DuPage Airport Board Chooses New Director

DuPage Airport Board Chooses New Director 
Chicago Daily Herald, IL

Posted 12/20/03 


David W. Bird has resigned as aviation assistant director of operations and 
maintenance at Colorado Springs Airport to head the DuPage Airport in West 
Chicago, officials in Colorado said Friday.

DuPage Airport Authority board members are expected to formally vote on his 
hiring at 4 p.m. Monday, concluding a lengthy national search.

"We wanted the best person available," said board member Peter Huizenga, who 
would not confirm Bird's identity. "I think the search committee did a fine 
job."

The DuPage Airport has a nine-member board of commissioners, but its budget is 
overseen by the county board.

Bird replaces longtime director Gordon Cole, who often clashed with county 
board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom.

Schillerstrom said he kept out of the search process because he didn't want it 
to be a political issue.

"I said my advice is to do a nationwide search and find the best person to 
provide the best leadership," he said. "It would be extremely unfair to put 
(the airport board) in charge and then dictate who they hire. I'm confident the 
person they brought in is going to be the very best person." 

Bird, 49, worked most recently on development of a 427-acre business park 
adjacent to the Colorado Springs Airport. The DuPage Airport is in the process 
of developing an 800-acre high-tech research park on its property.

Huizenga said the board looked to hire a director who could lead development of 
the airport's real estate.

"I don't think the tech park was as much of a concern," Huizenga said, "but 
part of running an airport really is real estate. The tech park is all being 
put together so well and the board is on top of everything."

Bird has been in Colorado Springs for five years, said Erica Hupp, the Colorado 
Springs Airport spokeswoman. He came to Colorado from El Paso, Texas. He is 
married with a daughter.

Bird could not be reached for comment. Hupp said he was in the Chicago area for 
the weekend, but is not expected to be at Monday's board vote. 

His resignation is effective in January, she said.

Bird comes from a state's second busiest airport to Illinois' third busiest. 
However, the Colorado airport caters to commercial flights, while the DuPage 
Airport specializes in small planes and corporate aircraft. It handles no 
commercial flight operations.

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