Airport Authority Board Elects New Leaders, Welcomes New Member

Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA), operator of Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) and Willow Run Airport (YIP), has elected Renée Axt as its new Board Chairperson, Samuel A. Nouhan as Vice Chairperson and Sue Hall as Secretary. The elections were conducted as part of the Board’s regular meeting yesterday at the Westin Detroit Metropolitan Airport. All three officers assume these new roles effective immediately.

Chairperson Renee Axt is the president of RCP Associates LLC, a business development and government relations consulting firm in Detroit. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Axt joined the Board in 2009 upon appointment by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano. Prior to being elected Chairperson, Axt had served as Vice Chairperson of the Board. She assumes her new office from outgoing Chairperson Charlie Williams, who remains a Board Member.

“I am committed to continuing the progress we have made under Charlie’s leadership and will focus on growth, efficiency and fiscal responsibility,” Axt said.

Vice Chairperson Samuel A. Nouhan is a partner in the national law firm of Bowman and Brooke LLP’s Detroit office and has served as a member of the WCAA Board since his appointment by Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano in January 2009. His practice areas include product liability, commercial and municipal litigation. He previously served in the office of the Wayne County Corporation Counsel and as a clerk to two federal judges. Nouhan is a graduate of the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law and previously served on the Grosse Pointe Park City Council.

Secretary Sue Hall, a new addition to the Board in late 2010 upon appointment by then-Gov. Jennifer Granholm, is a private consultant specializing in public administration. She retired from Wayne County in 2009 after 23 years of service during which time she held various executive level positions including Director of Administration for the Sheriff’s Office, Assistant County Executive for Administration and Deputy Director for the Department of Health and Community Services. For 18 years, she was an elected official for the City of Southgate–four years as Mayor and 14 years as a Councilwoman. Hall holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor’s degree in Local Government Administration from Central Michigan University. She is also a graduate of Leadership Michigan and Leadership Detroit. Hall succeeds Secretary Mary L. Zuckerman, who also remains a member of the Board.

“Working with the new Board officers, Airport Authority staff looks forward to soaring to new heights at Detroit Metropolitan and Willow Run Airports,” said WCAA Interim CEO Genelle Allen.

Established in 2002 by the Michigan State Legislature, WCAA is an independent agency responsible for the management and operation of Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Willow Run Airport, which together comprise Michigan’s largest airport system and one of the world’s busiest air transportation hubs. Studies conducted by the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2005 and 2007 found that the two airports contribute an estimated $7.8 billion to the state economy each year and are responsible for as many as 72,000 Michigan jobs.

The Airport Authority is overseen by a seven-member Board. Under state law, the Wayne County Executive appoints four of the Board’s members, the Governor of Michigan appoints two, and the Wayne County Commission appoints one—each for a six-year term. The Board elects its leadership team on an annual basis.

For more information about each WCAA Board Member, visit www.metroairport.com.