Bishop International Airport Bishop International Airport
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Covering Business in Flint & Genesee May/June 2018 Navigating market conditions Bishop International Airport Member Spotlight Destinations To Travel MTA More than just a bus service TABLE OF CONTENTS 6 10 12 This Issue COVER STORY 6 Bishop Airport delivers for Flint & Genesee (On the cover: Bishop’s passenger terminal.) Departments 10 Member Spotlight 4 Event Calendar Destinations To Travel, at your service 5 From the CEO 14 Chamber in Action 12 Feature Story MTA transforming public transportation 15 New Members 16 Members on the Move 18 Guest Commentary PUBLICATION EDITORIAL INQUIRIES DISTRIBUTION May/June 2018 Editor-in-Chief: Elaine Redd Members are encouraged to send news AND is distributed free of charge to [email protected] about their business—staff changes, Chamber members. Vol. 2 | Issue 3 awards, or expansions—for publication in Managing Editor: Bob Campbell Members on the Move. Send submissions CONTACT [email protected] to Savannah Lee, [email protected]. Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce Art & Design: Carol Pongrac The Chamber reserves the right to deny 519 S. Saginaw Street [email protected] and/or edit submissions. Flint, MI 48502 (810) 600-1404 Contributors: Izzi Joseph, DISCLAIMER [email protected] Melissa Burden, Michael Naddeo The Chamber is not responsible for the www.flintandgenesee.org ADVERTISING contents of any advertisement, and all AND is published bi-monthly representations of warranties made by the Flint & Genesee Sales Director: Steven Elkins [email protected] in such advertising are those of the Chamber of Commerce advertiser. No part of this publication ©2018 may be reproduced without written permission of the Chamber. EVENT CALENDAR Upcoming Chamber Events 17 | Professional Development 13 | Chamber Luncheon Learn more or register Improving Communication with Your Supervisor $10 members | $20 future members or Manager Noon – 1:30 p.m. at flintandgenesee.org 8:30 – 10 a.m. Holiday Inn Gateway Centre, 5353 Gateway Centre Northbank Center, 432 N. Saginaw St. Register: /events 13 | Professional Development Become a sponsor: /sponsorships 22 | Professional Development Creating a Leadership Growth Plan Giving and Receiving Effective Feedback Noon – 4 p.m. View professional development Noon – 2 p.m. Baker College, 1050 W. Bristol Rd. opportunities: /training Hampton Inn & Suites, 6060 Rashelle Dr. 23 | Professional Development 24 | After Hours Wine Down Vision Board Party MAY Sponsors – The Durant & Epoch Catering 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 5 – 7 p.m. Location: TBD 9 | Chamber Luncheon The Durant, 607 E Second Ave. $10 members | $20 future members 28 | After Hours Wine Down Noon – 1:30 p.m. 31 | INSPIRE Leadership Series 5 – 7 p.m. Holiday Inn Gateway Centre, 5353 Gateway Centre Speaker: George Wilkinson, President, NorthGate Location: TBD Noon – 1 p.m. INNN, 4800 Saginaw St. 28 | Certified Tourism 10 | Professional Development Ambassador Class The Secrets of Repeat Business 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 8 – 9 a.m. Location: TBD MLive Media Group, 540 Saginaw St. JUNE 28 | INSPIRE Leadership Series 16 | Professional Development 1 | Annual Golf Classic Speaker: Kathleen Gazall, Gazall, Lewis & Associates Leading from Beside and in the Field 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Noon – 1 p.m. Noon – 4 p.m. Flushing Valley Country Club, 1124 E. Main St. INNN, 4800 Saginaw St. Baker College, 1050 W. Bristol Rd. 4 | Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce FROM THE CEO Is your business GROWING? From the CEO Facilitating economic growth of life amenities, Flint & Genesee is a good place to be. In this issue of AND, two of our transportation partners are featured: Bishop International Airport and Mass Transportation Authority, known as the MTA. Both are important drivers of eco- nomic growth, jobs and a better way of life. You will read about the challenges they are turning into opportunities and better still, some of their innovative programs; a new advertising campaign; and, how the two are laser-focused on supporting the needs of the community and beyond. There are many great reasons for You’ll also find an interesting commen- Our confidential companies to choose Flint and Genesee tary about the role that tourism plays at and free services County to locate their business. One, is the state and local levels from our partners will connect you to that we have a strong business envi- at the Michigan Economic Development ronment. The region is supported by Corp. And speaking of tourism, we’re glad the right resources employers of all sizes, representing many to introduce you to one of our newest to succeed. industries – from healthcare to higher members, Destination to Travel. education, packaging and logistics, infor- So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and Secure financing mation technology and manufacturing; take some time to learn what’s happen- with good access to resources that help ing in business and leisure in Flint and Locate state and local companies be successful and grow. Genesee County. And importantly, how incentives Another reason, companies have told our transportation assets are facilitating us, is that Flint & Genesee is appealing economic growth. Navigate hiring and because of our transportation advan- training resources tages, which includes a strong logistics Tim network with great access to interstate Conduct site searches highways, broadband connectivity, mul- tiple rail providers, nearby ports, and a great airport. Add to that, a skilled Tim Herman All size businesses are workforce, access to incentives, low cost CEO encouraged to contact of living, and a business environment that encourages investment and quality Follow us on Facebook /flintandgenesee the Chamber’s Economic Development team for a one-on-one meeting. ‘[A] skilled workforce, access to incentives, low cost of living, and a business environment that encourages investment and quality of life amenities, Flint & Genesee (810) 600-1433 is a good place to be.’ May/June 2018 5 DEPARTMENT HEADING Bishop Airport navigates market conditions; delivers for Flint & Genesee … and beyond By Melissa Burden 6 | Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce DEPARTMENT HEADING Bishop International Airport, a key economic generator in Flint and Genesee County, is refining itself in an age of some airline industry turbulence. It’s taking proactive steps in planning for the future, adapting to an airline’s departure and trumpeting its convenience, inexpensive parking and ease of use in a new ad campaign. While the airport celebrating its 90th year may not The move wasn’t a surprise to Bishop, as the serve as many travelers as it once did, it remains airline had left other AirTran Airways markets after relevant and instrumental to attracting economic Southwest bought AirTran in 2011, Williams said. development and is a key asset to the area, experts And Southwest had already cut flights to Baltimore, say. The state’s third busiest airport includes 26 Las Vegas and Orlando from Bishop in April 2016. companies and 575 employees, offers business travel Southwest’s loss drops three daily flights to Chicago destinations, daily flights to Chicago, Minneapolis Midway International Airport and seasonal flights to and Atlanta, intermodal options for companies and Orlando, Tampa and Fort Myers, Florida, Williams serves as a shipping hub for millions of pounds of said. cargo each year. But while there are losses, there are also gains for “The airport is evolving as the airline industry Bishop travelers. evolves,” explains Bishop Airport Director Craig In May, American Airlines will add a fourth daily Williams. “We’ve got five air carriers here. One of flight to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and them, Southwest, is going away in June. The industry Allegiant Travel Co. also is expanding its service at has been changing. Back in 2005, the key perfor- Bishop. mance indicator that the airlines used was Las Vegas-based Allegiant began flying out of market share... And now it’s about profit- Bishop in April 2016 and provides service to Orlando ability and making sure that every plane is Sanford International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater being maximized to its full potential.” International Airport and to Punta Gorda Airport in Last year, about 782,000 passengers Florida. traveled through Bishop. The low-fare carrier, which links people in smaller That’s down cities to leisure destinations, is adding nonstop about 2 percent seasonal service from Flint to Myrtle Beach, South from 2016 and from its peak Carolina, and year-round service to Fort Lauderdale, of about 1.1 million passengers in 2005. Florida, beginning June 6. Allegiant spokeswoman Williams said he feels about 800,000 passengers Krysta Levy said the airline has been pleased with its annually is “that right spot” for Bishop, though this Bishop business and believes the Flint market can year that figure is predicted to come in at about sustain a few more vacation destinations. 700,000. Last year, Allegiant flew more than 75,000 people in “We continue to work with our existing airlines, and out of Bishop and the airline expects that figure United, American, Delta and Allegiant, to grow more, will rise with the new flights, Levy said. And it’s pos- whether that’s new cities, larger airplanes or increased sible other new flights and/or destinations could be frequencies,” Williams said. added by Allegiant at Bishop. Southwest Airlines, which accounts for about a “We are constantly evaluating how our routes are quarter of the airport’s passenger traffic, announced doing, and whether people are enjoying the nonstop in November it would end service out of Bishop in options we offer in each market,” Levy said. “We are June. The airline told local media that while it was a excited to see how Flint passengers respond to the tough decision, it wasn’t getting the results it needed. new destinations.” May/June 2018 7 COVER STORY Meet Sid the Skycap With the changes at Bishop, the airport also wants to connect with the public.