The Eastern Iowa Airport Media Release
CONTACT:
Pam Hinman, Director of Marketing & Communications
Office: (319) 731-5719 or Cell: (319)551-1490
Iowa City/Coralville CVB President joins Commission
FOR IMMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 25, 2010 – Iowa City/Coralville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau President/CEO Joshua Schamberger is the newest member of the Cedar Rapids Airport Commission. Schamberger, 36, was appointed by Mayor Ron Corbett and approved by the City Council to complete the term of former Commissioner Helen B. Arnold who recently moved from the area.
Schamberger’s appointment marks the first time a non-Cedar Rapids resident has been a Commission member. The Iowa State Legislature changed the law governing airport commissions during its last session, allowing non-residents to serve on the policy-making body. The Cedar Rapids Airport Commission is comprised of five volunteer members, who also oversee the management of the airport.
Schamberger is well-known throughout the area, having served the past nine years as the leader of the Iowa City/Coralville CVB. Prior to that, he served more than three years as the marketing director for the Cedar Rapids Area Convention & Visitors Bureau.
He has been involved in several efforts to enhance the area’s quality of life, including the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance, Heart of the Saints, Corridor Concierge at The Eastern Iowa Airport, creation of the City of Iowa City’s Summer of the Arts and UNESCO Iowa City.
Schamberger said he understands the critical role CID plays in economic development in eastern Iowa and he is “passionate about regionalism and collaboration.”
The Commission met in regular session today and elected officers to fill Arnold’s vacated position. Dan Thies, remains the commission chair. Thies is a principal at OPN Architects. Vice-chair is Carroll J. Reasoner, interim vice president for legal affairs and general counsel, The University of Iowa; Secretary is Dr. Dee Baird, executive vice president, Continuing Education and Training Services for Kirkwood Community College; and Tom Hobson, senior manager, government and public affairs, Rockwell Collins, will serve as acting secretary.
The Commission has a major task ahead of it as it conducts a search for a new airport director to replace Dan Mann, A.A.E. Mann leaves The Eastern Iowa Airport at the end of January to take the position of executive director of the Columbia Metropolitan Airport in Columbia, SC.
Don Swanson, the airport's director of finance & administration, will serve as the interim airport director. Swanson has been with the airport since 1987.