DECEMBER  5,  2017,  5:15PM    

GRAND  JUNCTION,  CO.—The  Grand  Junction  Regional  Airport  Authority  is  pleased  to   announce  the  appointment  of  Angela  Padalecki  as  the  new  executive  director  of  the  Grand   Junction  Regional  Airport.  The  Authority  Board  selected  Padalecki  during  a  special  meeting  at   City  Hall  on  Tuesday  night.  

Padalecki,  who  is  currently  Director  of  Airline  Affairs  at  Denver  International  Airport  (DIA),  was   chosen  due  to  her  creative  problem-­solving  abilities  and  strong  background,  said  Board  Chair   Rick  Taggart.  

“The  airport  is  a  critical  economic  engine  for  our  region,”  Taggart  said.  “It’s  the  largest  airport   serving  western  Colorado  and  plays  a  major  role  in  Grand  Junction’s  business  and  tourism   industries.  Angela’s  background  in  economics  and  aviation  made  her  the  ideal  candidate  to  lead   the  airport  in  its  future  development.”    

Padalecki  previously  served  as  senior  advisor  to  DIA’s  chief  financial  officer.  She  was  also  a   member  of  the  founding  team  of  the  Consumer  Financial  Protection  Bureau,  serving  as  an   economist  for  the  Bureau  of  Economic  Analysis  and  working  at  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank  in   Denver.    

“It  is  an  exciting  time  for  the  Grand  Valley  and  the  Grand  Junction  Regional  Airport—the   economy  is  improving,  passenger  traffic  is  on  the  rise,  and  infrastructure  improvements  are   underway.  The  airport  has  strong  leadership  and  vision  from  the  Board  and  incredible   dedication  from  its  employees,”  Padalecki  said.  “I  am  honored  and  excited  to  lead  the  Grand   Junction  Regional  Airport  and  work  with  stakeholders  to  maximize  the  value  of  the  Airport  to  the   community.”    

To  find  the  right  candidate  for  the  executive  director  role,  the  Authority  contracted  ADK   Consulting  &  Executive  Search,  a  firm  which  specializes  in  airport  management  searches.  ADK   received  50  applications  and  eventually  narrowed  the  field  to  three  candidates,  who  were   interviewed  by  the  Board  as  well  as  a  panel  of  community  stakeholders  in  October.    

Padalecki’s  experience  in  non-­aviation  revenue  building  set  her  apart.  A  Colorado  native,  she   holds  a  bachelor’s  degree  in  economics  from  Colorado  State  University,  master’s  degrees  in  
economics  and  finance  from  the  University  of  Colorado  Denver,  and  is  an  adjunct  instructor  at   community  colleges  on  the  Front  Range.    

Her  scheduled  start  date  is  January  8,  2018.      

Grand  Junction  Regional  Airport  Authority  (www.gjairport.com)   The  Grand  Junction  Regional  Airport  Authority  owns  and  operates  the  Grand  Junction  Regional  Airport.   Charged  with  facilitating  and  enhancing  regional  aviation  services,  the  Authority  works  to  ensure  a  safe,   secure,  well-­maintained  and  financially  self-­sustaining  airport  operation.  The  Authority  works  with  the   aviation  and  general  community  to  develop  the  airport  as  a  regional  air  cargo  hub  as  well  as  serve   corporate,  business,  government  and  leisure  aviation.    

Grand  Junction  Regional  Airport  (GJT)  has  served  Grand  Junction,  CO,  and  the  Grand  Valley  since  1930.     Grand  Junction  is  located  halfway  between  Salt  Lake  City,  UT  and  Denver,  CO,  on  the  Colorado/Utah   border.    GJT  covers  an  area  of  2,357  acres  at  an  elevation  of  4,858  feet.