14
SEPTEMBER2015
AMERICANWAY
We’d love tohearwhatyou
thinkaboutourairlineand
ourservice. Visit
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up todateon the latest
developmentsandbenefits
fromAmericanAirlines.
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Strength in
Diversity
PERSPECTIVE
ASAGLOBALAIRLINE
,weofferour
customers theopportunity toexplore
different countries, culturesand ideas
around theworld.Asemployees,we
canbetterserveyoubybeingpartof a
company thatproudlypromotesdiversity
fromwithin.
Everyyear,AmericanAirlinespresents
employeeswhohavedemonstrated
leadership indiversityand inclusionwith theEarlG.Graves
Award forLeadership.Nominatedby theirpeers, these team
membersarehonored formakinga lasting impression in the
workplaceand in theircommunities.
It ismyprivilege to introduce toyou the2015honorees:
MohamedEl-Sharkawy,CarlaFink,VaritaSheltonandEd
Pizza. I inviteyou tohear from themonhow they’rehelping
tochangeAmericanand theworld.Onbehalf of these four
employeesand the 100,000others throughoutAmericanwho
aremakingadifference, thankyou for flyingwithus.
LINDAKOZMA
HR staffassistant and2014EarlG.Graves recipient
Chicago
MOHAMEDEL-SHARKAWY
LineMaintenanceTraining
Phoenix
“Every religionhasmanybeautiful
and sacredpractices, and knowing
themeanings behind themnormally
changes perspectives. Imparting that
knowledge tomy colleaguesmakes
Americanbetter, and it’s part of why
I got involved indiversity efforts
after Sept. 11, whenmy religion and
faithwerehijackedby terrorists.
I helpededucate crewmembers
onMuslimetiquetteprior to
launching service toTel Aviv and
continue to sharewhat I knowwith
colleagues everyday.”
CARLAFINK
AllianceSales
Dallas/FortWorth
“We are all encouraged, eachof us,
touseour gifts to stepout andhelp
make theworld abetter place. I was
born and raised inJapan.Asmy
brother and I were theonlynon-
Japanese childrenat school, I learned
early that diversity enriches our souls
and inclusiongives us peace.
Today,my ability to collaborate
and speak Japanesehelps strengthen
American’s relationshipswithour
partner airlines. By reachingout to
peoplewho aredifferent thanwe are,
we learnmore andgrowmore.”
EDPIZZA
TowerOperations
Chicago
“We live in aworldof labeling.We
have all witnessed it andwhether we
want to admit it or not, wehave all
labeledothers.Andwhenwe label,
wedisable.
Beingpart of somanydifferent
ideas and attitudes from thosewho
cross our paths inspiredme tohelp
organize a special airport event in
Chicagowithhelp fromourAbilities
EmployeeResourceGroup. The
event gives autistic children the
opportunity tobecome familiar with
the travel process.Althoughnot
actuallyflying, we take them through
check-in, boarding andmore.We
want all of our customers to feel
comfortable andwelcome.”
VARITASHELTON
Reservations/QualityManagement
Raleigh/Durham
“America is referred to as a ‘melting
pot,’ andAmericanhelps foster that
belief. Every year I help coordinate
theAdopt-an-Island campaign for
adifferent island in theCaribbean.
Theprogramdonates items for local
assistancegroups andhelps refurbish
buildings.
Anorganization is strongest
when all links in the chain are strong,
and that’s part ofmy job as an
employee– tomakeus as strong and
as inclusive as possible.”
From left:MohamedEl-Sharkawy,CarlaFink,VaritaSheltonandEdPizza
