The World Series starts on Friday when the Philadelphia Phillies battle the Houston Astros. You might say TSA had its own World Series when several TSA teams recently took to the diamond for bragging rights during a special softball tournament in Orlando, Florida.
TSA airport teams from Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New York’s John F. Kennedy International and Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport came together to swing and show off their softball talents.
Michael Silata, Orlando International Airport assistant federal security director for screening, called it an honor to play with those who carry out TSA’s mission. Participants included TSA officers, training and management personnel.
“Anytime you have an opportunity to play ball and couple that with TSA participants from varying airports, it makes for an exciting and rewarding teambuilding event,” said Silata. “It was a pretty amazing feeling to see the number of those who participated, especially the level of dedication throughout the tournament.”
A special ceremony kicked off the softball tourney, which included an opening message from Orlando TSA Federal Security Director Pete Garcia, followed by the national anthem and the Orlando Honor Guard displaying our nation’s colors before the tournament’s first pitch.
Team Orlando took home the championship trophy at the end of the three-day competition, which Silata believes promoted employee morale and commitment to each other.
“This provided opportunities for employees to get to know one another off of work and allowed for a stronger sense of teamwork while back on the job,” he emphasized. “This was a great opportunity to share our local successes and encourage other airports to join in the activities. We built rapport with TSA employees from other airports while participating in the friendly competition.”
Silata and the team are looking forward to next year’s tournament, tentatively planned for New York City, and making another run for the championship trophy.
By Don Wagner, TSA Strategic Communications & Public Affairs