New Board Members and Awards at the Annual Conference

April 18, 2019

The Ohio Aviation Association held its annual conference, themed “Building Something Better!” on April 9th and 10th. Our annual conference provides airports, and businesses that serve airports, the opportunity to learn about the latest trends of the airport and aviation industry, hear from Federal Aviation Administration and Ohio Department of Transportation officials and mingle with peers. Additionally, Mr. David Baker, President and CEO of the Pro-Football Hall of Fame and Ms. Shelly Simi, President and CEO of the National Association for State Aviation Officials, were special guest speakers.

"The 2019 Annual Conference provided great opportunities for education, sharing knowledge and networking," said Lance Wanamaker, President of the Board of Directors of the OAA. "Ohio has a strong group of airport professionals who help in ‘Building Something Better’ for the future of Ohio. We were very appreciative that Representative Rick Perales (District 73), Chair of the Ohio Aviation and Aerospace Technical Committee, joined us to speak to our members about the importance of airports and aviation for the State’s economy.”

OAA’s Annual Business Meeting, held Tuesday afternoon during the conference, presented its slate of officers as well as nominations for new Board members. This year we were pleased to welcome three directors-at-large:

  • Thomas Franzen, City of Springfield. As the City’s Assistant Manager and Director of Economic Development, Tom has been a part of Springfield Airport’s efforts to connect businesses with aviation. He has also been a key player for integrating unmanned aerial systems (UAS) research into an airport environment.
  • Scott Gibbons, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). Currently the Vice President of Business Administration, Scott has been at CVG since 2002. CVG serves many Ohioans and Scott brings the perspective of a neighboring state.
  • Carlos Ruiz-Coll, Ohio State University Airport. An OAA volunteer for a few years, he is currently the Manager of Business Development and Airport Administration for the airport. Carlos participated in the recent master planning effort for his airport and helped the airport integrate drones into airfield operations tasks.


Officers for the 2019-2020 year were also elected at the Annual Business Meeting:

  • President: Lance Wanamaker, PE, PMP, Associate Vice President of Michael Baker International
  • Vice President: Russell Mills, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Director of the Center for Regional Development at Bowling Green State University
  • Treasurer: Gary Folden, Treasurer/Secretary for the Jefferson County Airpark
  • Secretary: Rick McQueen, recently retired President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Airport

The President’s Banquet, held on Tuesday evening, provided the perfect opportunity to present awards to those who exemplify the goals and objectives of the Ohio Aviation Association. OAA was pleased to award the following:

  • Airport Manager of the Year: This award recognizes an individual within the industry who has been an outstanding spokesperson, educator, innovator and advocate for aviation in Ohio. Selected nominees demonstrate how their support through research, business development, technical assistance and community relations has been pivotal to the aviation industry. OAA was pleased to present this award to Mr. Elton Cultice, Jr., of Grimes Field in Urbana, Ohio.

  • Airport of the Year: This award goes to an airport that puts into practice the association's mission of promoting aviation by providing a medium for the exchange of ideas, methods, information and experiences. This award is an acknowledgment of an airport who has made extraordinary accomplishments in moving its airport program forward and helping move Ohio aviation forward. OAA was pleased to present this award to the Van Wert County Airport. The award was accepted by Van Wert County Airport Board President Michael Keysor and Airport Manager Steve Bailey.

  • Aviator of the Year: This award recognizes an individual within the industry who has been an outstanding spokesperson, educator, innovator and advocate for aviation in Ohio. Nominees should demonstrate how their support through outreach, business development, technical assistance and community relations has been pivotal to the aviation industry. OAA was pleased to present this award to Mr. Rick McQueen, the recently retired President and CEO of the Akron-Canton Airport.
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