Sky Harbour Group Corporation made a significant announcement today regarding key leadership changes and updates on its Dallas-Addison home-basing campus project.
Leadership Changes:
Will Whitesell has been appointed as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Sky Harbour Group, bringing over 20 years of construction, development, and senior management experience from prominent companies like Turner Construction, The Related Companies, and Suffolk Construction. Previously serving as Suffolk’s COO for the New York region, Whitesell is well-positioned to lead Sky Harbour through its next phase of growth.
Outgoing COO, Alex Saltzman, has amicably separated from the company, with an agreement in place to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities. Loren Benedict, a seasoned professional with decades of experience in pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) space, has joined Sky Harbour subsidiary RapidBuilt as Chief of Operations. Benedict, a US Army veteran, will play a pivotal role in optimizing manufacturing efficiency, quality, and seamless integration with Sky Harbour’s design and construction teams.
CEO Tal Keinan expressed gratitude for Saltzman’s contributions and welcomed Whitesell and Benedict, highlighting their qualifications and the strategic roles they will play in Sky Harbour’s growth.
Construction Update – Addison Phase 1:
Sky Harbour has also provided an update on its development budget for Dallas-Addison (ADS) Phase 1. The estimated budget has been revised from $25-27 million to $30-32 million. This adjustment is primarily due to owner-initiated improvements aimed at enhancing the overall quality and aesthetic appeal of Sky Harbour’s offerings, informed by insights gained from existing facilities.
To fund these cost increases, the Company plans to make cash contributions in Q1 2024 from unrestricted funds at the corporate level into Sky Harbour Capital and the Obligated Group’s construction fund. The commitment to protecting and supporting funding sufficiency remains, ensuring the success of the 2021 Sky Harbour Capital LLC Aviation Facilities Project.
Sky Harbour is dedicated to its mission of scaling manufacturing and development capacity, reducing development costs, and maintaining a qualitative edge. The addition of seasoned professionals and strategic updates reaffirms the company’s commitment to achieving these goals.
About Sky Harbour Group Corporation
Sky Harbour Group Corporation is an aviation infrastructure company developing the first nationwide network of Home-Basing campuses for business aircraft. The company develops, leases, and manages general aviation hangars across the United States. Sky Harbour’s Home-Basing offering aims to provide private and corporate customers with the best physical infrastructure in business aviation, coupled with dedicated service tailored to based aircraft, offering the shortest time to wheels up in business aviation. To learn more, visit www.skyharbour.group.