Jim Szczesniak, the new airport manager, will give an update on upcoming changes at the Ted Stevens International Airport. This will include information on future development projects and efforts to increase the tourism industry with additional flights from new markets.
Jim Szczesniak (says-knee-ak) is the executive in charge of the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. Ted Stevens is the 2nd busiest air cargo airport in North America and is within 9.5 hour flight time of 90% of the industrialized world. The airport welcomes over 5 million passengers per year and is responsible for 1 in 10 jobs in the Anchorage economy. The payroll of airport employees is over $1 billion annually.
Jim spent a decade working for the Chicago Airport System. He started as an intern and originally worked airfield operations where he oversaw the daily operations of the world’s busiest airfield. He was promoted to director of aviation planning where he oversaw O’Hare’s $5 billion dollar capital improvement program. Jim was promoted again to Deputy Commissioner of Aviation. In this position, he oversaw the planning, environment, commercial development, real estate, and policy sections for both Midway and O’Hare international airports.
Jim also spent almost a decade working in the private sector where he oversaw the operations of a midsized manufacturing company that was a woman-owned business enterprise.
Jim holds a commercial pilots license, bachelor’s degree in aviation management from South Illinois University, and an MBA from the University of Chicago.