Local business leaders will help a Florida company find the next boss at Chicago Rockford International Airport.
Local search committee members are:
- Andreas Schell, Hamilton Sundstrand
- Bill Gorski of SwedishAmerican Health System
- Lori Burke, Savant Capital Management
- Sunil Puri, First Rockford Group
- John Holmstrom III, William Charles
- Ken DuFour, Aviation Management Consulting, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University trustee
- Jim Ryan, administrator, City of Rockford
Airport Board Chairman Bharat Puri said people chosen for the local search committee have a “deep investment in the community and know the needs of the airport.”
The will evaluate candidates vetted by ADK Executive Search, Atlantic Beach, Fla., which was hired to find the airport’s next leader. Applications for the job close today.
ADK President Doug Kuelpman, whose firm specializes in hiring management for airports, said he encourages community involvement in searches for an airport’s top job.
“The airport doesn’t just belong to the board,” he said. “It belongs to the community. This is a good way to get some of those folks involved in the process.”
The airport’s executive director is responsible for managing the operation, maintenance and development of the airport and its 40 employees. The position opened last spring when Bob O’Brien parted ways with the board after nine years.
Come on! Since when did it become proper for one of the business leaders named to be related to a member of that airport board?
First of all, I ask the same question as Carol Foster: “Since when did it become proper for one of the business leaders named to be related to a member of that airport boart?” Also, how were these business leaders selected and did the “community” actually have a “say” in this?? Where do the “people” of Rockford factor into this?? I would also like to add that we attended the open house for Frontier Airways at the airport this past Saturday and it was the most boring event that we have ever attended there. Most people came in, had one of Frontier’s fabulous cookies and perhaps a small sandwich before they quickly ran out of ingredients for them, perhaps visited a couple of the tables and registered for a drawing or two, and then proceeded to sit around and wait for whatever else it was that was supposed to take place. Some stood in line to see the interior of the Frontier jet, which was just like the interior of most any jet. We did not see their “entertainment system” in action, which was advertised as being available. One thing was surely missing, the presence and the friendly reception of the people by Bob O’Brien. He was “the airport” in our opinion!!!