Staff & Departments

The Finance Department is responsible for accounting and cash management functions and for preparation of the annual operating budget and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The department secures funds for the Capital Improvement Program and manages payroll, invoices, accounts receivable and MAC investments. It also oversees the acquisition of materials, services and equipment, and disposes of surplus property. In addition, the department manages MSP International Airport’s central services functions in the MAC’s General Office building. 

The Revenue and Business Development Department oversees revenue generation from airline and airport concession agreements, MSP leases and system-wide non-aeronautical leases. The department also manages MAC property and real estate. 

The department’s Concessions and Business Development team manages lease agreements for food, retail and specialty services at MSP. It also manages on-airport advertising and other revenue-generating activities and operates the MSP Airport Conference Center. Isabella Rhawie is the concessions and business development director.

The department’s Real Estate and Airline Affairs team manages real estate, airline and rental car agreements across the MAC’s system of airports. Mark Bents is the real estate and airline affairs director.

This department administers risk and insurance programs for the MAC. This includes risk identification, evaluation, measurement, preventive strategies, claims administration, purchase of coverage and evaluation of financial alternatives. Employee insurance benefit programs, workers compensation and liability, property and safety efforts are all under the purview of this department.  

This unit contracts with vendor partners for administration and communicates employee and retiree benefit programs and systems while developing a culture of wellness at the MAC. Functions include research, analysis, development and implementation of benefit programs, as well as compliance and employee relations support. Shirley Kuehn is the employee benefits manager. 

This unit oversees efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in MAC hiring, contracting and operations. Programs benefit both the Metropolitan Airports Commission and the community at large. The unit is managed by Tekia Jefferson.

This unit manages and supports all aspects of training, development and employee engagement to ensure continued improvement related to growth, productivity and development of employees and leaders. This is achieved by assessing, creatively designing, implementing and evaluating effective methods to educate, engage and enhance performance. Corey Bonnema is the employee development and engagement manager.

The Employee Relations unit manages human resources processes for non-organized employees. Functions include compensation program design and administration, policy and procedure development and administration, staffing and selection process administration, employee records administration and leave-of-absence administration. The unit provides guidance and counsel to MAC managers regarding management of human resources and assists with resolution of employee relations issues. Nicole Kiefer is the employee relations manager.

This unit oversees the MAC’s labor relations program, including negotiation and administration of 13 collective bargaining agreements with various unions. The unit works to maintain positive labor-management cooperation among all stakeholders and resolves labor disputes through each contract’s grievance process, which may include mediation and binding arbitration. This unit also provides advice and guidance to other MAC departments on employee disciplinary matters and on labor issues such as project labor agreement negotiations and prevailing wage enforcement. In addition, the unit provides advice on issues such as minimum wage, union organization of non-MAC airport employees and other labor issues. Alison Kelly is the labor relations manager.

The Information Systems Department directs and manages all activities involved in the selection, design, development, configuration, deployment and ongoing support of all business systems and applications at the MAC. This unit also oversees enterprise architectural practices and provides awareness of capabilities and maximizes efficiencies by reducing technical complexity and variability.  As a major part of its processes, the unit focuses on combining system planning and system life-cycle functions. Chris Marquardt leads this department.

The Infrastructure and Operations Department manages computer servers, data storage, data centers, networks, telecom rooms, fiber optic cabling, telephones and radios across all MAC facilities. 

IT Operations is responsible for managing all end-user support functions including hardware, software and the service desk, which acts as a first point of contact for MAC staff. The unit assists in how the division approaches consistent service delivery, deployment and support, and helps to ensure consistency, reliability and quality of service. 

The Information Technology Project Management Office provides the IT division with project management process ownership and leadership that aligns with standard practices throughout the system development life cycle. 

The unit works closely with internal business partners and IT leaders to ensure successful project delivery. Lori Manecke leads this department.

Bylaws and Ordinances 

The Integrated Operations Department oversees the successful development and execution of a comprehensive integrated airport operations strategy. This includes ensuring optimized and integrated processes, descriptive and predictive operation analyses and planning services, overseeing Airside Operations, execution of a comprehensive training program that focuses on Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 139 compliance, drivers training, emergency management, operational integration of SMS safety tactics and maintaining employee technical skills. This department is new to the MAC and is developing a business intelligence-focused data management program, providing key performance metrics, analytics and dash-boarding. 

The MSP Maintenance Service & Asset Management Department is responsible for leading the MSP Airport Field Maintenance and Trades teams and asset management program. The department ensures safe and optimized grounds maintenance and snow removal operations in compliance with federal regulations through a focus on proactive and sustainable staffing and resource planning. The department oversees effective delivery of plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting, labor and equipment operator services to the organization and stakeholders. The department ensures alignment of systems and processes between the Field Maintenance and Trades teams, as well as the Integrated Operations Department and Airside Operations, where relevant in the execution of FAR Part 139 compliance efforts.

The department is led by Scott Skramstad and is responsible for leading the operation of all MSP airport facilities including Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Energy Management Center, Federal Inspection Services, General Office Building, as well as all Landside assets and services. The department also oversees the Customer Experience Program which requires the continuous development of related strategies to ensure a seamless experience of excellent service to the traveling public through the creative integration of related tactics in the delivery of facility and landside operations.  

Phil Burke, assistant director of Customer Experience, is responsible for the development, implementation and improvement of customer experience programs at MSP. Phil is the primary liaison for customer experience initiatives with airlines, tenants, government agencies and the Airport Foundation MSP. He also serves as the operational liaison to the MSP Customer Service Action Council, facilitating the integration of customer experience initiatives into the operation of the airport.

The MAC's Landside Operations Department, led by Assistant Director, MSP Operations—Landside Jeff Nawrocki, oversees MSP International Airport’s parking enterprise and regulates ground transportation – including taxis, buses, shuttles, app-based ride providers and limousine services. The department also operates MSP's roadway system, the airport's lost and found services, and serves as a liaison with Metro Transit regarding light rail service at the airport.

Terminal 2 Facilities is led by Dan Foster, assistant director MSP Operations—Airline Operations and Terminal 2 Facilities, who oversees operations and maintenance activities at Terminal 2 and other common-use facilities at MSP International Airport. The department also serves as liaison to Customs and Border Protection and other federal agencies that oversee the flow of international traffic and cargo.

The MAC Reliever Airports Department manages the operation, maintenance and leasing of the MAC’s six general aviation airports: Airlake, Anoka County-Blaine, Crystal, Flying Cloud, Lake Elmo and St. Paul Downtown. These airports are designated as “reliever airports” because they reduce air traffic congestion at MSP while providing a vital outlet for flight training, military operations, and corporate and recreational flying. Joe Harris is the director of the Reliever Airports Department.

This department prepares and implements the MAC’s capital improvement program for all seven airports. The goal is to ensure needs across the system are identified and fulfilled through coordination and collaboration with all MAC departments. Staff reviews project justifications, costs and timing for development of the overall program. Once projects are authorized by the Commission, primary responsibilities include coordinating the design, engineering, architecture and construction of facilities. Airport Development prepares construction contracts and state/federal grants for projects, and works directly with consultants and contractors to complete projects. The director for this department is Heather Leide.

The MAC’s Building Official administers permitting and inspections in accordance with the MAC’s Building Code Ordinance. Responsibilities include the application, administration, implementation and enforcement of the Minnesota Building Code and MAC Construction Standards and MAC Procedures and Design Standards and Guidelines. Duties include plan reviews, issuance of permits, inspections and retention of construction plans. The department also provides construction management services for retail and food and beverage development and for remodeling of existing tenant spaces at MSP International Airport. Brian Weidemann serves as the MAC’s building official.

The Environmental Affairs (EA) unit is responsible for maintaining environmental compliance with local, state and federal regulations. Compliance activities include waste management programs for recycling and composting; proper disposal of regulated materials; storage tank program administration; stormwater and soil management; air quality programs and assistance for airport tenants with regulatory compliance issues. The EA unit also supports the environmental review process to ensure compliance with federal and state environmental regulations for airport development projects, and participates in the preparation of long-term, comprehensive airport plans. Marisa Trapp manages Environmental Affairs.

The Planning unit prepares a long-term, comprehensive plan for each of the MAC’s seven airports. Each plan identifies future facility needs to accommodate projected demand from the traveling public in a safe, efficient and cost-effective manner. Our goal is to provide a high level of service for airport users through foresight, planning and community coordination.

The planning process identifies when improvements will be needed but does not authorize construction or serve as the basis for the environmental review process, or determining noise mitigation program eligibility. Future development concepts are added to the official layout plan for each airport, including a scaled graphic representation of existing and proposed airport facilities.

In addition to facility planning, this unit coordinates activities with neighboring communities related to airport safety zoning and compatible land-use development.

In addition to specialized aircraft rescue and firefighting, the Airport Fire Department (AFD) serves as a full-service fire department providing structural fire response, emergency medical service, hazardous material response, water and ice rescue, and vehicle extrication. Under the direction of the Fire Marshal, the AFD is also responsible for fire code inspections, sprinklers, fire alarms, building plan review, fire cause investigations and fire prevention activities.

The department provides these services within the geographical boundaries of MSP Airport, which includes the surrounding roadways and waterways, as well as residential and commercial properties included in the department’s mutual aid agreements.

The department employs captains, driver/operators, fire fighters and an administrative assistant. 

To learn more about the MSP Airport Fire Department, visit the Airport Fire Department | MSP Airport

The Airport Police Department (APD) is a full-service, law enforcement agency, providing law enforcement services to the traveling public, airport tenants and employees 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

There are several functional areas within the APD:  Patrol, Criminal, General & Narcotics Investigations, Special Operations, Aviation Security, Professional Standards & Training, Emergency Planning & Response, Emergency Communications (911), Traffic Control and Support Services/Administration.

The department, under the leadership of Police Chief Matt Christenson, strives to prevent and detect crime, deter terrorism, protect life and property, and preserve peace, order and safety. 

In addition to the chief of police, the department’s structure includes deputy chiefs, lieutenants, sergeants, officers (full and part-time), traffic control agents, emergency communications and administrative staff, and an emergency manager.

The APD works closely with federal agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Customs and Border Patrol, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to prevent crimes and enforce laws that help protect national safety and security. The department also maintains mutual aid agreements with other local, county and state police departments.

To learn more about the MSP Airport Police Department, visit the MSP Airport website. 

This department works to develop new passenger and cargo air service, promote the MAC’s airport facilities, and build community support for air service at MSP International Airport. Brian Peters is the MAC's director of Air Service Development.

The Stakeholder Engagement Department connects the MAC to the community by designing and implementing best-in-class engagement opportunities and serving as the personal connection of the organization across communities. This department also provides information to the public about airport operations and aircraft noise. 

Strategic Marketing and Communications activates the voice and brand of the MAC and its airports through media relations, corporate communications and by creating strategic solutions to deliver internal and external marketing campaigns. The marketing team develops campaigns grounded in research and analytics to drive revenue for the MAC's operations and promote MAC facilities, parking, and food, retail and service concessions. The communications team enhances the airport experience by providing information to travelers, including paging services at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and responding to public inquiries about the MAC and its airports via phone, email, text and live chat. 

This department ensures the MAC has a clear strategic focus with an integrated sustainability mindset by facilitating the development, measurement and tracking of strategic goals.

The Sustainability Office connects and engages employees leading sustainability activities and provides MAC leadership with input and data to help advance achievement of the organization’s 2030 Sustainability Goals.