JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Extended-time airport engineer Cory Cree was named the new manager for John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport on Tuesday.
With passenger counts skyrocketing, expansion in company aviation and new economic enhancement chances opening, Cree explained the Richland Township facility is poised for accomplishment.
“Enplanements are on the rise,” he reported. “I see the airport as rising now.”
Cory Cree
For the duration of July, 1,223 travellers got on business flights at Johnstown – additional than any solitary month considering the fact that July 2005, when the airport recorded 1,236 enplanements.
In addition to welcoming Cree as supervisor, the Johnstown-Cambria County Airport Authority on Tuesday voted to authorize the use of about 130 acres of airport home to build a Keystone Opportunity Zone. Richland’s college board, Richland Township supervisors and Cambria County commissioners beforehand agreed to support the KOZ, which exempts the house from area actual estate taxes for 10 several years.
“The KOZ could provide a great deal of company to the airport,” Cree claimed.
Cree, 47, joined L.R. Kimball & Associates in 2001 and was assigned the Johnstown airport that similar year. As the airport engineer, Cree has overseen all new construction and updates at the facility.
“I have a familiarity with the airport that none of the other professionals had,” he stated.
Jack Babich, chairman of the authority staff committee, reported Cree experienced been interviewed for the career 2 times in advance of.
“We could never ever get to a funding amount to retain the services of Cory,” Babich reported.
Cree was employed at a salary of $100,000 a yr.
He replaces former supervisor Chad Gontkovic, who resigned in May possibly mainly because his navy marketing intended he would not have time for the career. Gontkovic had the career for about 15 months, at a salary of $75,000 a calendar year. The past supervisor, Thomas Keyes, was in the placement from June 2017 by way of December 2019 and was hired at $60,000 a yr.
Authority Chairman Rick McQuaide claimed it may well have been a lot more than the funding that saved the prior authority boards from choosing Cree rather of Keyes or Gontkovic.
“Nobody wants to shed their engineer,” McQuaide reported.
Also at Tuesday’s conference, assistant supervisor Heather Tomasko was promoted to executive assistant supervisor, with a wage to be negotiated. Tomasko has been performing manager since Gontkovic stepped down.
“I believe that (Cree) and Heather will be a staff for a extended time that usually takes the airport ahead,” Babich said. “We are excited to have Cory.”
McQuaide stated Cree’s familiarity with airport functions and ongoing assignments will make the changeover seamless.
“He’s not coming not knowing what the work is and hoping to determine it out,” McQuaide mentioned.
On Tuesday, Cree launched Jim Hood, of Kimball, who will consider about as airport engineer.
Randy Griffith is a multimedia reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. He can be attained at 532-5057. Comply with him on Twitter @PhotoGriffer57.
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