The Public Works Podcast: Charlene Reynolds Episode

Title: "Cross Country Leadership Journey: Guidance from the Director's chair on Success in Aviation" Episode Summary: The Public Works Podcast co-host, Shane Silsby, sits down with Charlene Reynolds, Airport Director at Orange County's John Wayne Airport (airport code SNA), to trace a remarkable 40-year career in public service — from a high school internship at the IRS to leading one of Southern California's most important transportation gateways. Charlene shares lessons from her time in Phoenix, Houston, and Southern California, including the pandemic moment that defined her aviation career, how she built community trust at SNA, and her vision for the airport's future. ⏱️ Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro & Welcome 1:32 — Early Career: Finding Public Service 1:43 — IRS Internship at Age 16 4:14 — Mentorship & Early Experiences (Alton Washington) 6:47 — Turning Point: Shifting into Aviation 8:42 — The Pandemic as a Defining Moment 10:49 — Working Across Multiple Geographies (Phoenix → Houston → Orange County) 12:04 — Adapting Leadership Style Across Regions 12:43 — Reconnecting SNA with the Community (200+ Meet & Greets) 15:19 — Proudest Projects & Career Legacy 15:42 — Modernizing Terminals A & B / Creating a Sense of Place 20:22 — Air Service Development: Visiting Every Airline HQ 22:16 — Next-Generation Aircraft & Noise Reduction 24:20 — Artificial Intelligence at the Airport 26:22 — What Actually Causes Flight Delays? 29:27 — Federal Funding & the Important Restroom Upgrades 35:02 — J.D. Power #1 Ranking & the Trust Factor 38:34 — Advice for the Next Generation of Leaders 39:43 — The 92,000-Streetlight Re-Lamping Project in Phoenix 42:31 — SNA Air Academy & the "Destination SNA" Podcast 46:08 — Closing Thoughts 46:44 — Outro: Like & Subscribe 🔗 Resources & Organizations Mentioned: • John Wayne Airport (SNA) — Orange County's airport, sixth-largest county in the US • J.D. Power — Annual airport passenger satisfaction survey • FlightAware — Flight tracking tool for monitoring delays • FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) — Tower funding and infrastructure grants • "Destination SNA" — John Wayne Airport's own podcast • SNA Air Academy — 7-week behind-the-scenes community program • City of Phoenix Street Transportation & Aviation Departments • ADOT, UDOT, WSDOT, Montana DOT — State DOTs from Charlene's engineering firm years • Visit Newport, Visit Anaheim, Orange County Business Council — Regional tourism partners 👍 Call to Action: If you enjoyed this episode, hit the LIKE button and SUBSCRIBE to The Public Works Podcast so you never miss a conversation with the leaders shaping our infrastructure. Share this with a friend or colleague in public service — it helps us spread the word and bring you more content. Have a question or a content idea? Drop it in the comments below and we'll get back to you! REMINDER: Check out "Destination SNA" — John Wayne Airport's podcast for an inside look at airport operations: search "Destination SNA" wherever you listen to podcasts. #tpwp #OCJWA #DestinationSNA #localgovernments #ThePublicWorksPodcast #Leadership #Aviation #JohnWayneAirport #OrangeCounty