THE BASICS
Name: Amber Achilles Ritter
Title: Managing deputy commissioner/chief commercial officer
Company, city: Chicago Department of Aviation; Chicago, Illinois
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I wavered between an attorney and a teacher … and went the lawyer route. Fun fact about yourself: I’ve spent more than 20 years of my career working for the city of Chicago; I’m proud of my decades of public service.

If you could go anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go and why? I’d hop on a plane to Ireland. I’ve been all around the world, and Ireland stands out as a place to recharge. It’s a beautiful place full of amazing people.

A LITTLE BIT MORE
What two nonessential items would you want if you were on a deserted island?
A snorkel and a diving mask because I’d want to make the most of my time and explore.

What person or experience most influenced your choice of career?
Not one person, but many. I have worked with a lot of dedicated public servants across different administrations and periods. I am influenced by their joy and dedication to a common goal, and the decision to spend their career influencing the daily lives of the people. Chief among these is Commissioner Jamie Rhee, who recently announced her retirement after serving as a decades-long inspiration for many, myself included.

What is your favorite song, and/or who is your favorite musician/band?
My answer has been the same since I was 12 years old: U2!

If you had a time machine, would you travel to the future or back to the past? Why?
I would travel to the past to learn more about historical events. Aren’t we all already on a time machine to the future?

THE BUSINESS
How would you describe your leadership style?
I’m a collaborative leader, and I use encouragement to foster enthusiasm. Work is stressful enough; I don’t need to micromanage. I want my team to feel excited for the work we’re doing. My colleagues are experts in the various subject matters my job covers, where I may not be, so I need to hear from them as much as they may need me to manage them. What predictions do you have for the travel industry over the next year? We’re in an uncertain time as far as the economy goes. However, amid the move to return to the office, we’re also in a time when people need a vacation and a respite. I believe the air industry is ready to meet those demands.

What is your or your team’s proudest professional achievement?
The release of our current RFP for ORDer Up! — our plan for a complete refresh of the concessions in O’Hare’s terminals 1 and 3. The years-long project is currently on the street and marks a historic opportunity for small businesses. One of the project’s many goals is to bring more Chicago flavor to the airport.

What project are you currently working on?
We are at the exciting juncture of planning our commercial spaces in our upcoming satellite concourses and O’Hare Global Terminal, including concessions, clubs, advertising spaces and other great passenger amenities which will keep our airports competitive into the future

AS A TRAVELER
What’s the greatest lesson you’ve learned about customer service?
You have to put yourself in the shoes of the travelers, especially in the airport industry. When people are in unfamiliar settings in potentially stressful or chaotic situations, public facilities need to be as clear and as accessible as possible.

What’s the first vacation you can remember taking?
From the time I was an infant, we visited my grandparents in Florida, where they wintered. We flew ORD to Fort Lauderdale, and all of my earliest travel memories involve the beach in Florida.

What are your travel pet peeves?
I’m on a restricted diet due to allergies, which makes it difficult to find food, especially at airports. As the CCO at O’Hare and Midway, I’ve thus ensured our new procurements meet a variety of diets and food needs.

Share your favorite travel experience: I’ve traveled frequently, but a trip that stands out is a cruise of the Great Lakes with my dad, stepmom and husband. It was right after the pandemic, and it was just so refreshing to be traveling again and to be with family. And even having spent my whole life in the Midwest, I still learned so much.