Airport Experience® News - Leadership & Culture Issue 2023

DIRECTOR’S CHAIR

GAINING GROUND RIC’s Perry Miller Sets Course For Growth, Including International Service

BY CAROL WARD

ditor’s Note: Richmond International Airport (RIC) is one of the largest small hub airports in the United States, with fewer than 100,000 enplanements separating it from the smallest medium hub airport. RIC could cross that threshold soon if current trends continue. The airport experienced 29 consecutive months of record-breaking traffic prior to the pandemic and, after the pandemic pause, resumed that pace eight months ago. In 2022, the airport registered 2.04 million enplanements. In 2019, the Capital Region Airport Commission, which governs RIC, tapped Perry Miller to be its president and CEO. Miller previously served chief operating officer and interim CEO of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority. After joining RIC, Miller’s broad vision for the airport was interrupted by the pandemic but is now back on track. AXN’s Carol Ward checked in with Miller to get a pulse on his vision and progress at RIC. E

WARD: I’m sure when you stepped into leadership role at Richmond International Airport in 2019, you had a vision for the airport that was completely upended with the pandemic. Now that the industry has weathered that storm, can you tell me the state of play at RIC and share your key goals for the future. MILLER: When I arrived, I set a strategic plan for our organization, which had not had one prior to my arrival. They had been operating in the luxury of having a lot of traffic. In fact, they’d had 29 consecutive months of record-breaking traffic. Once I set the strategic plan, we needed a vision, a mission and some strategic initiatives. That vision was to move people, business and commerce to advance the Richmond region, and we certainly believe we were doing that. Our mission was to ensure that every passenger had an exceptional experience, and I believe we are doing that.

Then we made it very simple for people to remember our strategic priorities. We use this acronym “POWER”, where the P meant we were focused on enhancing passenger experience. The O meant we were focused on on-airport community connections and collaborations. The W pointed to renewing the workforce culture and practices for the Capital Region Airport Commission employees. The E meant we were focused on ensuring that our facilities and operations were efficient and innovative. For the R, we wanted to ensure we’re advancing the Richmond region by engaging the business community. Now that we are overcoming the COVID 19 impact on our business, we probably will shift from our vision - which is to move people, business and commerce - towards hosting international operations. I think we’ll be ready for that sometime in the first quarter of 2024.

Above: Perry Miller, president and CEO, Capital Region Airport Commission

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AX NEWS LEADERSHIP ISSUE 2023