"Michigan airport to seek input on new director"

Tuesday, April 2, 2002

Airport to seek input on new director
Board to learn in survey what area wants in leaders
By Lori Hayes
The Lansing (MI) State Journal


The Capital Region Airport Authority wants to hear from the community before
it hires its next executive director.

Airport board members voted Monday night to conduct a public survey of what
Greater Lansing wants in its airport and airport leaders.

"I want this to be an open process, getting input from the community and all
the stakeholders," said board member Tim Hughes.

Executive Director Tom Schmidt announced his retirement Friday. Schmidt, 63,
led the Capital City Airport for 13 years. Board members said his departure
was sudden and two cited health reasons.

On Monday, the board named Deputy Executive Director Mike Lynn as interim
director.

Schmidt's retirement is effective July 1, after his contract expires June
30. However, his last day on the job will be Friday. He is on vacation this
week.

Under an agreement approved Monday, Schmidt will continue to receive
benefits and be paid his $112,000 salary until June 30, when he also will
get $49,000 for unused vacation and sick time.

Board Chairman Paul Hufnagel praised Schmidt for his leadership, crediting
him with guiding the airport's series of expansions in the 1990s.

Lynn, who has been with the airport for 12 years, plans to apply for the top
post. His priorities include building stronger relationships with the
community and attracting more low-fare airline service.

"We have to bring all those partnerships into the fray and let the air
carriers know it's not just the airport and the city talking," he said.

Board members said they are looking for someone to revitalize the airport,
which has been struggling the past two years.

Capital City lost three of its eight airlines in the past two years and
local boarding was down 20 percent last year.

The board voted to set up a three-member committee to guide the search
process. It also might hire a professional search firm.

The board plans to outline its search parameters at its May 6 meeting.

Hughes said he wants the process to involve community leaders, including the
airlines, General Motors Corp. and Michigan State University.

"It may be that Mike's the best person," Hughes said. "We owe it to
ourselves to take a broad look at what's out there."

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