By Steve Huettel, Times Staff Writer
Friday, August 27, 2010
Four airport executives have been picked as finalists to replace former Tampa International Airport executive director Louis Miller, who resigned six months ago.
The group includes the bosses at airports in Fort Lauderdale and Providence, R.I., but no one from Tampa International. TIA interim executive director John Wheat and at least one other senior executive applied for the top job.
Michael Bell of the search firm Spencer Stuart forwarded resumes of the four candidates to Hillsborough County Aviation Authority board members earlier this week. The finalists are scheduled to appear before the board nest Friday, with a final decision expected at the October board meeting.
The finalists are:
• Kent George, director of Aviation for Broward County, which operates the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. He previously served as executive director of Pittsburgh International Airport.
• Kevin Dillon, chief executive of T.F. Green Airport in Providence. He was deputy executive director at Orlando International Airport in 2007 and 2008.
• Lester W. Robinson, former top executive of Detroit Metro Airport from 2002 until the Wayne County Airport Authority decided not to renew his contract in May.
• Joseph Lopano, executive vice president of marketing at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. He previously worked in executive positions at Lufthansa Airlines and Continental Airlines.
Wheat and any other local candidates might not be out of the running yet. Al Austin, chairman of the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority, said he would consider current TIA executives if board members aren't overwhelmed by any of the four finalists.
"I would not rule John Wheat out,'' he said. "I always like to leave the door open.'' But Austin didn't know if the other four board members would agree to open the field of candidates.
Miller resigned in February after clashes with some members of the aviation authority board.
Earlier this week, he was named among three finalists for the top staff job at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's largest airport. Robinson also is a finalist for the position.
Steve Huettel can be reached at huettel@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3384.