One of the hottest topic among FBOs/tenants and airports -- how leasing affects the business and the airport -- is covered. Brad McAllister, editor for airport business magazine, moderates a panel discussion that focuses on length, terms, obstacles, and best practices when it comes to negotiating leases between airports and their tenant companies. Panelists included:
James K. Coyne holds a B.S. degree from Yale and an M.B.A. from Harvard. He is a former U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, and worked under the Reagan Administration to bring private sector solutions to national challenges. In 1994, NATA selected Jim Coyne as its president and CEO. Since then he has visited close to a thousand FBOs and aviation service businesses across the country. He also regularly represents the industry before Congressional committees, FAA, TSA, and other federal agencies. Coyne serves on an airport commission, representing the interests of business and general aviation users and tenants. He serves on the Board of Governors of the Flight Safety Foundation and was the founder and first president of the Air Charter Safety Foundation.
Michael Hodges is President/CEO and founder of Tampa-based Airport Business Solutions, a company which specializes in airport/tenant relations and has more than two decades of experience representing airports and tenant businesses. In 1995 he founded The Aviation Appraisal Group to concentrate solely on aviation valuation and consulting; the company name was later changed to Airport Business Solutions to better reflect the diversity of services offered to clients beyond traditional valuation services. He is a regular speaker and contributor at aviation conferences throughout the U.S., as well as internationally. Along with other ABS staff, Michael provides an annual two-day seminar for the American Association of Airport Executives entitled "Essentials of Airport Business Management Workshop."
William Prather has been involved in commercial real estate for more than 40 years. Prior to joining L.C. Fulenwider Inc., Prather was Vice President-Development for Betawest Properties Inc., the real estate subsidiary of U S West, and before that was in charge of major real estate projects for Mountain States Telephone. With Fulenwider, Prather assists in the development of 7500 acres around Denver International Airport and was a partner in the on-site development of WorldPort at DIA, the first private development at the new airfield. Additional airport development projects include private vehicle garages at Denver, Centennial, and Moab, UT. Bill represented Fulenwider as a consultant to DIA in the negotiation of a 16-acre retail development. Bill received his degree in Business from The University of Colorado.
