Airport Leadership Bios

Ricky D. Smith was appointed Director of Port Control on June 19, 2006. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Smith served as the Senior Deputy Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer for the Maryland Aviation Administration, owner/operator of the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall (BWI) and Martin State (MTN) airports. During his seventeen year tenure with the MAA, Mr. Smith had management responsibility for virtually every major function of a commercial airport including business development, administration, airport operations, planning, air service development and marketing. His professional experience is rounded out by employment with the Maryland State Highway Administration and private sector companies such as IBM, H&R Block, and the May Company. Mr. Smith holds undergraduate and advanced degrees from Howard University and Loyola College of Maryland, respectively, and he has participated in leadership development programs including the Greater Baltimore Committee’s The Leadership, and the world-renowned Government Executive Institute at the University of Maryland.

 

Percy E. Dangerfield was selected to join the Cleveland Department of Port Control team as the Chief of Staff in October 2006. He serves as the principal assistant to the Director, charged with ensuring that the overall vision and key initiatives of the Department are implemented. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Dangerfield served as the Division Manager of the Disadvantaged/Minority Business Enterprise Program for the Maryland State Highway Administration. Mr. Dangerfield has accumulated 17 years of experience in the public and private sectors - primarily in business development, governmental affairs, and organizational advancement. He is a graduate of Frostburg State University, where he received both a Bachelors of Science Degree in Philosophy, and a Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in management. 

Eleanne Young serves as the Chief of Administration and Performance Management, including oversight of Information Technology, Organizational Development, and Administrative Services. Over six years with the Maryland state government, her breadth of experience has focused on business and strategic planning, and addressing workforce development issues with a particular strength in managing and creating leadership development programs. Ms. Young holds a Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland, and an MBA from Loyola College in Maryland.

Pat Singleton was appointed Chief of Business Development and Management in October 2006, and is responsible for business planning and development and all matters related to concessions, airline agreements, parking and ground transportation, and contracts and procurement. Ms. Singleton joined the Department of Port Control as Airport Development Manager in 1999 and has served in various management positions within the business cluster. Ms. Singleton has a Bachelor of Science from Central State University, and a Master of Science from the Ohio State University. Ms. Singleton has over 20 years of experience in commercial management including experience with concessions development, airline use and lease agreements, management of airport parking and ground transportation operations, and real estate negotiations.

Todd F. Payne was selected to join the Department of Port Control in December 2006 as Chief of Marketing and Air Service Development. Mr. Payne will focus on the expansion of air service and cargo service at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, as well as oversee advertising, public relations, and the airport's customer service and ambassador teams. Prior to his selection, Mr. Payne was Regional Sales Manager of the Eastern U.S. with Hawaiian Airlines. He brings 21 years of travel industry marketing and sales leadership experience with airlines, hospitality and destination entities. He has also held strategic management positions with Experience Columbus, Accor Hotels, the Aruba Tourism Authority, VIASA Venezuelan International Airways, USAir and Piedmont Airlines. Mr. Payne is a graduate of Ashland University and has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration with a focus on Marketing. He has also received CTC certification from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents.

Steve Nagy was selected as Chief of Planning and Engineering in November 2006. In this position he oversees the areas of Planning, Engineering, Real Estate and Noise Abatement. Prior to his current position, he served as Manager at Cuyahoga County Airport, where he managed all aspects of professional, administrative and operations functions. No stranger to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, Mr. Nagy began his 22-year tenure with the City of Cleveland in 1977 as a project manager for planning and environmental projects at CLE, where he was responsible for developing facilities planning and aircraft noise abatement programs. Mr. Nagy received his Masters in Public Administration and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Cleveland State University.

Fred Szabo was appointed Commissioner of the Airport in August 2001, and is responsible for operations at the Airport.  Prior to accepting his current position, Mr. Szabo served as Assistant Director of Public Safety for the City.  Mr. Szabo has nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement and has served as Administrative Assistant to the Chief of Police and Safety Director and spokesman for the Cleveland Police Department and as Acting EMS Commissioner.

Khalid Bahhur was appointed Commissioner of Burke Lakefront Airport in 2001, and is responsible for operations there, as well as for management of the City's harbor properties surrounding Lake Erie. Additionally, Mr. Bahhur is tasked with ensuring the success of the Cleveland Grand Prix and Cleveland National Air Show, both signature events for the City of Cleveland. Mr. Bahhur has extensive experience and knowledge in the operations, planning, budgeting and economic development of general aviation airports, and it is his vision to reposition Burke Lakefront Airport as a viable economic driver for the Northeast Ohio region. Mr. Bahhur holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Cleveland State University.

 

Kathleen Woidke was appointed Acting Chief Financial Officer in July of 2004, after serving as Airport Comptroller since 2001.  Ms. Woidke joined the Department of Port Control as an Accountant III in 1996 and was promoted to Fiscal Manager of Capital Projects in July 1999.  From 1993 to 1996, she served as a tax auditor for the City Division of Taxation.  Ms. Woidke received a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from John Carroll University.

Jack M. Arnold has been with the Law Department of the City and assigned as counsel to the Cleveland Airport System since April 2003. Prior to accepting his current position, Mr. Arnold served in various senior-level corporate counsel positions with McDermott International, Inc. and The Babcock & Wilcox Company. Mr. Arnold has nearly 30 years of experience acting as legal counsel to various types of business organizations. Mr. Arnold has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Kent State University, a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Akron College of Law, and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree in International Management from Baldwin-Wallace College.