News and resources for airport employees.
News and resources for airport employees.
Brett Latimer
Brett Latimer Looks, Listens and Lends a Hand 
Being observant at work isn't just for safety it can also be part of excellent customer service. Brett Latimer (he/him) with Mo's Seafood & Chowder kept an eye on his surroundings and, in doing so, noticed a passenger in need of assistance. 
As Brett brought up supplies from Mo’s storage room, he observed a pregnant woman struggling with two suitcases. He offered to put her bags on his cart, walked her to her destination and pushed the luggage for her. He returned to Mo's after he made sure she was safely at her gate.
Thank you, Brett, for being an observant, friendly and respectful PDX employee!
Brett was honored at the PDX People Customer Service Awards, where we recognize airport employees who truly stand out as extraordinary. Missed the 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 for next quarter – submit a nomination now.
Nominate a PDX Employee
Rendering of the forest themed mural and
What's New with PDX Next: Noise Update, Concourse C Crane Picks, New Roof, Good Coffee Opens and June Forum
Noise Update: Noise levels should be moderate this week as crews continue work on the mezzanine level. At the end of the week, demolition begins in the northeast area of former Clocktower Plaza – you may notice sounds near the D/E checkpoint. Active work hours are continuous from Monday at 6 a.m. through Saturday at 6 p.m.
Concourse C: Crane work is coming to Concourse C starting Monday, July 11. Crane picks will be late at night with limited impacts. We’ll keep you posted on any closures or route changes as the date draws closer.
New Main Terminal Roof: In an exciting next step for the new roof, Monday, July 11, is the anticipated start date for Y column installation; we'll share more details as the date approaches. Excited to learn more? Check out the photo above for a sneak preview of the “Lookers and Listeners” display that goes up in the Security Badging office on Wednesday, June 29. Stay tuned for more details on our newest immersive installation – which you’ll also see in the concourse bypasses – in next week’s issue!
Good Coffee: Do you work on Concourse B? Have you bean waiting for a coffee spot nearby? Well, wait no more! This Wednesday, June 29, Good Coffee opens, bringing their very best teas, lattes, cold brews and more to PDX.
June 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, which includes a preview of the new roof timeline, is set for Tuesday, June 28, at 10:30 a.m. 
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.
PDX Lost & Found office signage.
Be Knowledgeable: New Hours for PDX Lost & Found 
Starting Friday, July 1, the Lost & Found office will be open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. only. A new phone recording will ask callers to fill out an inquiry or call back during business hours if they lose an item at the airport.
Drop box pick-ups and logging of found items will continue on weekends. Remember, items put in the drop boxes will eventually go to Lost & Found, but if the lost item is essential – think wallet, ID, medication, keys, cell phone or other necessities – please call the PDX Communications Center at 503.460.4747 and let them know an essential item is in the drop box.
Lost & Found’s open hours can vary based on staffing, and updated hours are always listed online. There’s also a place on the website where people can submit an inquiry about missing items – this is the best place to start if you or a visitor loses an item at PDX.  
Faces of PDX Next: Paul Vanderford
It takes a lot of hands to raise the roof at the new main terminal, and we’re shining a spotlight on some of the key people making this feat possible. As director of green markets at the Portland-based nonprofit Sustainable Northwest, Paul Vanderford has devoted his career to building connections between the people managing forests sustainably and the lumber, paper and construction industries that may want to buy from them. When we began strategizing how to build a curvy, 9-acre roof out of Douglas fir from local, sustainably managed forests, Paul joined the effort. His role: helping construct a supply chain for this wood, one that had never existed before. We talked to Paul about why raising the new roof at PDX is such a ground-breaking effort.
Celebrate Travel Oregon in the Rental Car Center
On Friday, July 1, from 9 to 10 a.m., join Travel Oregon in the Rental Car Center lobby as they unveil their new multilingual brochure racks. This display adds some local character to the space – each rack features an iconic silhouette of the Oregon landscape – and is a great resource for visiting guests. There will be refreshments, remarks from President and CEO of Travel Oregon, Todd Davidson...and the Pacific Northwest's favorite cryptid might make a special appearance! 
Collage of images, RCC under construction, inside the RCC and the wood art by the escalators to the RCC.
Photos by Josh Partee
Parking Additions and Consolidated Rental Car Facility Wins Top Projects 2022
The PDX Parking Additions and Consolidated Rental Car facility recently took home first place in the Daily Journal of Commerce Top Project Awards in the infrastructure and telecom category. The article (see pg. 26) explained that the project was critical to help recapture important space in the short-term garage while keeping rental car agencies onsite without the need for passengers to take a shuttle. The project team's goal? “Help Keep PDX the No. 1 Airport!” by providing the best safety culture, highest-quality product, clear communication and operational excellence.
Make your home wildfire ready.
How to Prepare Your Home for Wildfires
With weather heating up, now’s the time to start thinking about the dangers of wildfires and preparing your home just in case. Portland Airport Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal Lani Hill and her good friend Smokey Bear shared these tips to stop the spread of wildland fires: Keep flammable objects (lawn mowers, oil or gas cans, propane tanks and wood piles) at least 30 feet away from the home at all times; keep roofs, gutters, decks and patios clear of leaves, pine needles and other flammables; remove tree or shrub branches that overhang within 10 feet of your house, roof or chimney; and keep lawns watered and mowed. For more tips, including what to do if you're conserving water, check out this helpful list.
Don't Lose Your Cool, Stay Safe in Hot Weather
Summer weather has arrived in the Portland area, which means you may be at risk of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Protect yourself by dressing for hot conditions in loose-fitting, light colored clothes, drinking water every 15 minutes to stay hydrated and taking frequent breaks in shady, cool or air-conditioned areas.
If you see a coworker who is experiencing headaches, dizziness and nausea (heat exhaustion) or dry, hot skin, confusion and convulsions (heat stroke), act quickly and get help. For more ways to protect yourself in hot weather, check out this tip sheet. In case of emergency at PDX, call 503-460-4000. For non-emergencies, call 503-460-4747.
PDX in Pictures
The Port of Portland recently teamed up with the Autism Society of Oregon, Southwest Airlines and TSA to celebrate Autistic Pride Day with a very special event: Sky’s the Limit!
As we emerge from the pandemic, families and individuals are beginning to resume traveling. While the travel experience can be stressful for everyone, it can be magnified for those with sensory needs or who are on the autism spectrum – making sure these passengers feel comfortable and excited for their trip is critical.
Sky’s the Limit is designed to provide a safe and nurturing “no pressure” environment where families of autistic and neurodivergent travelers can experience the many sights and sounds of the flight experience. Families were provided with the Let’s Go Fly guidebook to support these travelers in feeling welcome and safe while visiting PDX and their destination airport.
For those who are curious, activities involved obtaining a gate pass from an airline partner; proceeding through the TSA checkpoint; experiencing the sensory room, moving walkways, restrooms and more; and meeting an airline pilot.
Thank you to everyone who helped make the event successful and memorable for the participating families!
Stay Connected
Twitter Facebook Instagram YouTube
PDX People Website
Subscribe to our email list.