Airport Business

NOV 2015

The airport professional's source for airport industry news, articles, events, and careers.

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November 2015 airportbusiness 37 As a child, George Morris Stokus says he always enjoyed airplanes and airports. When it came time to choose a career, he says decided an aviation career would be both meaningful and enjoyable. Today, he specializes in air- port management where he strives for excellence in service; facility and asset management that is greener, cheaper and safer; and economic development for airports. Stokus is currently the airport manager for the Martin County Board of County Commissioners, a position he's held since 2010. Recently, Stokus and his staff were honored as the Florida Department of Transporta- tion General Aviation Airport of the Year for 2015. Prior to holding this role, he was the airfield manager for Kissimmee Gateway Airport for nearly seven years. He has a Master's degree in Public Administration from Keller Gradu- ate School of Management and a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. Stokus is the staff chair for the United Way Campaign for Martin County Board of County Commissioners. Stokus also works hard to help recruit future talent to aviation, saying that "as an industry we have to be even more proactive to introducing future generations to all the aspects of aviation. There are so many careers and opportunities in aviation; we just need to inspire folks to go after them." To that end, Stokus aided in the development of an Aeronautical Science program for the local STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) school in Martin County. DID YOU KNOW? WATKINS is learning Spanish and plans to work at a major airport in a Spanish speaking country in the near future. DID YOU KNOW? STOKUS aided in the development of an Aeronautical Science program for the local STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) school in Martin County. George Morris Stokus: Directs Future Generations to Aviation Project Manager - DFW Airport / TRIP Lea+Elliott Age: 35 Years in Aviation: 5 Memberships: ACI-NA, GWBAA (Greater Washington Business Aviation Association), AMAC Airport Manager Martin County BCC Age: 34 Years in Aviation: 13 Memberships: AAAE, FAC, CFASSP Will Watkins' career path has been one of planes, trains and automo- biles. From roadway design to light rail transit construction, Watkins has been on an endless ride for excitement. He enjoys the level of intensity that comes from managing over $150 million dollars of work at one of the world's busiest airports, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW). Watkins is employed by Lea+Elliott Inc., headquartered in Grand Prairie, Texas. Watkins is currently a project manager for several construction projects for the $3.2 billion Terminal Renewal and Improve- ment Program at DFW airport, including the new DART Rail Station at Terminal A and new parking garage at Terminal E. The DART Rail Station was a unique project with the station structure being designed and built by DFW Airport's Team while the tracks, traction power, signal and communications were designed and built by DART's Team. The existing Terminal D Parking Garage was ret- rofitted to receive and intuitive Parking Guidance Sys- tem complete with dynamic way finding and real-time counting and monitoring. The Terminal E Enhanced Parking Structure Project includes a new carousel roadway system with dedicated entry and exit road as well as a new 4,000-car garage. From his experience, he feels a technical approach to project management is the most effective way to obtain consistent project success. Will Watkins: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

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