Michelle Branham is the new public information officer for the Jacksonville Airport Authority. She just joined the airport and found herself immediately in the midst of a controversy when a federal agency said the airport’s security was the third-worst in the nation.
WHEN DID
YOU START YOUR JOB?
June 17.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN JACKSONVILLE?
“My husband, Jeb, who’s an attorney in Ponte Vedra [Beach], and I moved to Jacksonville Beach two and a half years ago. Before that, we lived in Atlanta, where I worked as an intern and speechwriter for [Georgia Secretary of State] Max Cleland.”
WHAT DOES THE JAA ENCOMPASS?
“Jacksonville International Airport, Cecil Field, Herlong Field and Craig Field.”
WHAT DO
YOUR DUTIES INCLUDE?
“I’m responsible for public awareness and communicating to the press and the public the various initiatives we’re working on involving security, customer service, expansion and tourism. That also includes the initiatives we’re doing for the Super Bowl.”
HOW HAS YOUR JOB CHANGED SINCE SEPT. 11?
“Immediately after Sept. 11, we were focused on security literally all the time. Now that some time has passed and the terminals are more open, we can start to breathe a little bit, and begin focusing on airport awareness and the transition that occurred as a result of our splitting from the Jacksonville Port Authority.”
WHAT DO YOU MOST
WANT TO COMMUNICATE TO THE PUBLIC?
“The main question, I think, [has been] whether we are prepared for Jacksonville’s growth pattern. The answer is, yes we are. [The airport] is the gateway to the First Coast — so we want it to be very welcoming.”
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC?
“We will be airing a program, ‘Airport News,’ four times a month [at 6:30 p.m. on Fridays on cable access]. As part of that, we’ll discuss various issues affecting security. For example, when you hear the phrase ‘security breach,’ what does that mean? The program also will offer travel tips and will talk about how we’re doing, security-wise, compared with the rest of the world.”
HOW, SPECIFICALLY, HAS THE AIRPORT BEEFED UP ITS SECURITY MEASURES FOLLOWING SEPT. 11?
“As a pilot for the TSA’s security program, we recently purchased five CTX-9,000 baggage screening machines. As of fall, we’ll be the only airport in the country that has those.”
MUSIC, MENTORING
“This winter, we’ll be offering more events to bring the public into the airport. For example, in addition to our Friday evening music in the courtyard, which we already have, we’re also thinking about having bruncheons in the courtyard. We’re also looking into [offering] a mentoring program, or Spirit Club, which would give preteens the opportunity to learn about maintenance and talk to the pilots.”
FLYING HIGH
“Coming to work here was the best choice I could possibly have made. The people [I work with] are so passionate and caring. They come in early, and leave late. I’m so proud to be here. It makes that 45-minute drive [to work] worth it.”
BIRTHPLACE
Deland.
COLLEGE
Stetson University and Emory University.
HOBBIES
She loves to hang out with her husband; they just celebrated their first anniversary. Along with doing “little renovations around the house,” they like to go biking and canoeing.
PETS
Jack, a “pure-bred mutt” they adopted from the Jacksonville Humane Society two and a half years ago. “We have no idea what he is, but he’s awesome.”
— by Patti Connor