Nov. 5—Wilmington's airport has named a new director following the sudden departure of former director Julie Wilsey earlier this year.
During a regular meeting on Wednesday, the New Hanover County Airport Authority Board unanimously voted to name Jeffrey Bourk as the next airport director and enter into a three-year contract with him.
Bourk will become director of Wilmington International Airport on Jan. 3. Gary Broughton will continue serving until the airport's interim director until the end of 2021.
After voting on June 8 to opt out of the employment agreement with Wilsey, the airport authority formed a search committee and contracted with a national search firm to help find a new leader.
They received a total of 107 applications for the job. Bourk stood out from the others because of his 25 years of experience in airport management, his experience leading business development initiatives and in bringing in "new fixed base operators and new airlines to airports," Donna Girardot, the chairman of the airport authority, noted in a press release about Bourk's selection.
"The Airport Authority members all feel that Mr. Bourk's strategic approach, new synergy, and career aviation knowledge will help ILM grow to heightened levels of excellence and we look forward to working with him," Girardot wrote in the release.
Bourk currently serves as the executive director of Branson Airport located in Hollister, MO, a position he has held for 14 years. Bourk previously served as an assistant airport manager for Portland International Jetport and worked in operations management roles for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey at Teterboro Airport, according to the release.
He has a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in aviation management from Daniel Webster College and a Bachelor of Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He's also an accredited airport executive and a certified private pilot, the release states.
Bourk said he's excited about the opportunity to lead change at the airport as work on the terminal expansion continues, new businesses establish themselves inside the airport's business park and more nonstop flights are added.
"I look forward to creating and implementing strategic air service development and business park plans," Bourk said, "ensuring ILM contributes the maximum economic impact to the region, bringing in additional flights, and ensuring our business operations align with sustainable growth to provide high-quality service for residents and visitors."
Reporter Emma Dill can be reached at 910-343-2096 or [email protected].
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