Cedar Rapids Airport Commission to hire search firm

CEDAR RAPIDS - The chairman of the Cedar Rapids Airport Commission expects an executive search firm will be hired to help conduct a nationwide search for the next director of The Eastern Iowa Airport.

Josh Schamberger said the commission's labor and personnel committee will consider several search firms as it moves to replace Airport Director Tim Bradshaw, who resigned Wednesday.

'I will probably get with Pat Baird, the commissioner who assists me on the labor and personnel committee, within the next week,” Schamberger said. 'We also will probably tap Commissioner Marcia Rogers, who has some experience and management recruiting. We will review those firms fairly quickly and get one hired.”

Schamberger, president and CEO of the Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the commission is expected to name Donald Swanson, director of finance and administration, as interim airport director. Swanson served in that capacity after the resignation of Dan Mann, who resigned in December 2009 to become executive director of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport Authority in Columbia, S.C.

'With Don's tenure and familiarity with all phases of the airport's operations, it's just appropriate to ask him to fill that role,” Schamberger said.

Bradshaw's resignation came seven weeks after Gene Cossey was named director of operations for The Eastern Iowa Airport. Schamberger said Cossey has the experience and credentials to handle the role of interim airport director, but Swanson has more familiarity with the operation of the regional airport in Cedar Rapids.

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission will meet Friday morning by telephone to consider Bradshaw's resignation.