Johnson named chief of XNA operations

HIGHFILL — Longtime Director Kelly Johnson was named chief operations officer for Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport during a conference call Wednesday morning.

Johnson has been director since the airport opened and was on the short list to replace retiring Executive Director Scott

Van Laningham, a job that ultimately went to Aaron Burkes.

“This is part of the organizational structure of the CEO, chief operating officer, chief finance officer and then, at some point, a chief business development officer,” Van Laningham said Wednesday. “We have now checked two of those four boxes off.”

The business development position will be new. Terry Franklin is the chief financial officer and has said he plans to retire soon.

Board members wrapped up the conference call in about seven minutes.

“While several of the duties were included with my former role, one of the

most exciting opportunities is being a party to the shaping of the new organization. This will include working with our board, CEO and team to identify new positions and their associated job functions, reporting lines of authority, etc.,” Johnson said Wednesday. “We have to grow the staff to keep up with passenger and traffic demands, all the while preparing for the future at a more visionary level.”

Boardings in 2017 hit 725,284 passengers, a 3.7 percent increase over 2016, and the first time the airport eclipsed 700,000.

Airport officials expect more than 1.3 million travelers a year will pass through the gates by 2035, and they’ve been developing long-range improvement plans to accommodate those visitors.

Consultants, the airport board and staff members have identified 15 terminal improvement projects estimated at $223 million to meet long-term passenger demand on both the land and air sides of the terminal. The projects include parking decks; terminal rotunda, concourse and gate expansions; expanding security and baggage claim areas, arrival and departure lobbies, and administration space; and improving access for aircraft.

Johnson gets a salary bump from $158,000 to $185,000. The new title and position will be effective Nov. 1.

Burkes’ annual salary is $205,000. Burkes is expected to start Nov. 1, Van Laningham said.

He worked in banking and real estate development in Northwest Arkansas before taking a job in economic development in Iowa. He represented Rogers in the state House of Representatives from 2007-09. He most recently served as president of the state finance authority.

Russell Reynolds Associates, an executive search firm, handled the search for Van Laningham’s replacement and is expected to recommend how duties will be divvied among top management and what the organizational chart will look like. The board is paying Russell Reynolds about $200,000.

The regional airport has 47 employees and a 2017 budget of about $24 million.

Johnson