Leadership Atlanta is one of the nation’s oldest and most respected leadership development programs, bringing together senior-level leaders from across industries to engage in meaningful dialogue, explore key regional issues and drive positive change in the Atlanta community. Over a nine-month period, participants take part in retreats, seminars, service projects and candid conversations that inspire purpose-driven leadership.

Bryan’s selection is a testament to the impact of his work at Unifi—from driving our financial success and championing corporate social responsibility to supporting our people and our role as a major Atlanta employer. His participation highlights the values we uphold as a company and the caliber of leadership Unifi brings to the table.

Congratulations, Bryan!

Anthony, who has been with Unifi since the company took over operations in the UK, assembled a crew of eight team members to take on the unique challenge. While none of them had ever cleaned an aircraft used to transport animals, especially not in such large numbers, they approached the task with curiosity and professionalism.

Though Anthony has some personal experience with horses – he owns one himself and cares for three rescues – nothing quite prepared him for the sight of 90 horses being unloaded from the aircraft. “I’ve seen horses come in before, but not this many,” he said. “To see that many coming off an aircraft, it was definitely a bit of a shock.”

The horses, mostly younger polo ponies, were bound for well-known equestrian hubs in the UK, such as Newmarket and Surrey. They arrived in special transport containers that each held three to four horses and were unloaded by a separate ground handling company. Once the horses were safely off the plane, his team got to work.

“It was mostly straw, hay and the protective pads they put down to cover the aircraft floor,” Anthony said. “These pads are designed to absorb any mess, keeping the plane itself clean and protecting it during transport.”

The team removed the pads and completed a deep clean of the entire cargo area, making sure the aircraft was spotless and ready for its next assignment. It was a new kind of job for everyone involved, but one they embraced fully. “We’re used to cleaning aircraft and doing deep cleans, but not for cargo like this,” said Anthony. “Still, everyone got on with it and did a great job.”

Reflecting on the experience, Anthony called it the most unusual assignment he’s had since joining the airport team in 2019. “I’ve done a fair amount of different jobs, but this was definitely the most memorable,” he said with a laugh. “It was an eye-opener for sure, but I’m glad I was there to see it.”

This job is a perfect example of Unifi UK’s commitment to stepping up, adapting quickly and taking on any challenge with confidence and care. Whether it’s cleaning a standard passenger aircraft or responding to a last-minute call involving dozens of international equine guests, Unifi’s team proves that no task is too big—or too unusual—when you’ve got the right people on board.

The damage and heartache from Hurricane Helene have devastated the southeast, and Unifi has been diligently working to support its employees in Augusta, GA, and Asheville, NC, which were among the hardest hit by the hurricane.

In Asheville, where 88 employees are stationed, and in Augusta, home to 40 employees, Unifi is working through substantial operational hurdles. Still, we are relieved to report that all employees are accounted for, with no deaths or significant injuries. Many employees reported water damage to their homes and a lack of power. Unifi operational leaders worked quickly to deliver essential supplies such as water, diapers, and baby formula to our employees.

Road closures, boil water advisories, and flooded roads and homes have added complexity to the situation. Unifi has been proactive, creating calling trees to ensure regular contact with employees to check on their well-being and status. The area is still dealing with search and rescues, and curfews related to the hurricane, underscoring the ongoing nature of the crisis in Augusta and Asheville.

At both locations, Unifi’s customer is Delta Air Lines, which has been a pivotal partner. The airline has diverted flights from Augusta, while operations in Asheville remain limited but active. In Asheville, Unifi coordinated with Delta when they brought a bus to evacuate 41 Delta customers, even extending this assistance to customers of other airlines as well.

The collaboration with FEMA has also been crucial. The lack of power, landline service, and the diminishing charge on cell phones posed significant obstacles. In Augusta, FEMA’s intervention brought a gas tanker, enabling employees to charge their phones and stay connected.

Unifi Chief Operating Officer Greg Kennedy visited with employees in the area this week to provide financial support and assess further needs and resources.

The safety of employees and passengers remains Unifi’s highest priority, and we couldn’t be prouder of the resilience and dedication of our employees during this challenging time.

 It’s the quiet noise of a group of people comfortable with each other—there are hugs for team members arriving or leaving work, laughter coming from the tables, and conversations happening in English, Spanish, and maybe another language. The affection and close-knit atmosphere are apparent almost immediately when you walk into the Unifi employee breakroom at Orlando International Airport.

“We have 270 employees and more than 90 flights a day,” says Station Manager Dakota Bonnell, who has been with the company for several years (and was part of the DGS transition),

Nearly 200 of those employees are women.

Spirit Airlines’ Orlando customer service operations boast Unifi’s highest percentage of women employees across all its 200+ operations in the United States—73% of the employees here are women. It’s one of those accidental yet impressive statistics.

“I don’t know, maybe we just interview better,” laughs Customer Service Agent Bernice Cottrell.

“When you say aviation most people think of men, but women aren’t scared of coming out of their element if there is opportunity,” she says.

The agents in Orlando are the customer-facing representatives for Spirit Airlines. It’s a high visibility role that requires them to interact with travelers on a host of issues – reservations, baggage check in, seating requests, layovers and much more.

“I notice our team’s higher level of empathy for passengers,” says Bonnell. The women on our team put themselves in the shoes of customers, and it shows in the care they have for them. That sensitivity isn’t always there in male-dominated teams.”

Customer Service Agent Brianna Hill agrees, saying women are natural problem solvers and nurturers.

“I love coming to work. I feel empowered being in a room full of women, and there is always someone who knows what you are going through and has your back.”

Hill also says that the female representation on the team has a positive impact on customer relations.

“I was at the gate today ahead of a flight, and a passenger came up to me asking if I knew where she could buy feminine hygiene products. I knew there wasn’t a spot close to the gate, so I just gave her some extra that I had,” recounts Hill. “At that moment, I thought, thank God I’m a woman, and I could help because she likely wouldn’t have even gone up to a male agent with that concern.”

It’s an exceptional level of care, but Bonnell says it’s not uncommon at their station.

“Look at where we are – everyone who comes to Orlando expects Disney-level customer service. The standards are high here, and our agents always go above and beyond.”

Many team members also say that being part of an organization with so many women gives them confidence, especially during tough customer interactions.

“We help hundreds of passengers every day, and sometimes I’ll deal with someone who can get angry or upset and demand to speak to my manager,” says Customer Service Agent Amanda Ash. ” It makes me feel really proud when my supervisor comes out, and they see it’s a woman with a title and power.”

And that feeling of pride and support is felt by everyone, say the men on the team.

“Women are leaders here – we have a lot of women as supervisors. Both of our station admins are women. I think it’s amazing to have the chance to learn from them,” says Customer Service Agent Henry Sandoval.

It’s a shared sentiment among most of the men on the team.

“The women here are fantastic,” says Customer Service Supervisor Marcus Davis. “They know how to handle the difficult aspects of customer service really well, and they teach and help others who are new or having a tough time.”

Many of Unifi’s employees in Orlando say that one of the best things about their job is walking into work, feeling accepted and having supportive colleagues and leaders.

As Station Manager, Bonnell wants to ensure that sentiment continues. “I carve out a few hours of my day every day to be out on the floor in the operations with my team.”

But it’s those quieter moments in between flights, during meals or breaks that employees say also make a difference.

“We are all pretty open and talk with each other. I think we’ve built a safe space for men and women to share their emotions and be themselves,” says Ash, crediting the positive work environment with bolstering her own love of the industry.

“Customer service is intimidating – you need to have a lot of confidence and strength to do this job, and it feels awesome to see women take that on.”

It was everyone’s first time seeing the sculpture, and it didn’t disappoint.

“I’ve lived in Atlanta now for two-and-a-half years, and I didn’t know it was there, so I think it’s important we all know about it and tell others,” says Administrative Assistant D’Aaron Ennis.

That knowledge is more important than ever, according to Bre Campbell. “Especially right now when you see places trying to erase that history or not teach it fully, we need to learn and remember Dr. King’s word and what he stood for,” says the Atlanta Station Manager.

The city of Atlanta is a civil rights mecca and the place Dr. King called home. Dr. King was born in Atlanta and was the pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church, a short walk from the home he was born and grew up in. On that same street is also the final resting place of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King.

“This is an extraordinary city,” says Khadijah Mbai, Shared Service Center Manager who also leads BEAM. “I didn’t see Black leadership until I came to Atlanta. Yes, there’s inequity and poverty just like in any other place, but you also see Black people thriving, making money and being successful. You don’t see that in every city or town in America, and that’s also part of Dr. King’s lasting legacy and impact in Atlanta.

Today, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park, which includes the birth home and final resting place, attracts one million visitors annually.
“He had a dream and risked it all for that dream – he risked his safety and his family’s safety to open others’ minds and make society better. It is incredible when you think about his life and sacrifices,” says Operations Support Manager Sabrina Robinson.

“He was thrown in jail more than 20 times,” adds Esha Khicha, HR Business Management Analyst. “But he never gave up, and it makes me think about the challenges he faced and the strength he had to keep going. If he could do it then, there is nothing we can’t accomplish now.”

That resilience, says D’Aaron, is especially inspiring to him. “As a Black man in America, there is a lot you go through, so much that holds you back, but he pushed back against anyone and anything that tried to hold him down,” says D’Aaron. “That we are sitting here today and talking about him is monumental.”

King’s resolve and commitment to creating change through nonviolence is a hallmark of his legacy and something the group says our world needs more than ever.

“He never wavered on peace. It was about marching peacefully, protesting peacefully, and not rising to hate coming their way,” says Khadijah. “He didn’t want the message to get lost in the mess.”

Today, close to one hundred years after the birth of Dr. King, the world looks vastly different and, in many ways, significantly better thanks to the work of Dr. King and other civil rights heroes, yet there is so much more people can do to create communities that live up to Dr. King’s dream.

For the Unifi employees who gathered at this statue, following their own dreams is part of accomplishing Dr. King’s.

“My dream is for my kids, to watch them make their dreams come true and see them happy.” -Sabrina.

“My dream is for a world where people aren’t hurting each other so much – physically and emotionally.”- Esha.

“My dream is for a world where everybody is loved and respected, and we don’t judge how others live their life.” – D’Aaron.

“My dream is for us all to be driven by love for one another. I think about our Unifi values too – find your integrity and empathy and let that guide you.” – Khadijah.

At 4:30 a.m. in Appleton, the sun isn’t even peeking. There’s a biting chill in the air that you only feel in the early fall days in the Midwest. Unifi Station Manager Garrett Bock has just arrived. In a few minutes, veterans from the Vietnam War, the Korean War, and even a World War II veteran begin arriving to check in for the honor flight to Washington, D.C.

There were 182 passengers set to board this early morning flight for a day-long trip to Washington, D.C. More than 90 veterans, accompanied by a loved one, would visit the monuments, go to Arlington Cemetery and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and explore the nation’s capital. The flights are operated by Sun Country Airlines, with Unifi providing above and below-wing services from ticketing and gate check-in to ramp and baggage.

“We have roughly 85 employees here in Appleton,” says Garrett. “And we have some staff members that really like working the honor flight – some of them come from military families, so it means a lot to them.”
Training Supervisor Brian Hass is one of those employees.

“I started working on the honor flights about four or five years ago,” says Brian. “My brother is in the Air Force – he’s been on two deployments to the Middle East and is about to go on a third. My grandpa also fought in the Vietnam War.”

Hass says working the Honor Flights is his way of being able to give back. “Seeing how excited they are so early in the morning but then seeing their faces when they have that welcome home – it’s incredible,” describes Brian. “You can see how much it means to them to see all the gratitude from the community.”

With nearly 200 employees stationed in Maui, Unifi leaders were unsure and worried. Thankfully none of them were hurt and almost all the Maui-based team continued coming to work. Not only did Maui employees show up – many even came in on their days off because the airport had become a ground zero for stranded travelers. Employees from Unifi’s Kona, Seattle, and Palm Springs stations arrived to help as well.

Hundreds of tourists were stranded at the airport according to Unifi managers on the ground and many were bussed in from west Maui where the fire happened.  The airport was overrun the first few days with people sleeping in terminals and anxious to find flights to fly them home. Staff did their best to make them comfortable until they had confirmed tickets – one of Unifi’s regional managers even went out one morning and got pastries and donuts to hand out.

All this was happening alongside relief efforts.

There was an enormous amount of cargo – more cargo than the team has handled in the past. There were dozens upon dozens of packages of food, water, medicine, diapers – every essential item one can think of.  For several days, Unifi team members, along with our airline partners, loaded up the cargo and drove it all down to Lahaina to a distribution center that had been set up. One Unifi leader who was part of the first delivery team describes how eerie it was seeing the devastation and smoke still rising.

While none of Unifi’s Maui team lost their homes in the fires, many took in friends and family who did. The devastation and death toll will never be forgotten by the people of Hawaii and certainly not by those who call Maui home.

Unifi donated $25,000 to the Red Cross’s relief efforts and matched employee donations for a total of $43,000. The company is also hosting an employee drive in Maui next month to reward and celebrate the extraordinary team.

“Our employees are the heart of our company. They are the essential workers who make travel possible, and we knew we had to be with them during this difficult time, just like they are there for us every day,” said CEO Gautam Thakkar.

“We got a call that Flight 1092 was planning on doing a controlled crash landing due to the nose gear malfunctioning,” says Sanz. “Before that, it was just a typical morning – getting ready like we always do for Atlanta inbound flights, and we do about 10 of those a day, so when this call came in, we had to act fast.”

The flight landed at 8:58 am on its back tires – the nose gear didn’t deploy.

“The Delta team and our team connected even before the landing, and we set out to notify airport authorities and the fire department. There were a lot of moving pieces, and we needed to ensure we communicated the right information to the right people, so a command center was also established.”
Thankfully no one was hurt.

“Once we knew crew and passengers were safe, it was a sigh of relief, and then we got to work.” Sanz and his team jumped into action quickly, working with a cross-organizational team of Unifi, Delta, and airport officials to ensure continued passenger safety and mitigate disruption to airport operations.

“The flight attendants deployed the slides for the passengers to evacuate, and emergency response teams – paramedics and the fire department were on the runway to make sure they were all okay,” said Sanz. “Delta took the lead on establishing a command center and passenger care. I wanted to ensure my team, and I could support and take on some responsibility.”

As a leader, Sanz’s job was to keep his team from getting distracted by the noise and activity surrounding the incident. When passengers and crew evacuated the plane, they had to leave all their things behind. Sanz organized a go-team led by his performance manager along with four agents who took point on getting those personal belongings and luggage off the flight, transporting them back from the runway, and creating a process to return everyone’s items to them as quickly as possible.

“We had our go-team ready with supplies and a plan for baggage retrieval, but we had to wait for maintenance to clear us before we got on the aircraft, and I just remember it was a super-hot summer day. The passengers had already been bused to the airport and were on standby until we had the green light to get on the plane.”

The team was allowed to get on the flight at 11 a.m. – more than two hours after the landing. “We rigged a system on the fly with literally giant trash bags, sharpies, and labels because, as it turns out, there is no playbook on how to deal with this piece of it,” says Sanz. “How do we get everyone’s things and then get it back to them? It will need to be specific to that airport and its capabilities, so we had to figure out the best way that works for us.”

While all this was happening, Sanz still had to ensure enough staffing for the other aircraft scheduled that day.

“We were short a runway and had 33 other departures we were responsible for that day. In addition, we were assisting maintenance with anything needed for their work on the grounded flight, including sourcing equipment, and delivering it to them — we had to do that. By the afternoon, Delta executives and its investigative team started arriving, the chief pilot for the 717 came in – and we had to escort all of them to and from the ramp and make sure they had safety vests on.”

Sanz says escorting leaders to and from the site was time-consuming because many people needed to be taken to the aircraft and other areas below-wing.

“All said and done, I think our day ended around 10 p.m. – and for me, it was recognizing there was a lot of attention on this and making sure I delegated and gave everyone specific tasks to keep them focused and to keep our daily operations running smoothly,” says Sanz.

“One of the important things for me was keeping our leadership updated with what was happening all day, and I feel like I did an excellent job with that. I kept them constantly looped in on what was happening on the ground.”

And leadership at Unifi agrees: “Sanz is a strong leader who is passionate about our operations, as well as supporting and mentoring his team,” says Jenn Rosage, regional manager, and Sanz’s supervisor. “One of his strongest attributes is critical thinking, which is what cements the relationship between his team in Charlotte and our business partners. Sanz and his team have earned the trust of the customer, allowing for consistent and seamless collaboration. We are so fortunate to have Sanz at Unifi.”

Nearly a month after the controlled crash landing, Delta recognized (and surprised!) Sanz with a leadership award.

“I knew Delta leaders were coming, and I met with them earlier in the day to discuss operations, and then they asked me to join them again during lunchtime, and I just thought maybe they had more questions or wanted a tour, but they gave me the award and said how appreciative they were of my role from that day.”
Sanz says he credits his team as well as teamwork.

“My team did an incredible job that day. It was one of those events where we had to work with our customers as one team – at that moment, it wasn’t about Delta or Unifi – just all of us working together,” says Sanz. “Because when you first hear crash landing, you think, oh man, how serious is it, and you don’t want to lose anyone. Once it was clear everyone was okay, everything else became easier to navigate, but that safety piece was number one.”

If you ask Willie Ponder, the challenges he’s faced in life have only made him stronger and wiser.
Willie, 64, has worked for Unifi (and Delta Global Services) for nearly 25 years. He started as a wheelchair pusher and is currently a performance manager. He’s also a U.S. Army Veteran – stationed twice in South Korea and for five years in Germany.

Reflecting on his life, Willie says the racism he felt in his youth and military days are moments he won’t forget, but he’s also long since forgiven.

“The first memory I have of really experiencing racism was growing up in Georgia in the 8th grade. It was 1972, and it was the first year they had Black and white kids play on the same football team,” Willie recalls.

“I loved football, and even though I made the team, I never got to try out for the position I wanted. We also learned, years later, that when college scouts visited and showed interest in any of the Black players – the coaches never told us. So, there were many opportunities we were denied, but it doesn’t help to hold on to that anger,” he says. “It takes too much energy.”
When you hear Willie’s powerful outlook on life, it comes as no surprise that one of his biggest heroes is Nelson Mandela.

“He was in prison for 27 years and then became President of South Africa. It’s incredible what he achieved and how much he persevered. I wish more young people looked up to people like that.”

These days Willie says he tries to engage with younger colleagues – especially those of color.

“I try to mentor them, ask them about their goals and going to school, and what is happening in their life. It’s how I’m doing my part.”

Willie also says he feels pride when seeing black industry leaders – pilots and executives. “I wish we had more, but I respect them when I see them because I recognize their journey wasn’t easy.”
As for Willie’s own future?

“I’ll be right here, working in aviation for as long as possible.”

“I would say early in my career, I thought a lot more about being black,” says Amber Godhart, a Unifi Customer Service Agent for Delta Connection, who has been in the aviation industry since 1999. She started with the [now defunct] Mesaba Airlines, then joined Delta Global Services, which became Unifi.

“There were two black men who worked as ramp agents and bag runners when I started out, and they both wanted to be pilots,” she recalls. “They accomplished that goal, and it makes me so happy seeing them today with their stripes and uniform. It warms my heart because I know how hard they had to work to achieve this.”

It’s also why Godhart counts her family – her husband, children, parents, and siblings – as her greatest inspiration. “They are my heroes. The things I know each and everyone has endured yet continue to bring joy and encouragement to the people they love. For that, they are heroes to me.”

Today, Godhart says her skin color isn’t as top of mind as when she started her career, but she always notices when there is a black captain or crew member when she is working and boarding flights. “You still don’t see it often,” she says. “I’ll go weeks without checking in a crew member of color; that speaks to the likelihood. So, when I see them, I’m elated.”

Godhart hopes to see more Black and brown people in the industry. “I think that this is an inclusive place for anyone who has an affinity for air travel, but it can be hard to break into it. Companies and industry leaders should put in greater effort and intention to reach out to people of color.”

According to Godhart, the aviation industry should reach out to communities and schools with greater minority populations. “Come to our schools. Offer more scholarships and mentoring programs. We should want to have a workforce representative of our customers. For many people of color, money and opportunity prevent them from seeing what a great industry this can be.”

“Mary McLeod Bethune, George Washington Carver, Garrett Morgan, C.J. Walker,” the list of notable Black Americans rolls off Tynaia Pittman’s tongue with admiration and ease. “People who are innovators, creators, and people of faith are all I admire,” she says. Pittman has been a Delta gate agent since August 2009 in Minneapolis.

“What I love about my job, other than the ability to travel, is that I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with lots of people from other cultures,” says Pittman. “Even when there have been moments where a passenger or someone else said something negative or ignorant, I always view it as a teachable moment and more often than not I learned that people just didn’t know that they way they were saying or asking something was problematic.”

Living and working in a city as diverse as Minneapolis is also something Pittman counts as a benefit. “Most of my coworkers have been other black women, and I take comfort in coming to work and seeing others who look like me. There is silent compassion as you interact with each other.”

That sense of belonging and compassion has become especially important in the last few years. “When George Floyd happened here, it brought to the surface the trauma that people of color feel, but people were coming through the airport and they would say they were praying for us and hoping justice would prevail. It offered us comfort.”

Pittman says that when such painful acts of racism or violence occur, representation is more important than ever. She hopes to see more Black people in leadership roles at the airport and within the industry.
“When we don’t have people that look like us in leadership, it magnifies the stress, trauma, and worry,” says Pittman. “Representation matters – we need to look like the customers we serve, and if we don’t – we do a disservice to them.”