2020 Airport Business Top 40 Under 40: Tim S. Damrow, A.A.E.

Tim Damrow was fascinated with aviation as a kid. His grandfather was a navigator in a B17 during World War II and Damrow had plans to follow in those footsteps by becoming an Air Force pilot.

A peanut allergy dashed those dreams, but Damrow still found a path into aviation and is now making a difference for airports.

"Simply put, its in my blood. Everything about aviation is just freeing and amazing,” he said. “Also, seeing the community that aviation creates where everyone has a common love and passion, it's pretty inspiring to be a member of that group.”

Damrow has worked at Missoula Montana Airport (MSO) for five years. He worked for Allegiant Airlines and was hired at the airport a manager of ground handling.

He was quickly given the additional responsibility of managing all of the airport's technology. Damrow was then tapped as project manager for MSO’s new terminal project. 

Damrow fully embraced the challenge of managing a $67 million terminal project and has become an invaluable member of the construction team coordinating all of the activities of the design team and the contractor while balancing the airports needs and ability to fund the various elements of the project.

He also lead the MSO team on launching a new website and worked to implement new dynamic advertising throughout the terminal. Damrow also lead the airport team in the implementation of Veoci to better manage all Part 139 processes, lease management and emergency response activities.

"Everyday is different and provides me the opportunity to learn something new everyday,” he said. “Working in a smaller airport allows constant exposure to different aspects of airport operations.  At the end of the day, work is fun, I don’t look at it as ‘having to’ go to work, I ‘get to’ go to work.”

Damrow completed his AAAE accreditation and is now working to mentor others in the state of Montana as they work towards accreditation.

In addition to his other duties, Damrow was one of the driving forces behind the 1st annual Montana Airline Rendezvous. The idea behind this event is to bring airline route planners to Montana to experience what Montana has to offer so that they have a better understanding of why people might want to fly there. The Rendezvous has been deemed a success by all and has resulted in record passenger traffic to the state of Montana.