Florida: Tampa airport's new director says he's fixing problems

TAMPA --  After becoming Tampa International Airport's chief executive Jan. 1, Joe Lopano found "some facilities entering first stages of decline, a largely unmotivated and unchallenged staff, little coordination with the community and other important stakeholders."

The statements came in his self-evaluation, dated July 30. The Hillsborough County Aviation Authority – Lopano's boss – meets Thursday to talk about his contract and whether to put a bonus clause in his contract.

In his self-evaluation, Lopano wrote that "operational metrics such as passengers, revenues and more importantly our Wall Street debt ratios were declining while our airline costs were increasing and there was no plan in place to change the momentum.

"I believe our facility renovation plans, employee engagement and performance based evaluations have changed these concerns," Lopano said in the document, which was prepared as part of his first performance evaluation by the aviation authority board.

The board at the Oct. 6 Hillsborough County Aviation Authority meeting reviewed the individual evaluations its five members submitted. Lopano received a 4.8 average on rankings of 15 job duties, with "5" the top ranking, indicating "outstanding" accomplishments.

The board by a 3-2 vote on Oct. 6 approved a $50,000 raise for Lopano, whose base salary is $250,000. Lopano declined the raise, citing poor economic times.

Instead the board opted to review Lopano's employment contract and consider incentive program options at a 2 p.m. workshop Thursday at the airport.

Lopano said in the self-evaluation his budget would improve the bottom line by almost $5 million a year as compared to prior management.

He listed 14 areas of performance improvements, including lowering the cost per passenger for airlines that is critical to keep local air fares low, creating the airport's first air service incentive program and marketing initiatives, along with "building improved relationships with media partners.

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