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Issue link: http://airportbusiness.epubxp.com/i/193245
40 under forty AGE 32 JUSTIN PIETZ ❘ JUSTIN Pietz'grandfather was an aviator and flew a B25 in WWII and his uncle flew F4 Phantoms. Aviation is in the genes in this family. He recalls wanting to work in the aviation industry at a very young age. That desire led him to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he received a Bachelor's degree in aerospace studies and a pilot certificate. Pietz began his aviation career working as a line service technician for a FBO in Grand Junction, Colo. Working there provided him with a solid understanding of daily airport operations. He then joined Armstrong Consultants in 2004, quickly progressing from airport planner to senior airport planner, and he now leads the Planning and Environmental Department PRINCIPAL, AIRPORT PLANNING MANAGER ARMSTRONG CONSULTANTS INC. at Armstrong in the role of planning manager. As a principal of the firm, Pietz helps set strategic vision, facilitates complicated and controversial public involvement meetings, conducts quality control reviews on all planning materials, prepares Scopes of Work, develops project fees, contributes to the development of Statements of Qualifications, participates in consultant selection interviews, and ensures his projects are delivered in a quality manner, on schedule and within budget. Pietz' aviation planning expertise includes airport master plans, site selection studies, landuse compatibility planning, aircraft noise evaluation, airport emergency plans airport financial plans and airport certification manuals. His project experience includes an immense variety of projects, ranging from small general aviation airport development to regional commercial service airport planning studies. Since joining Armstrong, Pietz has successfully completed more than 70 airport planning projects at over 40 airports across the western United States. His efforts have contributed to the growth of Armstrong Consultants from a firm of only 27 employees when he began in 2004 to an extremely successful firm of more than 40 airport dedicated professionals today. YEARS IN AVIATION 13 "It's really satisfying when you're working as an airport planner and laying things out on paper, and you then come in as a pilot and land on the pavement that you sketched and laid out. There is a lot of satisfaction in that." JUSTIN PIETZ, PRINCIPAL, ARMSTRONG CONSULTANTS INC. AGE 28 SHANE WRIGHT ❘ "THE wide variety of projects I work on over the course of any given day is the most exciting and challenging aspect of my job," says Shane Wright, assistant airport director of Manhattan Regional Airport (MHK). "I can go from a budget meeting, to a terminal construction project discussion, to being called out onto the airfield to haze wildlife or conduct an inspection." In this role, Wright is responsible for administration and oversight of MHK's daily operations. The Manhattan, Kan. commercial service airport, located in the Flint Hills of Northeast Kansas, sees more than 60,000 annual passenger enplanements and has an economic impact exceeding $46 million to the region. Wright's primary responsibilities include over- 32 airportbusiness October 2013 ASSISTANT AIRPORT DIRECTOR MANHATTAN REGIONAL AIRPORT sight of FAA Part 139 Certification, airfield and building maintenance, training, budget administration, wildlife management, snow removal operations, emergency planning, and general aviation development. Additionally, as part of the airport management team, Wright assists in airside and landside construction oversight, marketing, lease development and negotiation, and air service development efforts. While at Manhattan, Wright has been instrumental in the airport receiving an FAA Part 139 Airport Certification Program Medal of Excellence. Wright is additionally involved with the City of Manhattan Safety Committee, where the airport has received consecutive awards for best departmental safety record. Prior to working at Manhattan, Wright worked as an airport management intern at the Dane County Regional Airport (MSN). Wrights' working career in aviation started at Wisconsin Aviation, the largest full-service FBO in Wisconsin, working in the charter and marketing departments. Wright began his aviation career with flying lessons at Wisconsin Aviation's Watertown FBO in high school. He attended the University of Dubuque where earned Bachelor's degrees in aviation management and flight operations. He continued his education at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater MBA program, graduating with degree emphases in both YEARS IN AVIATION management and marketing. 6