Eastern Iowa Airport director search on track

CEDAR RAPIDS - A new director for The Eastern Iowa Airport is expected to be announced the middle of next month.

Josh Schamberger, chairman of the Cedar Rapids Airport Commission, on Monday said four finalists and their spouses will arrive in Cedar Rapids on Nov. 15.

'They will tour the Corridor that weekend,” Schamberger said. 'On Monday, Nov. 17, they will have a series of meetings that will include Cedar Rapids City Manager Jeff Pomeranz.”

Schamberger said the commission will meet to decide which candidate will be offered the position. He said a decision likely will be announced by Nov. 19 or 20.

The commission launched a nationwide search for a new director after the resignation of Tim Bradshaw in September. Just more than four years after joining the airport as director, Bradshaw left to become executive director of the Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport in Virginia.

Bradshaw directed the regional airport during a period of passenger growth, including eight straight months of record passenger numbers. During his tenure, the airport completed an in-line baggage system, new ticket counters, an upgraded ground transportation area and new Master Plan.

Schamberber said the commission's labor and personnel committee received applications and resumes from a number of well-qualified candidates to succeed Bradshaw. The commission approved a $21,000 agreement with ADK Consulting of Astoria, N.Y., to help conduct the search.

Gene Cossey, airport operations director, had indicated he planned to apply for the airport director position. Cossey, who joined the airport in August, previously wassenior manager of airside operations and safety at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

Whoever succeeds Bradshaw will inherit a $46 million, multiyear terminal modernization project. The airport, which will not incur any debt for the project, will make its last remaining bond payment in June 2015.