Log in

News

<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   Next >  Last >> 
  • January 19, 2024 9:01 AM | Anonymous
  • October 19, 2023 1:50 PM | Anonymous
  • October 09, 2023 12:26 PM | Anonymous

    Each year, the Wisconsin Airport Management Association recognizes individuals who have made an impact on aviation in the state!

    Airport Engineer Award:

    Terry Donovan, Mead & Hunt  

    Terry has been with Mead & Hunt since graduating with a Civil Engineering degree from UW-Platteville. He is the project manager for Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport, Dane County Regional Airport, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in South Carolina, and routinely assists with other airport projects. He is a tremendous asset, contributing to the success of the airports with which he works. He balances complex projects at multiple airports while ensuring projects are completed safely. Terry goes the extra mile, often working after hours to ensure projects stay on track. Additionally, he volunteers his time, serving on the Wisconsin Aviation Conference planning committee to provide a high-quality WAC event for the benefit of all airports in Wisconsin. 

    Midwest Flyer Magazine Photo by Dave Weiman


    Distinguished Service Award:

    Charity Zich, Chippewa Valley Regional Airport

    Charity has served the users of the Chippewa Valley Regional Airport for 17 years as the airport director. She continually makes outstanding contributions to Wisconsin aviation through her tenure at the airport and on the WAMA Board of Directors. Charity has helped the board keep its past in sight while working on the airport challenges of today and tomorrow. Her uniquely pragmatic problem-solving approach has been most evident in her successful efforts over the years to keep commercial air service at her airport. Charity is a leader in her community and the larger aviation community in Wisconsin and beyond.

    Midwest Flyer Magazine Photo by Dave Weiman


    Lifetime Service Award:

    Bob O'Brien

    Bob worked in the aviation industry for nearly four decades – for airports and WAMA. He served in leadership roles at various airports throughout Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, and Georgia. The list of airports is long, including Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse, Platteville, Fort Wayne, IN; Dubuque, IA; Springfield, IL; Brainerd, MN; and Columbus, GA. In 2012, after nine years of running the Chicago Rockford International Airport, Bob was appointed the executive director of WAMA and served in that position until 2020. He also served 20 years in the U.S. military, mostly in the National Guard and Army Reserves.



    Blue Light Award:

    Dick Knapinski, EAA

    Dick has promoted aviation for more than thirty years. He has been EAA’s director of communications since January 2010, having advanced to that position after serving as a member of EAA’s public relations/marketing staff since 1992. His responsibilities include liaising with the media representatives who report on EAA activities throughout the year. Those activities include the annual EAA AirVenture Oshkosh flyin, which has a yearly attendance of more than 600,000 and draws 10,000 airplanes and over 800 international media members to Oshkosh. Before joining the EAA staff, Dick worked for broadcast and print media outlets throughout Wisconsin. He continues to contribute as a writer for newspapers and magazines, and he co-authored the book EAA Oshkosh: The Best Aviation Photography. 

    Midwest Flyer Magazine Photo by Dave Weiman


    Person of the Year Award:

    Abe Weber, Appleton International Airport

    Abe, airport director at Appleton International Airport, has served on the WAMA Board of Directors since 2012 and is a past president of the organization. He has been an active leader in the organization’s advocacy, leading past efforts to pass sales tax exemptions for aviation parts and labor in Wisconsin. As a WAMA governmental affairs committee member, Abe has shepherded efforts to pass legislation to help the state’s airports deal with nuisance wildlife over the past year. He continues to look for opportunities to improve aviation for all Wisconsin airports.


    Midwest Flyer Magazine Photo by Dave Weiman

    Congratulations to all!

  • July 28, 2023 2:54 PM | Anonymous
  • May 30, 2023 1:05 PM | Anonymous
  • January 31, 2023 1:22 PM | Anonymous
  • October 20, 2022 1:17 PM | Anonymous
  • October 17, 2022 4:06 PM | Anonymous

    Each year, the Wisconsin Airport Management Association recognizes individuals who have made an impact on aviation in the state!


    Airport Engineer Award:

    Ryan Falch, SEH

    Ryan, now a senior engineer with SEH, has assisted many airports in part 139 inspections, Capital Improvement and Master Planning, and runway reconstruction. For four years while a member of the MSA’s Aviation division, he designed, engineered, and managed several large-scale projects at Alexander Field (KISW) in Wisconsin Rapids. What sets Ryan apart is his dedication to familiarizing himself with the airfield, community, and stakeholders. 



    Distinguished Service Award:

    Michael Stephens, Dane County Regional Airport

    Michael currently serves as the Director of Operations and Public Safety for the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison. He has been an invaluable resource and friend to Wisconsin airports in many professional capacities, including as a former FAA Certification Safety Inspector for the Great Lakes Region. Michael is always willing to assist when called upon by his fellow airport operators, and his vast knowledge and extensive connections will be greatly missed when he retires.



    Lifetime Service Award:

    Randy Van Natta, Becher Hoppe

    Randy served as president and CEO of Becher Hoppe Associates, an engineering consulting firm in Wausau, Wisconsin, from 2004 through 2021. While president, he continued to actively consult on airport improvement projects and provide quality assurance reviews. His passion for aviation kept him involved in airport consulting. Randy and Becher Hoppe are long-time supporters of the Wisconsin Airport Management Association and the Wisconsin Aviation Conference. Since the beginning of 2022, Randy has served as a senior consultant at Becher Hoppe.



    Blue Light Award:

    Frank Pipia, Jr., TSA

    Frank is the TSA stakeholder manager for Wisconsin. In this role, he wears many hats, all of them well. Frank handles strategic communications and public affairs, graphic design, and public and media relations. He works closely with Wisconsin’s congressional delegation and often invites delegation members to tour Wisconsin airports while Congress is in recess. Frank also coordinates and promotes TSA Pre-Check enrollment events. During COVID, Frank was a steadying presence, relaying to the public the positive things airports implemented to keep the traveling public safe.



    Person of the Year Award:

    Josh Holbrook, WBOA

    Josh is a project manager with the Wisconsin Bureau of Aeronautics. Project managers typically are only assigned one commercial service airport. Still, Josh has juggled Chippewa Valley Regional Airport (EAU) and Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport (GRB) on multiple occasions, including the last year. Both airports have an extensive capital improvement program and have added additional projects with CARES and AIG funding. Josh always supports airports aggressively pursuing funding opportunities and never says no when asked to help with another project. Even when stretched thin due to staffing shortages and additional federal grant programs, Josh delivers for his airports.



    Congratulations to all!

  • July 17, 2022 12:40 PM | Anonymous
  • May 17, 2022 1:47 PM | Anonymous
<< First  < Prev   1   2   3   Next >  Last >> 
Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software