November-December 2022 - 32

John Baer, PE,
Senior Project Manager, Woolpert, Inc.
John Baer is a senior project manager for Woolpert
and has grown through the ranks over his 15 years with
the company. He has been a project manager for the
last seven years and has led more than 100 airfield
projects, which include 20 runway paving, grading and
electrical projects.
Under Baer's guidance, some of
the largest and
Age: 38
Employer: Woolpert,
Inc.
Hometown:
Bargersville, IN
Alma Mater:
Rose-Hulman Institute
of Technology
award-winning airport infrastructure construction projects
in Indiana have come to fruition. These include 20-year
airport planning documents, as well as new and rehabilitated
infrastructure that enhances airport safety, growth
and development while reducing environmental impact.
Baer said looking to the future, he'd like to see continued
growth and innovation at airports.
" Advanced Air Mobility (AAM), for example, is expanding
the boundaries of aviation and moving the industry into a
new era, " he said. " I'd also love to help educate the public
and help them understand the importance of aviation in
every community. Too often, particularly with our general
aviation clients, we hear people make comments like,
'Oh, that's just a rich man's playground.' Airports are vital
Airports are vital to the
success of every business
and every community.
to the success of every business and every community,
and it is critical that the public understands that and
can leverage these resources to promote economic and
regional development. "
Baer said while there isn't one specific experience that
led him to where he is today, there is one piece of advice
that he was given that helped him to be successful.
" Every mentor I've had throughout my career has challenged
me to push myself beyond what I thought I was
capable of. One of those mentors, who was also a very
close friend, told me to learn to 'be comfortable with
being uncomfortable,' because it is in those uncomfortable
spaces that we learn and grow, " he said. " That continues
to resonate with me, pushing me to do things outside my
comfort zone and, ultimately, pushing me to be better. "
www.AviationPros.com/21277633
Age: 34
Employer: Collier
County Airport
Authority
Hometown:
Calhoun, GA
Alma Mater:
Kennesaw State
University
Andrew H. Bennett, C.M.,
Executive Airports Manager, Collier County Airport Authority
Andrew Bennett joined the Collier County Airport Authority
(CCAA) in July 2016 as an operations manager
and was promoted the position of executive airports
manager in January 2021. As the executive airports
manager for the CCAA, Bennett leads a team of 22
employees responsible for administering fixed-base
operation services, managing airport operations,
general aviation security, airfield maintenance, capital
improvement planning, capital improvement project
management and economic development activities at
three publicly owned general aviation airports: Marco
Island Executive Airport, Immokalee Regional Airport,
and Everglades Airpark.
His love of general aviation started early in his life and
that desire propelled him to achieve his private pilot
certificate at the age of 18.
" I'm very fortunate to be able to work in an environment
that is equally personally rewarding as it is professionally
rewarding, " he said. " I get to be in the aviation environment,
which is an environment that I spend a lot of
my personal time in as well. And so when I'm able to
combine a personal passion with a professional passion,
it's really a beautiful thing, I believe. And certainly being
able to interact with individuals, diverse individuals from
across the aviation community is an incredible benefit
to this industry and to myself. "
www.AviationPros.com/21277638
I'm very fortunate to
be able to work in an
environment that is equally
personally rewarding as it
is professionally rewarding.
32 \ AIRPORT BUSINESS / NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022
http://www.AviationPros.com/21277633 http://www.AviationPros.com/21277638
November-December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November-December 2022
