FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 7, 2015
LONG BEACH, CA —Outgoing Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) Chair James C. Cherry, President and CEO of Aéroports de Montréal, turned over the chair position of the ACI-NA Board of Directors to Maureen Riley, Executive Director of Salt Lake City Department of Airports, during a special reception on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at the ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition in Long Beach, CA.
“Today, North American airports are facing significant challenges that require us to be more creative and strategic in the way the industry approaches solutions,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “Under Jim’s leadership, ACI-NA advanced airport priorities through effective collaboration, both within the aviation industry and with nontraditional partners. We appreciate his hard work and dedication to our association.”
“As our new chair, Maureen will bring broad industry expertise and a deep understanding of the challenges our industry faces each day in Washington and Ottawa,” Burke said. “We look forward to her leading our work to develop innovative ideas to ensure that the North America airports remain globally competitive for the years to come.”
“I am honored and excited to become ACI-NA chair,” said Maureen Riley. “North American airports are leaders in the global aviation system, but we are at risk of falling behind as other regions invest in improving their infrastructure and customer service. Over the next year, we must use our voice and continued collaboration to affect positive change.”
Maureen Riley has led the Salt Lake City Department of Airports since February 2007. She previously worked at Orlando International Airport and as an aviation industry consultant with Leigh Fisher Associates and Roy W. Block Consulting. She is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania and is a Certified Public Accountant.
As part of the annual officer rotation, William R. Vanecek, Director of Aviation at Buffalo Niagara International Airport, moved in to the Vice Chair position and Cherry will serve as the Immediate Past Chair. Charles Everett, Executive Director of Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, Bryant L. Francis, Director of Long Beach Airport, Kelly Fredericks, President and CEO of Rhode Island Airport Corporation, and Miguel Southwell, General Manager of City of Atlanta Department of Aviation, were elected to the Board of Directors.
New members were also announced to the 2015 ACI-NA World Business Partners/Associates Board of Directors during at the 2015 ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition, including Gert-Jan de Graaff, President & CEO of JFK International Air Terminal LLC, James T. Jarvis, Senior Vice President at Ricondo & Associates, Inc., Bret A. Pilney, Vice President of Aviation & Facilities at Burns & McDonnell, and Ana Sotorrio, President of Aviation Strategies & Trade Solutions, LLC.
Other announcements included the election of Deborah Ale Flint, Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports, Howard Eng, President and CEO of Greater Toronto Airports Authority, and Miguel Southwell, General Manager of City of Atlanta Department of Aviation, to the ACI World Governing Board. Lew Bleiweis, Executive Director of The Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority, and Joyce Carter, President and CEO of Halifax International Airport Authority, were also elected as ACI-NA Regional Advisors of the ACI World Governing Board.
A complete list of the ACI-NA Board of Directors and leadership is available here on the ACI-NA website.
