Mayor Frank G. Jackson announces new public/private partnership for Cleveland Airport System

Thursday, January 08, 2009

CLEVELAND - Mayor Frank G. Jackson and Henry L. Meyer, III, chairman of the Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), along with Cleveland Airport System (CAS) Director Ricky Smith and Les C. Vinney, senior advisor and past president and chief executive officer for STERIS Corporation, today announced the creation of the Cleveland Airport System Business Advisory Committee (CASBAC).  The committee is made up of business leaders from across the Northeast Ohio region who will advise on the strategic direction of the airport.

"This advisory committee is another example of how my administration works with the business community to accomplish mutual goals," said Mayor Jackson. "This group and Director Smith will work together to support one of the region's most valuable economic development tools."

The committee will serve as an independent, non-public advisory body - with no decision-making authority - to the Director of Port Control, providing support for the growth of one the region's largest economic engines, the Cleveland Airport System (CAS).  CAS includes Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Burke Lakefront Airport and creates approximately 5,000 jobs and generates approximately $4 billion annually for the Northeast Ohio region.  According to CAS Director Smith, the committee members will represent the voices from the business community.

"The members of the CASBAC are advocates on the street for both the airport and the business community, communicating the airport's priorities as well as the business community's needs," said Smith. "As users of both airports, these members have a vested interest in seeing the airport grow into a premier facility and they are willing to help us get there."

In September 2007, Mayor Jackson announced that the City, along with the GCP, would begin identifying key stakeholders to serve on the committee. The CASBAC has 12 members representing diverse industries throughout the Cleveland Plus region. Committee Chair Vinney said the committee will be a valuable partner in helping the airport grow.

"The region's businesses are key users of air service.  As our businesses continue to expand markets both domestically and globally, it is important that our airports support this growth," said Vinney. "By joining with Mayor Jackson - and serving in this advisory capacity - we can help ensure that our airports and air service grow in the ways needed by business."

"The growth of our airports and air service is essential to the region's global competitiveness," said Meyer. "We are pleased to re-energize the public/private partnership and focus on strengthening the Cleveland Airport System, as a primary engine for our regional economy."

CASBAC members include:

Les C. Vinney (Chair)
Senior Advisor, Past President/CEO
STERIS Corporation

Brian E. Hall (Vice Chair)
Chairman/CEO
Industrial Inventory Solutions LLC

James Fulton
Sr. Vice President and General Manager
Philips Healthcare

Jennie S. Hwang, Ph.D., D.Sc.
President/CEO, H-Technologies Group
Interim CEO, Asahi America, Inc.

A. Malachi Mixon III
Chairman/CEO
Invacare Corporation

Beth Mooney
Vice Chair
Key Corp

Anthony R. Moore
Partner
Jones Day

Frederick R. Nance
Regional Managing Partner
Squire Sanders & Dempsey, L.L.P.

Sandra Pianalto
President/CEO
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

John M. Stropki
Chairman/President/CEO
Lincoln Electric

Michael E. Ventling
Vice Chair/North Central Sub-Area Managing Partner
Ernst & Young LLP

Thomas F. Zenty III
President/CEO
University Hospitals

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