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Kaitlyn Herpel and Pamela Lopez Have Great Timing as a Team
Kaitlyn Herpel (she/her) and Pamela Lopez (she/her) at Dollar Rent a Car took extra steps to meet a customer’s needs and they received this commendation from the guest:
“Pamela and Kaitlyn both provided superior customer service and went above and beyond for me and my daughter. Pamela assisted me with a reservation the day prior to our trip to Portland. But several flight delays shifted our arrival time to 1:30 a.m., and I was worried that Dollar would be closed by that hour.
Pamela spoke to Kaitlyn, and she agreed to stay an extra 30 minutes past closing. Both employees listened, were understanding of my situation and were willing to do what was needed to ensure I had a vehicle.
Thank you, Kaitlyn and Pamela, for caring enough to make sure this worked out for us. I appreciate you both for helping to make a very long, difficult day of travel end on a pleasant note. It was priceless!”
Kaitlyn and Pamela were winners at the PDX People Customer Service Awards, where we recognize airport employees who truly stand out as extraordinary. Missed the last virtual awards ceremony? View the event recording or read about past winners.
You can also nominate an employee who embodies the PDX People values and serves as a shining example of great customer service – submit a nomination now.
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What's New with PDX Next: Concourse B Opens in December, Helping Holiday Travelers and Upcoming November Forum
Concourse B: The big news on the horizon? We're saying "Hello" to a bigger, brighter Concourse B on Wednesday, Dec. 8! Stay tuned as we share more stories and photos leading up to the opening. You can also start getting excited for brunch star Screen Door and specialty roaster Good Coffee to add even more Oregon flavor to the new daylight-filled digs when they open in Spring 2022!
Holiday Travelers: Working at PDX, you've no doubt noticed a lot of changes – from bypass connectors and a new rental car center to unfamiliar noises. As holiday travel picks up, visitors who haven't flown in a while are also noticing these changes. You can continue providing top-notch service by assisting puzzled passengers as they make their way through PDX. Help them choose the right checkpoint, find their way to the new bypasses and give them a heads up that some routes will take longer to walk. You can also advise travelers with mobility issues to contact their airline for wheelchair service or you can contact wheelchair dispatch on their behalf by calling 503.460.4300 or using a white courtesy phone.
PDX Next Forum: Want the inside scoop on construction at PDX? Jen Reynolds with the Port of Portland along with Pat Bifone and Caitlin Powell of Hoffman-Skanska will share the latest construction updates and answer your questions about PDX Next in just 30 minutes. The next update is set for Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 10:30 a.m. Add this event to your Outlook calendar or use this link to access the meeting live on Nov. 29.
Looking for more PDX Next information? We're keeping you in the know on what's new on the PDX People website. Have questions or suggestions about construction? Email hello@pdxnext.com or call the construction hotline at 503.460.4339.
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Masks Still Required Inside PDX
PDX indoor rules are unchanged as well: Both the CDC and TSA continue to require that masks be worn at all U.S. airports, on airplanes and on other forms of public transportation. Refusal to wear a mask in the airport violates federal law and may result in penalties or removal.
This means that if you're working inside, riding the shuttle bus or just passing through the terminal, you must wear a mask. While you're no longer required to wear a mask outside, you are empowered to do so if you wish. Per the CDC and TSA, it is recommended that people who are not fully vaccinated wear a mask to protect themselves and others and be aware of physical distance where possible.
As we have done throughout the pandemic, we will continue to follow the recommendations from our public health partners, including the Oregon Health Authority, and will keep you posted as guidance continues to evolve. Watch for updates in this newsletter and encourage co-workers to subscribe now if they haven't already.
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Speed Limit Reduced on Vehicle Service Road
If you drive on the vehicle service road, you may have already noticed the speed limit reduction to 10 miles per hour. The change was effective Thursday, Nov. 18, and covers the area between Gate B8 and the Concourse B remain overnight two (RON 2).
As we prepared to open Concourse B on Wednesday, Dec. 8, there will be aircraft operation workers and vehicles in close proximity to the road – the speed limit reduction is intended to keep everyone safe.
As with any other marked speed limits at PDX, exceeding the limit is subject to a written citation. Stay safe, stay alert and keep your fellow PDX people in mind when driving on the service road.
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Even Engineers Marvel Over the Curves of PDX’s New Roof
Once the airport's nine-acre roof slides into place over the main terminal next year, what you see may depend on who you are. You'll view a roofline you’ll recognize from a distance, with swooping wooden curves and giant round skylights. Every architect, contractor, construction worker, and fabricator who built the roof? They'll see a brain-twisting feat of design and engineering. After all, the roof's arched 80-foot-long ribs, made out of glue-laminated (glulam) wood, didn’t grow in that shape. It took hundreds of people and a full-scale test run just to figure out how to make the curves, well, curvy. Read more about the design challenges and the people who solved the puzzle of how to build the spectacular wavy roof.
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You Could Win $25 Just for Reading this Newsletter
Every month, we're holding a drawing for new and current PDX People newsletter subscribers to win a $25 gift card! On the last Monday of each month, we'll randomly select a winner from the month's new subscribers and one from the pool of current subscribers. Keep an eye out in the Monday, Dec. 27 issue to see if you're the lucky winner!
Want your coworkers to have the chance to win? Forward them this email or send them the link to sign up.
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Get Sensory Inclusive Certified and Enter to Win $100!
Increasing accessibility at PDX is an ongoing endeavor. As part of that work, we’re partnering with KultureCity to open a sensory room on Concourse D – a space geared toward visitors with cognitive or sensory processing challenges. The room will feature a sensory station surrounded by a calming, comfortable atmosphere.
While the sensory room won’t open until early December, learning about sensory processing disabilities and the importance of accessibility can start now.
To help you get up to speed on sensory rooms and enhance your inclusivity work, we’re offering the chance to win $100. All you need to do is watch a 30-minute video and take a short quiz – score 80% or higher and you’ll be rewarded with sensory inclusive certification! Email your certificate of completion to PDX People Communications by Friday, Dec. 17, to be entered to win.
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PDX in Pictures
A pleasingly purple sunrise greeted early morning visitors and employees at PDX. Thanks to Airport Duty Manager Brian Burk for the roadway picture and to Airside Operations Planner Glenn Woodman for capturing the moment on the airfield.
If you have a photo from life around PDX, email it to PDX People Communications – we might use it in a future PDX in Pictures.
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