Growing up on Long Island’s South Shore, when many teens were riding their bicycles to the movies or the beach, Todd Traynor-Corey was on his way to Long Island MacArthur Airport.
“There was this new airline that was starting to fly to Islip, and I wanted to see the first plane take off,” he said. “It was very early in the morning on a Saturday, and I just got on my bike and rode there. By car it was about 20 minutes from our house, but by bike it was almost two hours. But that’s how geeky I was about air transportation. From the earliest memory I have, I remember being just fascinated with it.”
On Sundays, Traynor-Corey’s father would often take him to John F. Kennedy International Airport’s bustling terminals to take in the action on the tarmac, play games memorizing each airplane’s livery, and collect “anything that I could take that was free, like bag tags or these little brochures they used to have with the flight schedules in them. I still have everything—all organized in an old beverage trolley that I bought at a thrift sale.”
After high school, Traynor-Corey, a self- professed “AvGeek,” chose Farmingdale State College (FSC) for its renowned Department of Aviation, earning a BS in aviation administration and later an MBA from Roosevelt University. Over his high-flying career, he has lived in five U.S. cities and held leadership roles at several top companies, including United Airlines, Northwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and JetBlue Airways.
In 2017, Traynor-Corey joined Alaska Air Group, the fifth-largest airline in the United States, where he was recently promoted to vice president of guest products and experience. He shares that his foundation at FSC has been pivotal to his rising success.
“Personally, I thrived in the environment at Farmingdale,” said Traynor-Corey. “And I really fell in love with the faculty. The professors truly cared and wanted us to succeed. Many were teaching classes while working in the industry. So, there are things I learned that I use even today, in my everyday world, like with airline operations, doing the right thing, being safe, and taking care of the customer. It went beyond just passing the class. I got to experience people who were really doing it—not just the theory of it, but doing it. And that inspired me.”
“It’s wonderful to see that Todd has not only applied the Aviation Department’s practical ‘real world, hands-on’ learning, but also skillfully applied our professional advice to advance and be successful in the exciting field of aviation,” said Department of Aviation Associate Professor Louis Scala, who taught several of Traynor- Corey’s classes.
“Work hard and be your authentic self— with a Farmingdale education, you’re going to go as far as you want to go.” Todd Traynor-Corey, ’05
In his current role based in Seattle, Traynor- Corey oversees the strategic vision, operational execution, and delivery of best-in-class guest products and overall experience for more than 41.5 million travelers per year.
“My team and I consider every detail that a guest may see or interact with,” he said. “It’s a lot of pressure, but at the end of the day, it’s about getting in the right mindset. I love making an impact on people’s lives and being able to bring moments of joy when they’re traveling. Whether it’s our amazing cup of coffee or our signature fruit and cheese platter, so much thought and care go into creating this great experience they’ll remember. It’s a privilege to be able to do that…I do love my job,” he added.
“Todd stands out for many reasons,” said Shelby Shenkelman, commercial manager of lounges at CAVU. “He is performance-driven yet patiently leads, providing his team with the space and support they need to learn and grow. Working with him has always been easy, thanks to the open and collaborative environment he fosters. I’m proud to call Todd a friend and even prouder of all he has accomplished.”
For FSC students looking to elevate their own professional journey, Traynor-Corey offered powerful validation. “Look for that spark, something that lights you up,” he said. “You’ll start to find pieces of things that fall into place for you, and that turns into a pathway. Work hard and be your authentic self—with a Farmingdale education, you’re going to go as far as you want to go.”
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