"Oklahoma City Appoints Riverside Airport Director to Head City Airport Operations"

Wednesday, October 5, 2005

Oklahoma City Appoints Airport Director to Head City Airport Operations
The Daily Oklahoman


The Oklahoma City manager on Tuesday appointed the airport director in
Riverside, Calif., to head operations at the city's three airports.

Mark Kranenburg, a Ponca City native who worked nine years for Oklahoma
City's airport department, will take his position as the city's airport
director in early November.

The appointment comes at an exciting and pivotal time for Will Rogers World
Airport, officials said, as the airport's $110 million renovation and
expansion project is about two-thirds done.

"It is exciting to be coming back when the Will Rogers Airport is enjoying
such a successful renovation," Kranenburg said.

But it's no time for complacency, he said.

Kranenburg wants to see businesses rent land on the airport's fringe and
hopes to expand airline service to the city. Oklahoma City recently awarded
a contract to an air-service consultant, who's doing a marketing study to
help bring more air routes to the city, said Karen Carney, the airport's
spokeswoman.

Kranenburg also said he'll consider a new airport master plan that accounts
for recent airport changes.

Kranenburg has lived in California since 2002, but says he's watched
Oklahoma City "explode with development."

"Things are very bright in Oklahoma City from an outside perspective," he
said.

As airport director, Kranenburg will take charge of all operations at the
city's three airports -- Will Rogers, Wiley Post and the Clarence E. Page
Airport. More than 60 people applied for his job, which pays a $115,000
annual salary.

The city manager appoints all but three department heads in Oklahoma City's
government, said Karen Farney, the city's spokeswoman.

City Manager Jim Couch said in a statement released Tuesday that
Kranenburg's familiarity with Oklahoma City's airport system and vision for
the future made him well-suited for the position.

Carney said excitement is high at Will Rogers. She said she worked with
Kranenburg for six years in Oklahoma City before and thinks he'll fit in.

"He has an incredible amount of enthusiasm," she said. "He loves aviation,
he loves airports -- that's really important for a position like this. I
think he'll do a great job."

Kranenburg succeeds Luther Trent, who served as airport director from 1993
to Sept. 15, when he retired to teach. In the interim, Airport Maintenance
Manager John Goodwin serves as active director.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dcfp/dcboard.php


*****************************************