NEW YORK AVIATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION'S WRAPS UP SUCCESSFUL 2013 FALL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBIT SHOW IN ALBANY

ALBANY, NY (10/11/2013)(readMedia)-- The New York Aviation Management Association concluded a successful 2013 Fall Conference and Exhibit Show Friday at the Desmond Hotel in Albany, New York.

NYAMA's annual Fall Conference and Exhibit Show highlights and demonstrates the association's successful training and advocacy efforts for New York's aviation industry. The conference is designed to provide airport managers, corporate representatives, public officials, aviation educators and students a forum for education, networking and a professional exchange of knowledge and innovation.

This year's conference included a special State of State Associations Panel in which representatives from NYAMA's counterpart associations around the northeast discussed their respective successes, challenges, and best practices for aviation advocacy. Panelists included: Ann Crook, President of NYAMA; David Dinneen, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Airport Management Association; Jack McNamara, New Jersey Aviation Association, Past Chairman; Robert Rockmaker, Executive Director of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania; Diane Terrill, President of Granite State Airport Managers Association; and moderator Bruce Geiger of Bruce W. Geiger & Associates.

The conference program also featured an Airport Disaster Planning informational session that detailed first response and safety management best practices as well as the lessons learned by several association airports in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Special guest speakers included: Michael Geiger, Director, NYS DOT Republic Airport; John Panarello, Manager of Airport Services, Teterboro Airport, NJ; John Seldon, General Manager of Airport Certification and Security, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; Chief Tom Wurtz (Ret.), Fire Services Bureau for the NYS Office of Fire Prevention and Control; and moderator Chief David Cook, Fire Chief at Albany International Airport.

NYAMA was pleased to welcome honored guests Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo and Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy. Other conference presenters included: Carmine Gallo, Eastern Regional Administrator, FAA; Jacqueline Marcello, Manager, Executive Operations Staff, FAA; Maria Stanco, Special Process Integrator, FAA; and Phillip Eng, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS DOT.

The conference concluded with a farewell breakfast followed by tours of the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering and of Albany International Airport. NYAMA's 2014 Fall Conference and Exhibit Show will be held in Syracuse, NY at the Crowne Plaza September 17-19 and will be hosted by Syracuse Hancock International Airport.

NYAMA was founded in 1976 as the New York Airport Managers Association by representatives of New York State Airports. In 2000, the Association changed its name to the New York Aviation Management Association to reflect is growing sphere of influence and representation. Today, NYAMA represents the spectrum of aviation professionals from the owners of the smallest privately owned airstrips to the management of New York's largest facilities serving millions of scheduled air carrier passengers annually, as well as private manufacturers, suppliers, consultants, and educators who serve the aviation industry in New York State and across the Globe.

NEW YORK AVIATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION HONORS 2013 AWARDS RECIPIENTS

The New York Aviation Management Association is pleased to announce the slate of 2013 awards recipients. All awards were presented at ceremonies held throughout NYAMA's 2013 Fall Conference and Exhibit Show in Albany, New York September 18-20.

NYAMA's Honored 2013 Award Recipients are:

• Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo received NYAMA's 2013 President's Award for her persistent advocacy and dedication to strengthening the aviation industry in New York State.
• Otto Suriani received the 2013 Bill Shea Award for his service and devotion to New York's airports throughout his career at the FAA's New York Airports District Office.
• Henry Odrogzinski was honored with the NYAMA's 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award for his 40-year career spent selflessly promoting general aviation in New York State and across the country.
• McFarland Johnson received first place in the Phil Brito Project of the Year Award: Design/ Construction category for a project at the Elmira Corning Regional Airport. McFarland Johnson also took second place for a project completed at the Greater Binghamton Airport.

NEW YORK AVIATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION HONORS ASSEMBLYWOMAN DONNA LUPARDO WITH THE NYAMA PRESIDENT'S AWARD

The New York Aviation Management Association is pleased to announce that Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo was presented with the NYAMA President's Award at a ceremony held on September 19th during NYAMA's annual Fall Conference and Exhibit Show in Albany, NY.

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo has been a tenacious leader and a devoted ally for NYAMA's airport and aviation advocacy in the Assembly. Assemblywoman Lupardo is the co-chair of the 100+ member bi-partisan Legislative Aviation Caucus with Senator William Larkin. Much of the progress NYAMA has realized in the Legislature over the past year is due in no small part to Assemblywoman Lupardo's hard work and belief in the integral role aviation holds in the future of New York State.

"Assemblywoman Lupardo has been a tireless advocate for New York's aviation industry within the Legislature," said NYAMA President Ann Crook. "She truly understands the safety, security, and economic rewards that airports bring to the people of New York."

"I was honored to be presented with the New York Aviation Management Association's President's Award," said Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo (D-Endwell). "As Co-Chair of Legislative Aviation Caucus, and member of the Assembly Transportation Committee, strengthening the aviation industry in New York State Is one of my top priorities. I would like to thank Ann Crook, President of NYAMA for recognizing me in this way. My father, a WWII Army Air Corps Flight Mechanic, would be very proud."

In recognition of her outstanding dedication to strengthening the aviation industry in New York State through persistent advocacy, NYAMA is proud to honor Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo with this prestigious award.

NEW YORK AVIATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION HONORS OTTO SURIANI WITH 2013 BILL SHEA AWARD

In recognition of his years of service to aviation in New York State, the New York Aviation Management Association is pleased to announce that Otto Suriani is the recipient of the 2013 Bill Shea Award. Suriani was presented with his award at a ceremony held on September 19 during NYAMA's 2013 Fall Conference and Exhibition Show in Albany, New York by Bill Shea himself.

Otto Suriani's career in aviation has included over 50 years of service to the FAA, the last 40 years of which were spent in the FAA's New York Airports District Office with positions ranging from planner to engineer, from specialist to supervisor, and to three-time acting manager.

New York airports upstate and downstate have benefitted greatly from the spirit and independence of the New York ADO. As federal budget conditions in recent years have led to numerous funding challenges, the ADO has delivered consistent, dedicated service with the interests of New York's airports always at the forefront.

There is no one who better exemplifies the dedication of the NY-ADO to its customers than Otto Suriani. Over the course of his long career he has put so much of his time, effort, experience and a huge amount of his heart into fighting for fair and equitable treatment of NYAMA's airports. Otto is well-deserving of this year's Bill Shea Award.

"There is not a single airport in New York that Otto Suriani has not helped," said NYAMA President Ann Crook. "Honoring him with the Bill Shea Award is only small thanks for the years of improvement that he has brought to our industry."

The Bill Shea Award is given to an individual who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and effected positive change in the aviation industry in New York State. Those eligible for the Award must have gone beyond the call of duty and given of their time, energy and resources to significantly impact the aviation industry in New York State for the better. Eligible individuals must also have developed a positive relationship with the New York Aviation Management Association, though he or she does not necessarily need to be a NYAMA member.

The Bill Shea Award is given in honor of William F. Shea, an aerospace educator and lecturer and NYAMA's first president, who has had extensive experience in administration, education, government, and aviation. Bill has held number of aviation positions, authored many aviation-related articles, and received numerous industry awards throughout his career.

NEW YORK AVIATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION HONORS HENRY OGRODZINSKI WITH THE NYAMA 2013 LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The New York Aviation Management Association is pleased to announce that Henry Ogrodzinski was presented with the prestigious 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award at a special ceremony on September 19th during NYAMA's 2013 Fall Conference and Exhibit Show in Albany, NY. Ogrodzinski has been the President and CEO of the National Association of State Aviation Officials and its non-profit foundation since 1996. His impressive service to the aviation industry extends nearly forty years.

Ogrodzinski is a veteran of the US Army and an honors graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, with a BA in Journalism - Mass Communication. He is a member of many aviation organizations and the recipient of numerous military and civilian awards. Ogrodzinski is often quoted by the news media as a perceptive observer of the aviation industry. He serves on a number of government and industry panels, such as the US Aviation Security Advisory Committee Working Group on General Aviation (Co-Chairman), the Board of Nominations of the National Aviation Hall of Fame, a member of the Collier and Brewer trophy Selection Committees, a member of the National Aeronautic Association's Board of Directors and the 2004 President of the Aero Club of Washington.

"Henry Ogrodzinski has been a tireless advocate for general aviation for 40 years," said NYAMA President Ann Crook. "NYAMA reserves our Lifetime Achievement Award for only those who have truly changed our industry for the better. We are grateful for Henry's contributions to aviation in New York and beyond."

Ogrodzinski has demonstrated his passion for and excellence in promoting the positive aspects of general aviation throughout his career. He is broadly recognized nationwide and beyond our borders as a political leader in the aviation industry. Ogrodzinski's decades of service, advocacy, and devotion have immeasurably benefitted the aviation industry in New York State, as well as the rest of the country.

The NYAMA Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes significant contributions by an individual or company on behalf of the aviation industry in the state and nation and is bestowed only when an individual is identified and deemed deserving by the association.

NEW YORK AVIATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION PRESENTS MCFARLAND JOHNSON WITH THE 2013 PHIL BRITO PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD IN THE DESIGN/CONSTRUCTION CATEGORY

The New York Aviation Management Association is pleased to congratulate McFarland Johnson, recipient of the 2013 Phil Brito Project of the Year Award in the Design/Construction Project category.

McFarland Johnson's winning design/ construction entry was a runway extension project for Elmira Corning Regional Airport. The staff of McFarland Johnson provided a comprehensive, innovative, and original solution to mitigating significant impacts related to a 400 feet extension of the primary runway. Utilizing an Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS), McFarland Johnson was able to accomplish all construction without any relocation or impact to nearby Sing Sing Creek or Chambers Road. Their innovative application of EMAS technology was critical to the successful and timely completion of the project.

McFarland Johnson also received second place for a project completed at Greater Binghamton Airport. The primary runway was not in compliance with current Runway Safety Area (RSA) standards and was identified as a High Priority Project by the FAA. McFarland Johnson staff evaluated retrofit alternatives to providing the required RSA clear space for the existing runway elevation. EMAS was again employed to shorten the length of the required extension, which was the critical factor for the project's viability for cost, schedule, and minimal environmental-related impacts.

The Phil Brito Award was created to recognize Engineering and Planning Consulting firms for outstanding achievement in the execution of an aviation-related planning, design, or design-build project for an airport or airports located within New York State. This award is named after the late, long-time FAA New York Airport District Office Manager, Mr. Phil Brito, whose tireless efforts greatly contributed to the success of aviation in New York State.

Entry fees collected from the Phil Brito Award are used, in their entirety, to fund student scholarships for annual Fall Conference registration or aviation-related courses of study on behalf of NYAMA.