Jai Ferrell, C’2005, who has been serving as the interim assistant general manager at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport will now have the role permanently. The announcement was made Nov. 18, 2020. As assistant general manager, Ferrell’s responsibilities include oversight of the Airport’s commercial development division, which is responsible for properties and airline affairs, concessions, parking, advertising, external real estate development, air service development and marketing and brand strategy.
Ferrell, who most recently served as the airport’s director of marketing, recently launched the airport’s ATL Experience ambassador program, which features Hank Aaron, Sara Blakely, Dikembe Mutombo, Killer Mike, Ludacris and a host of Atlanta-based influencers.
A member of the 2019 Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 40 Under 40 class, Ferrell earned a degree in theater studies from Spelman. In an question and answer interview published several years ago on the Phi Beta Kappa website, Ferrell answered a question that will inspire the world, but particularly those interested in a liberal arts education:
How did you parlay the skills you acquired in college into a career?
"The marketing profession is unique because there isn’t a standard path or blueprint for career progression. Starting with an undergraduate degree in theater studies from a women’s college, I’ve worked for a championship baseball team, produced an animation series for a cable network, marketed award-winning news programming, planned marketing initiatives for high school sports, completed product launches for beauty brands. Interesting career combination, right? Each experience prepared me in my current role managing marketing at the world’s most traveled airport."
Read the Full Interview