Airports Council Announces New Leadership Additions

January 11, 2023

WASHINGTON – Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA), today announced new leaders to the ACI-NA Board of Directors, the U.S. Policy Council, the Canadian Policy Council, and the World Business Partners/Associates Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2023.  ACI-NA is the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada.

“For the last 75 years, ACI-NA has forged a solid reputation for success because of the volunteer leaders who contribute their time, talent, and energy to help lead us in times of change or challenge,” said Sam Samaddar, Airport Director for the Kelowna International Airport and Chair of the ACI-NA Board of Directors.  “I am confident these new leaders will carry on that tradition in this moment as we continue to focus on resiliency and innovation.  I look forward to working alongside these passionate industry leaders to advance key North American airport priorities in 2023 and beyond.”

“These newly elected leaders of our organization bring broad industry expertise and a deep understanding of the unique challenges we face,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “With their support, ACI-NA remains committed as ever to our mission to advocate policies and provides services that strengthen the ability of airports to serve their passengers, customers, and communities, just as we have for the last 75 years.”

ACI-NA Board of Directors

Justin Erbacci, CEO of Los Angeles World Airports, Alexis Higgins, CEO of the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust, Myron Keehn, President and CEO of the Edmonton Regional Airports Authority, Tory Richardson, President and CEO of the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, Ricky Smith, Executive Director and CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration, Tamara Vrooman, President and CEO of the Vancouver Airport Authority, Patrick Wilson, President of the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority, Lesa Seibert, Commissioner for the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, and Brian Reed, Aviation Development Director for Burns & McDonnell, were elected to serve on the ACI-NA Board of Directors.

Canadian Policy Council

Johanne Gallant, President and CEO of the Fredericton International Airport Authority, has been named chair of the CAC’s Small Airports Caucus and Stéphane Poirier, President and CEO of the Québec City Jean-Lesage International Airport, was named vice chair of the CAC’s Small Airports Caucus. James Bogusz, President and CEO of the Regina Airport Authority, has been elected to the CAC’s Canadian Policy Council.

U.S. Policy Council

Huntley A. Lawrence, Chief Operating Officer for The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Perry Miller, President and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Commission (Richmond, VA), Jeff Mulder, Airports Director for the Oklahoma City Airport Trust, Nicole Noll-Williams, President and CEO of the Capital Region International Airport (Lansing, MI), Alan Wapner, Ontario (Calif.) City Council Member and President of the Ontario International Airport Authority, and Brian Reed, Director, Strategic Initiatives for Burns & McDonnell, were elected to the U.S. Policy Council.

World Business Partners and Associates Board of Directors

Michael Hotaling, Chief Executive Officer for C&S Companies, has been elected chair of the ACI-NA World Business Partners and Associates Board of Directors.  Lynn Gordon, Vice President of Business Development for Arconas Corporation, has been elected vice chair.  Brian Reed, Director, Strategic Initiatives for Burns & McDonnell, will become immediate past chair.  Arica Gately, Senior Director, Airport Business Development for CLEAR, Patrick Murray, Deputy Chief Executive Officer for SSP America, Inc., and Courtney Thornton, Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Business Development for Hudson, were elected to serve on the WBP/Associates board.  Cheryl Stone, Director, Stakeholder Relations for Nieuport Aviation Infrastructure Partners, was named the young professional liaison for the WBP/Associates board.

Visit the ACI-NA website to see the organization’s full leadership roster.

 

About ACI-NA

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Approximately 380 aviation-related businesses are also members of ACI-NA, providing goods and services to airports. Collectively, U.S. airports support more than 11.5 million jobs and account for $1.4 trillion in economic activity – or more than seven percent of the total U.S. GDP. Canadian airports support 405,000 jobs and contribute C$35 billion to Canada’s GDP. Learn more at www.airportscouncil.org.