Northwest Aerospace News October | November Issue No. 11 | Page 65

I n 2011, Krauter joined Spokane Airports as their chief executive officer. He was attracted to the communi- ty by the substantial potential that he envisioned for Spo- kane International Airport and Felts Field. Over the past eight years, Krauter and his team have worked with airline partners and the community to increase nonstop destina- tions and frequency of flights. These efforts have resulted in nearly a million more passen- gers traveling through the ter- minal. The number of nonstop destinations has increased and travelers can enjoy a variety of amenities at the airport, from free Wi-Fi and luggage carts, to a complimentary car wash customers can use before leaving the airport. The facilities have improved significantly. A new snow-re- moval equipment storage building, parking department building and fire station have been built. The airfield has been completely renovated. The airport is in the process of installing new digital ticket counter displays, wayfinding and screens in the airport’s main terminal rotunda — welcoming passengers to the Spokane/Coeur d’Alene region — and a new Marri- ott Springhill Suites hotel is nearing completion. At Felts Field a new hangar is being completed for the Historic Flight Foundation. The airport has also increased its business development activities. In 2018 the airport partnered with the City of Spokane and Spokane County to form the West Plains/Air- port Area Public Development Authority, a 9,000-acre area that includes the airport and neighboring private property owners that are unified around a common vision of creating a world-class transportation, logistics and advanced manufacturing center with an emphasis in aerospace. Krauter serves on the PDA Board and is currently in his second year as board chairman. In addition to his airport and PDA chair duties, Krauter is very involved in the air- port industry and the community. He is currently the 2nd vice chair of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) executive committee. He is a member of the Choose Washington New Middle-Market Airplane Council, a past president of the AAAE Northwest Chapter and on the board of the AAAE U.S. Contract Tower Asso- ciation. He also serves on the board of the Spokane Regional Transportation Council, the Spokane Good Roads Association and the Seattle branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society. He is also a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Wash- ington Pilots Association, and the Washington Seaplane Pilots Association, and is a licensed pilot who holds single engine land (SEL) and single engine sea (SES) ratings. Krauter is also an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) and is a certified professional planner (AICP). While he is pleased with what has been accomplished to date, Krauter is pursuing an aggressive agenda that is focused on modernizing Spokane International Airport and Felts Field as well as helping to grow the regional aerospace business cluster. OCTOBER | NOVEMBER 2019 ISSUE NO. 11 65