GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. Over sixty applicants for the manager of the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority have been whittled down to just two.
The two finalists, David Fiore and Bill Mckown had their final interview today in front of the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority Board, employees, and the public.
The new airport manager will replace Rex Tippets, who was fired last year after an FBI fraud investigation.
"We are looking for fit, and for vision, and strategy development,” said GJRAAB’s David Murray who chairs the selection committee. “Not only in terms of how we need to continue to develop the airport short and long term, but also how we want it partnered with our community partners.”
Add an unfinished airport building, a new runway, and low passenger numbers, the new manager will have a lot on his shoulders.
"I am more than confident to step in and bring in some of the work experiences and education that ive obtained over the years,” said candidate David Fiore.
Fiore, who lives in Eagle, says he has been in aviation since he was fifteen years old.
He has a strong real estate, attorney, and pilot background and has served as property manager for the San Francisco International Airport.
His first priority, he says, is aligning the airport with the community's vision.
"Identifying ways to address items like the unfinished building and what are some of the alternatives for that,” said Fiore. “In contrast to the expansion of the runway to meet the future needs of the airport.”
Second candidate Bill Mckown is from Pensacola, Florida and spent 35 years in the Navy. He retired as a navy aviator and went into airport management. He has served as Executive Director of Terre Haute International airport in Indiana and Airport Manager in Pagosa Springs.
The issue he wants to tackle: sustaining our commercial airlines.
"We need to keep them in here,” said Mckown. “We don't want to pay for their service to come in here and just transport a few folks out. This is the gateway to Western Colorado, or to Colorado itself for the interior. If we get that message out there I think more folks will use this airport.”
And his future vision: bringing space operations to the airport.
"The possibility of launching a large aircraft and reaching space,” said Mckown. “How that's done its pretty darn technical, but the opportunity is there.”
Murray says the main thing he wants to see a new manager tackle is updating the strategic plan, and airport development – specifically, acquiring funding for the new airport runway which could cost up to 100 million dollars.
A new airport manager will be chosen on July 21st, in just under two weeks.
Source: http://www.nbc11news.com
No comments:
Post a Comment