Springfield-Branson National Airport Aviation Director Gary Cyr announced Feb. 11 he is retiring from his post April 1 to take a job as airport manager for Greeley-Weld County Airport Authority in Greeley, Colo.
Six days later, the airport board kicked off a national search for Cyr’s replacement with a closed-session board meeting, according to Chairman Howard Fisk.
During the meeting, the airport board formed a five-member search committee of Collin Quigley, city of Springfield; Ryan Mooney, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce; Jim Enyart, Ollis & Co.; Brent Singleton, Heim, Young & Associates Inc.; and Charlotte Hardin, Missouri State University.
“The next step, we’ll get busy and do a national advertising campaign,” Fisk said. “There are several aviation publications to contact.”
The opening also will be advertised through electronic media, Fisk said.
Shawn Schroeder, the airport’s assistant director, will take over as interim director of aviation March 24.
“We’re working, kind of ASAP, on putting together that job description and the particulars of the position that we’re filling,” Fisk said.
The committee in future meetings will discuss the pay range for the new director, Fisk said.
“The city has guidelines for that, and that will be discussed at the next couple of meetings of the search committee,” Fisk said.
A timeline for hiring Cyr’s replacement hasn’t been set.
“We don’t expect to do this in 30 days,” Fisk added. “It may be six months before we have a replacement. It will be a lengthy process.”
The next committee meeting has not been set, but Fisk expects the group to meet before the end of February.
Cyr’s retirement package from the city amounts to 2 percent of his three highest years’ salary, he said. Cyr’s current salary is $115,000.
The move is an opportunity for Cyr to return to Colorado following his retirement. Before joining the Springfield airport, Cyr managed the Gunnison County Airport in Gunnison, Colo.
Cyr’s retirement announcement comes just days after he delivered the State of the Airport address Feb. 9 at the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce office.
In the address, Cyr said total passengers flying out of Springfield dropped 2 percent to 796,251 in 2010 from 811,771 in 2009. Flights dropped by 1 percent during the year. Cyr said his retirement announcement had nothing to do with the address. He found out he had been selected for the Colorado position Feb. 10.[[In-content Ad]]
A franchise store of a Branson West-based quilting business made its Queen City debut; Grateful Vase launched in Lebanon; and Branson entertainment venue The Social Birdy had its grand opening.
