About the Speaker

In this presentation, Tampa International Airport’s CEO and respected aviation leader Joe Lopano talks innovation, vision and action in a time of great change for his team and travelers alike. Learn what it takes to lead one of our region’s most important economic engines and succeed in today’s evolving business landscape. Joe will discuss how TPA has found solutions and opportunity in the face of challenges brought on by the pandemic, lessons learned and reimagining air travel in a post-COVID world.

Joe Lopano became the CEO of Tampa International Airport in 2011 with an aviation career that spans four decades. A true visionary of the industry, Joe has led tremendous growth and service expansions at TPA. Prior to coming to Tampa, he was the Executive Vice President for Marketing and Terminal Management at the Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport. He got his start in aviation working in Pan Am’s mailroom and held leadership positions at Continental Airlines.

As a civic leader, Joe serves on several boards including the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Visit Tampa Bay, the Westshore Alliance, the Tampa Bay Partnership and the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization among many others. In 2020, he served on Governor Ron DeSantis’ Re-Open Florida Task Force and is chair of the U.S. Travel Association’s Gateway Airports Council.

Joe was named Visit Tampa Bay’s 2015 Ambassador of the Year and received the 2015 Aviation Professional of the Year Award from the Florida Department of Transportation. In 2018, he was named the Airport Director of the Year for Large Airports by Airport Experience News.

Something a lot of people don’t know about- Joe graduated from Pace University in New York while putting himself through college as a New York City cab driver.

Years later, his leadership has garnered Tampa International Airport global recognition and the love and loyalty of millions of flyers.