New leadership has been cleared for take-off at Barnstable Municipal Airport in line to succeed retiring Airport Manager Roland “Bud” Breault.
Breault, who has been the Airport Manager for the past decade, is retiring on June 28th and will turn the reigns over to Assistant Airport Manager Katie Servis.
“I have truly enjoyed my time here,” Breault said. “With the help of a terrific staff and guidance by forward-thinking airport commissioners, I was able to complete the projects I set out to finish and now leave the airport in very capable hands.”
Servis, who was hired as Assistant Airport Manager in January of 2015, now ascends to the lead the airport on the strength of her vast experience and close working relationship with airport staff, tenants and town officials.
A 1991 graduate of Bridgewater State University’s Aviation Management Program, Servis is a licensed pilot; former member of the Rhode Island Air National Guard; former airport planner for VHB; Hoyle, Tanner and Associates (HTA); the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Aeronautics Division as well as several other positions within the aviation industry (Airport Operations Specialist for Hanscom Field, Paine Field Airport, and Logan Airport). Servis has also worked for Delta Airlines and Business Express (a former commuter airline for Delta).
Over the past three years as Barnstable Municipal Airport Assistant Manager, Servis has been instrumental in leading a staff of 23, as well working collaboratively with over 40 airfield tenants and their 2,100 employees. Servis has also led the airport’s efforts in leveraging state and federal funds for vital safety and security projects. Most recently, she was able to secure $500,000 in state funding to initiate several vital airport projects, including draining improvements, development of an outdoor patio area for the terminal café; upgrades to the Airport Operations and Maintenance facility; as well securing new mowing equipment necessary for the maintenance of the airfield.
With the help of the town’s procurement officer, those projects have been approved, put out to bid and on track to be completed by June 30.
Servis has worked closely with Breault to identify ways to improve non-aviation use property owned by the airport such as the Capetown Plaza on Route 132 in Hyannis, where KMart is currently located. Recently, with help from the Airport Commission, Town Council, and Town of Barnstable staff, airport officials issued a Request-For-Proposal (RFP) seeking bids to manage the plaza as the current lease expires soon.
While Servis credits Breault with modernizing and revitalizing much of the airport’s infrastructure, now, she said, she will focus on improving general aviation services; diversifying the airport’s revenue stream; attracting more air service and air transportation options to the region; as well as developing and enhancing airport properties for both aviation and non-aviation uses.
As the primary commercial service, general aviation and air cargo gateway to the Cape & Islands, Barnstable Municipal Airport generates an estimated $208 million in economic activity for the region.
“This is a central transportation hub and a major economic engine for the Cape & Islands. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Bud for leading the way. I look forward to the opportunity to elevate the airport’s profile,” Servis said. “We also plan want to continue to make meeting and event space available to the broader community.”
Currently, a portion of the airport terminal serves as a practice space for the Cape Cod Concert Band. The airport also provides meeting space for area veterans groups and hosts several events for local organizations, such as the annual Cape Cod Young Professional’s Back-To-Business Bash, We Can Empowering Women Annual Fundraiser, and the Seaside Lemans Annual Fundraiser Kickoff, to name a few.
In addition to the promotion of Servis, the Barnstable Airport Commission has also approved the hiring a new Assistant Manager Matt Elia, whose first official day was on Monday, June 4th.
Elia — who has a commercial pilot’s license, is a certified flight instructor and has experience managing airports in both Florida and New Bedford – was chosen from a field of 75 qualified applicants.
About Barnstable Municipal Airport:
Barnstable Municipal Airport, located in Hyannis, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, provides commercial and general aviation services to Boston, New York and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. It is owned by the Town of Barnstable and managed by the Barnstable Municipal Airport Commission and its staff. Located on 623 acres, the airport is home to Cape Air, Nantucket Airlines, Island Airlines, and Rectrix Aviation along with other charter, corporate and general aviation aircraft operators. JetBlue operates daily service to JFK-New York in season. Beginning in 1928 as a single grass runway, the airport today consists of a new 35,000 sq. ft. passenger terminal, a new 85 ft. air traffic control tower, extensive parking facilities, new aircraft ramps and taxiways, a rescue and maintenance building and an aircraft fuel farm. More than 40 private tenants lease hangar space on parts of the airport property.
