Linda Rutherford is Vice President of Communication and Strategic Outreach for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the nation’s largest airline in terms of domestic Customer boardings. Responsibilities include overseeing Employee Communications, Public Relations and Creative Services, Emerging and Multi-Media, Corporate Outreach and Preparedness, and Community Relations and Charitable Giving. Prior to joining Southwest Airlines in 1992, she was a reporter for several Dallas-area suburban newspapers as well as with the Dallas Times Herald, and she began her career with Newsweek magazine in New York. Linda is an honors graduate of Texas Tech University; 1988 Outstanding Journalism Graduate; 2002 Outstanding Alumni of the Texas Tech College of Mass Communications; 2008 PR News Hall of Fame inductee; and 2009 Texas Tech College of Mass Communication Hall of Fame inductee. She is involved in many civic activities, including Vice Chairman for Community Relations, board of the Lewisville Independent School District’s Educational Foundation; member, Texas Tech Mass Communications Professional Advisory Committee; member, board of directors of the Press Club of Dallas Foundation; Vice Chair of Public Relations, board of the National Safe Place; member, Texas Tech Alumni Association’s National Board of Directors; and member, board of directors of Friends of Texas Public Schools.