DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE SELECTED FOR BLUE GRASS AIRPORT

May 12, 2009 – Today the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Airport Board selected Don Sever as Blue Grass Airport’s Deputy Director of Finance and Administration. Sever currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the Kentucky School Boards Association in Frankfort, Kentucky.

In his new position, Sever will be responsible for overseeing all administrative, business and financial activities of the airport including management of the accounting, purchasing, property and information systems departments. He will serve as the airport treasurer, oversee tenant relations and negotiations and represent the airport in financial matters with governmental agencies and private business enterprises.

“We are delighted to welcome Don to Blue Grass Airport,” said Richard Hopgood, chairman of the Airport Board Finance Committee. “Among the 133 candidates for this position, with over 40 being CPA’s, we were extremely impressed with Don’s background and experience. His mix of expertise both in public and private accounting will be invaluable to us. We will be fortunate to have such a strong leader for our administration and finance department.”

“The airport conducted a lengthy application process for a candidate that will lead the airport forward in implementing best business practices in our accounting department. We are confident that we have found that candidate in Don Sever,” said Eric Frankl, interim executive director of Blue Grass Airport. “We are making great strides in our ongoing staff reorganization process and are pleased to have Don as a part of the new management team.”

Don Sever is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Kentucky. As Chief Financial Officer for the Kentucky School Boards Association, he was responsible for treasury management, oversight of financial and operational audits, implementation and documentation of internal controls and grant oversight. In addition, he was responsible for the creation of new business processes to streamline work flow and efficiency.

Prior to his position with the Kentucky School Boards Association, he served as the Vice President of Finance of Affinity Management International for Host Communications. In that capacity he was responsible for managing all accounting operations for five not-for-profit associations with annual gross revenues exceeding $25 million.

“I am looking forward to beginning my position with Blue Grass Airport,” said Don Sever. “I would like to thank Mr. Frankl and the Airport Board for placing their confidence in me, and I want to assure them and the traveling public that I will work towards creating a healthy and fiscally responsible airport for central and eastern Kentucky.

Blue Grass Airport, Official Airport of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, is served by six major airlines providing convenient non-stop service to 13 major hub cities with connecting service to hundreds of destinations worldwide. The airport proudly serves over one million central and eastern Kentucky travelers every year.

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