The executive director of Little Rock National Airport, Adams Field, is departing after guiding it for 13 years.
Deborah Schwartz, 53, announced Thursday that she had submitted her resignation, effective Nov. 30.
"Because of my desire to pursue other professional opportunities, I have elected to resign," she said in a prepared statement.
Her announcement came after the Little Rock Municipal Airport Commission met in private for 30 minutes to "further consider the position of executive director at this airport," said Larry Lichty, chairman of the commission. It was the third such meeting the commission held this year, the others coming in January and July.
In a brief interview, Schwartz said her resignation came by "mutual agreement" between herself and the commission. Six of the seven commission members were present for Thursday's meeting.
About 150 employees work for the airport, which has an annual operating budget of $29 million. The airport, the state's largest and the nation's 82nd largest, is home to companies employing about 3,500 employees with annual payrolls exceeding $200 million.
The airport's economic impact on the region and the state is more than $1 billion a year, according to an estimate prepared last year for the Arkansas Department of Aeronautics.
Given her experience and reputation, Schwartz will have no trouble securing another high-level post within the industry, said Kelly L. Johnson, airport director at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport at Highfill. Johnson and Schwartz are among just seven industry-accredited female directors running the 120 small-, medium- and large-hub commercial-service airports in the United States.
"She's been courted by head hunters," Johnson said. "If she chooses to stay in this business, she'll have no problem." The resignation had been in the works for some time, according to a "transition agreement" between Schwartz and the commission. The agreement, which pays her a $153,523 salary for one year after her departure and indemnifies the commission from any litigation in connection with the resignation, was given to Schwartz on Aug. 16, so it was prepared some time before then.
Little was said about the resignation beyond the prepared statements from Schwartz and Lichty, who had high praise for the outgoing executive.
"During the past 13 years, Schwartz has been instrumental in leading our professional staff in building a world-class facility with many excellent services for which we are most appreciative," Lichty said. "Furthermore, we all wish Deborah the very best as she continues her career, knowing that she will be a positive asset for any organization she may have the opportunity to join." Under Schwartz's tenure, the airport's net annual income went from $3.6 million to $5.1 million, its annual operating budget more than doubled from $13.1 million, it added two carriers to the seven carriers that were operating in 1994 and added 10 new nonstop destinations for a total of 19.
The airport also remodeled most of the terminal building under Schwartz's guidance and is preparing to remodel the ticket lobby as part of a project to install an inline baggage system.
"She's done a tremendous job at Little Rock," Johnson said. "It's modern, clean and functional. I've always admired her skills and ability." Schwartz's departure comes as the commission weighs what to do with the airport's aging terminal, which opened in 1973. The commission is considering replacing it at a cost of $230 million. It may choose a less expensive renovation and expansion.
Virgil Miller, a commission member, said, "Deborah's done a wonderful job; the staff is capable and we're going to carry on." Missing from Thursday's meeting was a Schwartz ally, Kay Arnold. Arnold, an Entergy Arkansas Inc. executive, was traveling after attending a Nuclear Regulatory Commission hearing on Wednesday.
"I'm happy for Deborah," Arnold said from Atlanta. "She's done what she wants to do here and she's moving on." Dr. Carl Johnson, who from his seat on the commission has been critical of Schwartz's management style, wished Schwartz well.
Schwartz arrived at Little Rock National in November 1994 after being chosen from among a field of 200 applicants to replace the late James Rodgers. Before then, she held the top job at Worcester Municipal Airport in Massachusetts.
Schwartz said Thursday that she was undecided about her next move. She said she would remain in the Little Rock area until her daughter finishes her senior year at Central High School.
"She has too much invested [in school], and I have too much vested in her to compromise the completion of a truly stellar academic career," Schwartz said.
This article was published 09/21/2007
