Title: Vice President of Finance
Firm: Hillsborough County Aviation Authority
Age: 39
Tony Conza has played a big role in the expansion of Tampa International Airport, including bringing in international airlines and nonstop domestic flights, growing reserves and improving airline operating agreements.
Passenger numbers continue to increase. Conza has led multiple financings for the airport's multibillion dollar capital program as he strategically plans for future aviation needs that serve both the local community and air travelers.
After graduation, Conza joined the financial leadership development program at Brunswick Corp. and spent two and a half years at a Michigan-based manufacturing plant. He then moved to consumer beverages. Conza loved flexing his financial skills but wanted to do it back in his home state of Florida.
Conza's dad was in aviation, so Conza spent a lot of time at airports in his youth.
Working for Tampa International Airport combined finances with aviation in a unique way. "An airport is like a mini city," explains Conza. "We have our own fire and police departments. We pride ourselves on being a very well-run airport. There's never a dull moment."
The greater Tampa area is undergoing a revitalization and the airport infrastructure needed to expand to support growth.
In 2024, Conza was actively involved in the airport's $462 million issuance that will add a fifth airside terminal with at least 16 gates that open new service possibilities from South America and Europe as well as domestically. The project, currently under construction, is the first set of gates the authority has built in more than 20 years and positions the airport for further expansions.
In addition to pride in the transactions he's worked on, Conza is also proud of the relationships he's built while becoming a leader in the aviation sector.
