T8 concessions employee embraces the role of ambassador 

A veteran employee at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 8 knows the importance of being an ambassador to passengers arriving in New York—or even the United States—for the first time.   

With more than 10 years of experience under his belt, Queens resident David Rayman recently started as General Manager of the Mezze Cafe and Bar locations in Terminal 8.  

In his new role, David takes great pride in training new employees and delivering outstanding customer service to make a terrific first impression on passengers.  

“The airport is challenging, everything is different than what you would find outside of the airport,” David said. “But it is new faces and new excitement every day. Plus the community of employees really makes a difference. That is what has kept me excited to come to work every day.”  

David is a staple around the airport where he is normally  seen working from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. but also visits on his days off to make sure everything is running smoothly. He oversees a staff of more than 55 people while tending to other restaurant needs including inspections and customer service.  

David began working at JFK in 2012 as a manager in a pizza restaurant, working there for 10 years. After taking a well-deserved long vacation to visit relatives in London, David returned to the airport to seek a new career opportunity where he was quickly hired by Mezze.   

A native of Bangladesh, David and his family not only live in Queens but they truly embrace all that Queens has to offer. His wife is a pharmacist at the Queens Metropolitan Hospital, his daughter is earning her master's in Pharmacy at York College and his son attends Queens College, where he is in the process of becoming a New York City Police Officer. 

“David is a great example of a dedicated employee who takes pride in his employment at JFK and being a Queens native,” said Jaclyn Aull, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) Operations Manager, JFK T8. “We hope more people follow in his footsteps and pursue the amazing career opportunities there are at JFK now and in our redevelopment.”