Eastern Iowa Airport director leaving for South Carolina

The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission will conduct a nationwide search for a new director of The Eastern Iowa Airport.

Dan Mann, director of airport, announced his resignation Wednesday. He is leaving to become director of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, S.C.

He will begin his new duties on Feb. 1.

Mann became airport director on July 11, 2005, with an annual salary of $100,656. He succeeded Larry Mullendore, who retired after 15 years as airport director.

During Mann's tenure, the airport has invested $1.2 million in an upgrade of the passenger terminal's C concourse, a $2.7 million glycol retention facility for airplane de-icing and a $5 million public safety building.

Work will begin late spring on a $47 million reconstruction of the airport's 62-year-old primary runway as well as the intersection with a secondary runway. Mann convinced the Federal Aviation Administration to pay for extending a parallel taxiway to the main runway to serve as a temporary runway during reconstruction.

Mann said the decision to leave Cedar Rapids was not easy. He praised airport staff, the community and the commission.

“When the folks from Columbia called, I was intrigued with the area. I liked the fact that it's the state capitol and has the university there,” he said.

“The airport has excellent air service and the climate was such that I felt I really needed to take a look at it.”

Airport Commission Chairman Dan Theis said the commission is sorry to see Mann leave.

“I'm not surprised with his talent that he would be sought after,” he said. “We are going to miss his leadership, his energy and skills at getting things done.”

Columbia Metropolitan Airport is “really excited” to have Mann become its new director, said Larry Koester, chairman of the Richland-Lexington Airport District, which operates the Columbia airport.

“Dan's reputation at Cedar Rapids for getting things done was a strong factor in his consideration for the Columbia Metropolitan Airport director's position,” Koester said.

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