The Federal Aviation Administration’s Southern Region Airports Division named Ben Siegel, CPA, C.M., executive director of the Lee County Port Authority (LCPA), the 2020 Air Carrier Airport Manager of the Year. This award is given to an airport professional who exemplifies excellence in airport management, demonstrates exceptional leadership, tirelessly works to promote the aviation industry and has achieved efficiencies and improved productivity in their organization.
Among the accomplishments honored by the award was Siegel’s demonstration of leadership in steering both Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Page Field (FMY) through the COVID-19 pandemic. Siegel and his team actively worked with airlines, business partners and other stakeholders to implement numerous measures to keep everyone safe and instill confidence in the public about traveling. Both airports have emerged in 2021 with outstanding results for passenger traffic recovery and flights.
“I’m proud and humbled to be recognized by the FAA Southern Region Airports Division. This award is the result of the dedication and resiliency of the employees at LCPA during a very difficult time,” said Ben Siegel, CPA, C.M., executive director of the Lee County Port Authority. “I couldn’t have done this without my team and this is as much their award, as it is mine.”
As executive director, Siegel directs the administration, operations and development of RSW and FMY. He has been with the Lee County Port Authority since 1992 and is an experienced airport executive with an extensive background in business and finance. Current projects under his leadership are the Airport Traffic Control Tower and the Terminal Expansion Project at Southwest Florida International Airport. Siegel is a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives, as well as a member of the Florida Airports Council, Airports Council International-North America, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of South Florida and is a Certified Public Accountant.
The FAA Southern Region Airports Division oversees airport planning, environmental, compliance, design and safety programs for airports located in the southeastern United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Southwest Florida International Airport served nearly 6 million passengers in 2020 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. Page Field had more than 126,000 aircraft operations in 2020. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operations or construction. For more information, please visit www.flylcpa.com.
