The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport is on the hunt for a new executive director, with seven candidates making it to the final stages. However, the identities of these individuals remain undisclosed, maintaining an air of mystery around the selection process.
According to airport co-solicitor Don Frederickson, a total of 20 individuals initially applied for the position, with the list now whittled down to seven by a search agency. Airport board vice chairman Chris Belles confirmed reviewing the applications but refrained from revealing specifics about the finalists, including whether or not board member and Lackawanna County Commissioner Chris Chermak is among them.
“I cannot comment,” Belles stated. “It’s confidential. We’re sworn to secrecy.”
Chermak, who missed the meeting due to personal reasons, also chose not to disclose his status as an applicant. However, he insisted on his transparency in the matter, saying, “I’m being transparent,” and promised to provide further information when appropriate.
The Next Steps
A committee within the board is set to convene on Monday to deliberate on the interview process for the finalists, as outlined by Lackawanna County Commissioner Bill Gaughan. Belles mentioned that while initial interviews might be conducted online, a face-to-face meeting with the preferred candidate is anticipated before any official appointment is made.
The committee responsible for the interviews includes Frederickson, Belles, and Commissioner Thom Welby. Gaughan emphasized the need to review the applications, stating, “I want a copy of the resumes, the letters of interest, and who applied. Twenty people applied. They whittled it down to seven, so we have to know who the seven are, because we’re going to have to interview whoever these people are.”
Why a New Leader?
The search for a new director follows Carl Beardsley Jr.’s sabbatical, which started in November for undisclosed reasons. Beardsley, who was instrumental in achieving record passenger departures during his 11-year tenure, left the position under circumstances not fully explained due to “personnel and health issues,” according to Frederickson.
In the interim, engineering director Stephen Mykulyn has stepped up as the acting director since March. The board has engaged ADK Consulting & Executive Search to manage the search for Beardsley’s successor, with the process costing $47,574 and a potential announcement expected by July.
In other developments, the board addressed several issues:
- The cost for electrical work on the terminal expansion is projected to rise by approximately $149,000 beyond initial estimates. Mykulyn explained that due to federal grant processes, bid validity extensions are often necessary, though Joyce Electrical Inc. chose not to extend their bid past its February expiration. The board has since awarded the contract to the next highest bidder, Urban Electrical Contractors Inc., for $580,000, with funding largely covered by state and federal grants.
- Passenger departures in April numbered 21,643, marking a 4% decrease compared to April 2025. Air service development manager Beth Coslett noted a 2.9% decrease in seat availability and a 3.7% drop in load factors, attributing the decline to potential economic conditions and fluctuating fuel prices.
- The board recognized seven volunteer airport ambassadors for over two decades of service. These individuals, who assist passengers with inquiries and directions, include John and Bette Lou Brundage from Moscow, Carol Fisher and Tom Kisthart from Scranton, Marie Robson from Clarks Summit, and Ron Skamanich and Rita Skechus from Duryea.
