The La Crosse Aviation Board Monday chose Ian Turner of Pueblo, Colo., to be the city’s next director of La Crosse Regional Airport.

Turner, director of aviation at Pueblo Memorial Airport, stood out in a field of 66 applicants for the position due to his experience in airport management, aviation operations and change implementation, Aviation Board chair Andrea Richmond said.

“We just think he will do a great job for our airport,” Richmond said.

Turner has a bachelor’s degree in aviation management from Rocky Mountain College and is slated to complete a master’s in finance from Colorado State University this fall. He has worked for the Pueblo Department of Aviation since October 2016. Before that, he was the operations supervisor at the Stockton, Calif., Metropolitan Airport.

“He came with glowing remarks from his references,” Richmond said.

Board member Carol Kratz praised Turner’s relationship building and collaboration skills.

“He sought input and seemed to resolve differences or decisions in ways that seemed like he would work well with other people,” Kratz said.

Richmond agreed, adding that Turner was interested in economic development, which is important for a regional airport like La Crosse.

“It’s not just about our airport offices. It’s about our community and how we can get our community involved and fly more people out of our airport,” Richmond said.

Turner will take over for interim airport director Bob O’Brien in early September. O’Brien has filled in since April, when former airport director Clint Torp took a job as director of operations at an airport in Des Moines, Iowa.

Jourdan Vian can be reached at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter, @Jourdan_LCT.

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