After four and a half years at the helm of the Quad Cities International Airport, Executive Director Benjamin Leischner is on board to serve another five years just as another round of facility improvements are about to take off. The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County Board (MAA) recently pre-negotiated and extended Mr. Leischner’s […]
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After four and a half years at the helm of the Quad Cities International Airport, Executive Director Benjamin Leischner is on board to serve another five years just as another round of facility improvements are about to take off.
The Metropolitan Airport Authority of Rock Island County Board (MAA) recently pre-negotiated and extended Mr. Leischner’s contract months ahead of when his original contract was set to expire in May 2023.
“I can’t imagine a better place that is a better fit for me,” Mr. Leischner told the QCBJ. “Some of the goals we set out to do didn’t happen because of COVID-19.”
That leaves the airport leader, who also is a commercial instrument pilot, ready to “see even more drastic improvements” at the airport in the next five years.
In a news release, the MAA announced that the governing board unanimously agreed to a new five-year contract with Mr. Leischner, 41, who joined the Moline airport in May 2018. He previously was the airport operations manager/airline scheduling manager at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Washington.
“There was no question among the board that Ben is the right fit to lead the airport into its next phase and position it well for the future,” MAA Chairman Kurt Donnelly said in the release. “We’ve seen tremendous output from Ben and his staff over the past five years and we are confident in his vision. We continue to be energized by his leadership and are excited to continue working with him.”
His new contract, which includes a base annual salary of $250,000, will go into effect on June 1, 2023, airport officials said.
During his tenure, Mr. Leischner has led several key initiatives including restructuring the organization, and laying the groundwork for a $40 million to $60 million terminal transformation project.
Work continues on a major $10 million airfield runway project.
In an interview with the QCBJ, Mr. Leischner said leaders of the terminal project, known as Project GATEWAY, have been applying for grant funding and construction could begin in as early as six months from now, or more likely, in nine to 10 months.
In its release, the MAA applauded Mr. Leischner’s leadership for keeping the organization moving forward during the global pandemic. His accomplishments included avoiding having to make any staff furloughs during COVID, and, thanks to an expanding portfolio, the airport also remained fiscally solvent as the aviation industry experienced the worst recession in its history.
“The Quad Cities International Airport has an incredibly bright future ahead and it is my honor to lead this organization and the amazing people that make it a great place to work,” Mr. Leischner said in the release. “We are full steam ahead on our plans to modernize the airport while making it a friendly, welcoming and important resource for the region.”
Project GATEWAY, first unveiled in March 2021, will transform the QCIA’s aging terminal and ticketing area as well as the baggage claim area. The project, which could take three to five years, is considering several new concepts including: new curbside features, expanded ticketing spaces, mobile check-in kiosks, relocating TSA screening equipment and a new indoor/outdoor space to provide airfield viewing.
The airport is working with Minneapolis-based Alliance as the project’s design firm and Minneapolis-based Mortenson as the Construction Manager at Risk, which will partner with Bush Construction, Davenport, and Chicago-based R.M. Chin & Associates. It is the first major remodel of the landside terminal facility since 1985.
Mr. Leischner, whose current community involvement includes serving as chairman of Visit Quad Cities, has been working to raise awareness of the airport’s critical role in the Quad Cities’ economy. “The airport is an economic engine and it is one of my goals over the next five years to increase its impact and value for our community.”
Before joining the QCIA, he held various leadership roles for seven years for the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and had previous experience with the Port of Bellingham, Bellingham International Airport, and DY Consultants.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in aviation management and flight operations from Florida Institute of Technology and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Nebraska. Mr. Leischner is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) from the American Association of Airport Executives.
