Punta Gorda Airport Executive Director Named FDOT Aviation Professional of the Year
Recently, at the Florida Airports Council (FAC) Annual Conference held in Miami Beach, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) named James W. Parish, executive director of the Punta Gorda Airport, the 2017 Aviation Professional of the Year.
Each year the FDOT presents awards honoring superior achievement in the categories of Aviation Professional of the Year, General Aviation Airport of the Year, Commercial Service Airport of the Year, Commercial Service Airport Project of the Year, and General Aviation Airport Project of the Year.
Aspects of aviation to be considered for these awards include airport management, airport construction or maintenance, airport design, air safety, aviation legislation, technological research or advancement, and Florida aviation business.
James W. Parish was selected to receive this prestigious award for several notable achievements that include: resurrecting the airport from a general aviation airport to a small hub commercial airport, following the devastation of Hurricane Charley; surpassing the 1 million passenger milestone within 12 months; developing and implementing a wildlife mitigation plan; overseeing the creation of an Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting unit; construction of an Air Traffic Control tower; maintaining a business model that keeps both expenses low and no debt.
Charlotte County Airport Authority Chairman, Paul Andrews stated, “On behalf of the Charlotte County Airport Authority, I want to congratulate James W. Parish on receiving the 2017 FDOT Aviation Professional of the Year Award. Mr. Parish has played a significant part in the success of the Punta Gorda Airport since his arrival in 2005. Our success continues, under his leadership having recently achieved $208.3 million in local economic impact, 44 consecutive months of passenger growth, and the recent addition of 7 new cities serviced by Allegiant Airlines.”
James Parish was selected over the other two 2017 Nominees: Tom Jewsbury (St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport) and George Stokus (Witham Field).
