Our Team
We love our people! J|D gathers elite professionals from varied disciplines and cultures to enrich our insights in the global aviation industry. Experience the wealth of knowledge and innovation that only diverse perspectives can offer.
Lecko Sylvester
Director
Airline Services
Lecko Sylvester brings more than 23 years of experience in working with airlines and property projects. This experience has ranged from analyzing budgets and leases to representing mainline carriers on airline-airport affairs committees. This work included negotiating and administering lease and operating permits with airports throughout the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and South America. Mr. Sylvester uses his experience in representing airlines as well as customer service to provide a holistic perspective that considers the needs of the airlines and their ability to deliver exceptional customer experience to their passengers. Currently he is engaged as ALO supporting the US Virgin Islands AAAC and will lead the J|D team through the P3 negotiations and implementation.
Mr. Sylvester is an exceptional project manager, often being responsible for representing his clients’ interests across dozens of properties at a time. As the Caribbean Properties and Airport Affairs lead for American Airlines’ Corporate Real Estate department, he oversaw a portfolio that included a total of 57 properties across 42 destinations. In this role, he engaged with stakeholders at each location to represent the airline’s interests during annual operating and capital budget reviews, rates and charges negotiations, lease and use agreements, and during airport master planning projects. His deep experience in these various areas make him a flexible resource that can address his clients’ every need.
Q & A with Lecko
What Do You Love About This Industry?
The aviation industry is large yet small enough that it’s a small world. You see people at conferences you haven’t seen in a long time and it’s like time has not passed. It’s an amazing industry with constant change. Always evolving, always something new on the horizon.
Why did you join J|D?
Sandra approached me. And after the interview I was sold. The diversity in the organization was a breath of fresh air. Although, I’d planned to be retired and had just bought new brewery and espresso equipment.
What advice would you give someone starting out in this industry?
Be a sponge and soak it all up. Be open and willing to learn.
What professional project are you most proud of?
At US Airways, which was the 6th largest airline at the time, I was responsible for international ticketing. One of my biggest accomplishments, was opening international stations starting service to Lisbon, Venice, and Brussels. We’d fly to the city and make sure that the airport was fully equipped to start when the agents came back from training. One year we did five openings in two weeks. It was stressful but fun and rewarding. I learned a lot!
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I love experimenting with recipes and making my own beer and hot beverage drinks. For a while I was into latte art. Not sure how many gallons of milk I wasted practicing.
Where is the best place you’ve traveled to and why?
St. Martin. It is a mix of two worlds the Dutch and the French, which gives it an interesting culture. And it is very relaxing. Secondly, St. John, 2/3 of the country is a national park, it is untouched and pristine.
What would you do (for a career) if you weren’t doing this?
Something related to the hospitality. Something about serving others and putting a smile on someone’s face. In high school I used to cut out photos of hotels and imagine opening one. My goal at one point was to open hotel in the Virgin Islands.
What’s something that you’ve always wanted to try or learn?
A deeper understanding of the romance languages, everyone once a while I open my mouth to speak Spanish and French comes out. I would like to improve my Spanish, French and Portuguese.
Tell us something that might surprise us about you:
I grew up in Idaho, Spain, England, and Germany so though I’m from the Virgin Islands I love to snow ski. And though I was born in Puerto Rico I can’t speak Spanish very well.
Do you follow any sports teams?
The Baltimore Ravens because I lived in Pittsburgh and most of my friends were Steeler fans, so I had to be contrarian.
What or who has been your biggest professional influence?
My first boss at the airlines Dan Dunn. He’s been such a positive mentor and influence. Dan was always there when you needed him and wasn’t when you didn’t. Dan was the guy that demonstrated how to be a great manager.
