New airport manager prepares for arrival

It’s been a busy five months for Ken Koopmans, Columbia’s transportation manager. Since October, he’s had to manage Columbia Regional Airport. During that time, the city’s pick for a permanent airport manager pulled out amid controversy and the airport’s only commercial airline said it planned to quit flying at Columbia.

Now Koopmans can finally hand the job to Kathy Frerking, a 25-year veteran of the Columbia Public Works Administration. She was named Friday as the new manager of Columbia Regional Airport, beating out more than 40 candidates from around the country.

“It’s a matter of experience and knowledge of the city,” said John Glascock, the public works director. But experience wasn’t the only factor.

“I needed somebody now,” Glascock said. “She was here and available, so I selected her.”

John Dean, chairman of the Service Corps of Retired Executives, which advises airport and city administrators, said there are advantages to choosing someone who knows Columbia.

“It’s a plus,” he said. “She’ll get a lot of support from a supportive hierarchy ... I’m very hopeful she’ll be capable of carrying the load.”

Frerking faces a tough task at the airport, where passenger numbers have fallen substantially in recent years, and commercial flights are limited to a handful a day to St. Louis.

“It would be challenging for anyone coming in here, given the current situation,” Frerking said.

Among the challenges facing Frerking is the decision last month by Trans States Airlines to discontinue service between Columbia and St. Louis. The airline operates flights under the banner of AmericanConnection, a regional arm of American Airlines.

RegionsAir, another AmericanConnection operator, has expressed interest in serving Columbia when Trans States leaves. Its president has said the airline is unlikely to add any new destinations. Some city officials have expressed interest in adding flights to places such as Chicago and Dallas.

Frerking said her new position would involve some of the same responsibilities she has now, in addition to more hands-on involvement with airport operations.

“I see this position as implementing direction from the city manager and City Council,” she said.

Frerking’s appointment comes after months of searching. In October, the city whittled a pool of 43 applicants down to four, who were invited for final interviews. Kathy Sok of Grand Island, Neb., was eventually picked for the job, but she withdrew her application after the Missourian revealed that she had been fired from her previous job and had lied on her résumé.

The city considered many of those same candidates again before finally deciding on Frerking.

Frerking, a graduate of Rock Bridge High School and MU, has worked as the Public Works Administration’s management support specialist since 1987. Her duties in that role have included managing the department’s budget — including the airport budget — as well as administering grants and working with outside contractors.

Koopmans said Frerking would bring both management experience and familiarity with airport issues to her new position.

“She’s very aware of what’s going on in terms of the airport,” he said.