Working on facilities at an airport provides a facility manager with many unique opportunities.
Whether it’s making sure hangars and runways are safe for airplanes or terminals are clean and convenient for passengers, facility managers at airports always have something to work on. After all, consider this: when’s the last time you were at an airport and there wasn’t some construction taking place?
Lakeland (Fla.) Linder International Airport won’t be confused with Atlanta’s Hartsfield or Chicago O’Hare for the country’s busiest airports anytime soon, but plenty of projects keep 2023 Facility Champion Anthony Costello and his nine-person staff busy.
From roof replacements and fire-safety improvements in hangars to upgrading the airport’s terminal and restaurant offerings, Costello has seen it all during his time as the airport maintenance and property manager. The airport covers 2 million square feet and 1,700 acres of property, giving Costello plenty of opportunities to do plenty with a modest number of staffers.
“Anthony’s exemplary leadership qualities and dedication have earned him the respect and admiration of his team and colleagues,” says Amy Campbell, a colleague who nominated Costello for Facility Champion. “His ability to effectively manage a diverse workforce while maintaining high standards of performance has been instrumental in the airport’s continued success.”
In just the past year along, Costello’s team has made great strides in improving the efficiency of how his team gets things done by implementing some of the following ideas:
“Anthony’s strong desire to address maintenance issues in-house has saved the airport tens of thousands of dollars each year,” Campbell says. “His proactive approach to problem-solving contributes to cost-savings and operational efficiency.”
Dave Lubach is executive editor of the facility market.
