Fred Piccolo, president and chief executive officer of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, was selected as 2005 Commercial Service Airport Manager of the Year by the Federal Aviation Administration's southern region airports division.
FAA southern region manager Rusty Chapman called Piccolo's leadership an inspiration to aviation professionals throughout the nation.
Piccolo, who has been recovering from back surgery since mid-January, said the award was a surprise to him and a humbling experience.
"You can't achieve this on your own," Piccolo said. "You need the support of your family and your board and your employees, and I had all three, so I'm very grateful."
Piccolo is credited with increasing airport traffic by 18 percent in 2005 through a grant from the Department of Transportation, which helped bring AirTran Airways to SRQ. Seasonal traffic from Canada has increased 200 percent under his watch, the FAA said in a prepared statement..
Under Piccolo's leadership, the airport increased safety, efficiency and security. Some of his initiatives include extending the primary runway from 2,500 feet to 9,500 feet, completing a $4.2 million security and access control project, and expanding the passenger-screening checkpoint by 6,500 square feet.
"Fred Piccolo has been instrumental in the long-term success of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport," Chapman said. "His tenure has been marked by sustained growth and excellence."
Piccolo serves as vice chair of Airports Council International-North America, and is on its world board. He is past president of the Florida Airport Managers Association.
The FAA's southern region includes eight southeastern states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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