the
Syracuse area.
o The airports values have always been that of inclusivity and diversity and they
will continue that way.
o We expect all restaurants in the airport to conduct themselves in a manner that
aligns with our values and mission statements

• 3.Julia> SRAA Chief Commercial Officer Jason Mehl

o The decision to bring a Chick Fil A to the airport was solely based on a
business standpoint and was not due to any beliefs or iterations that the
company may hold.
o We recognize that Chick-fil-A has been a source of controversy and we
respect the diverse perspectives of our community. We will continue to
monitor public sentiment and work with all stakeholders to ensure that we
foster an inclusive atmosphere at the airport.
o In the overlapping of events, we were not aware that the university was
hosting an event and would never use an event of ours to underscore the
importance of an event that is occurring in our community.
o We deeply regret that the timing of our grand opening may have
overshadowed the significance of this event.
o Considering this incident, we are looking to create stronger, more transparent
relationships with Syracuse University and local advocacy groups. Our goal is
to work together in fostering an environment of respect and inclusivity,
ensuring all events and operations are mindful of the diverse values of the
Central New York region.
o To avoid similar situations in the future, we are implementing new event
coordination protocols to ensure that major openings and community events
are carefully planned and aligned. This will include consulting with key
community organizations to be mindful of the broader social impact of our
actions.