Saturday, April 22, 2006
CLEVELAND (AP) -- The city hired the No. 2 executive of the airport serving Baltimore and Washington to take over as director of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.
Mayor Frank Jackson introduced Ricky Smith on Friday as the city's director of port control, a position that also includes overseeing the smaller Burke Lakefront Airport.
Jackson said he expects Smith to focus on improving customer service at Hopkins and offering more direct flights to cities in the United States and abroad.
Smith, 44, who will earn $208,000 yearly, starts in June. He replaces John Mok, appointed by former Mayor Jane Campbell. During the search, some business leaders and suburban mayors said Mok should keep the job.
Since 2004, Smith has been the senior deputy executive director and chief operating officer of the Maryland Aviation Administration, which oversees Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
"I would say I'm a consensus builder," he said when asked about his strengths. "I care about the people who work for me."