In June 2018, Katie Servis became the first female Airport Manager at Cape Cod Gateway Airport since the airport’s inception in 1928. She employs 25 full-time staff members in three different departments (Airport Operations, Airport Maintenance and Airport Administration) that manage over 639 acres of runways, taxiways, parking lots, structures and systems. She manages over 15 on-call airport professional firms that assist in the operations, maintenance and development of the airport. She coordinates and works with over 65 on-airport businesses and tenants that employ over 1700 staff.
Photo: Sergio Dabdoub
During her time as Airport Manager, Miss Servis:
Increased the airport’s budget from $6.1M to $12.8M
Leveraged $83.9M in grant funding for various airport projects;
Diversified the airport’s non-aviation revenue profile bringing in over $1.6M annually in non-traditional land lease revenues plus a percentage of gross to the Airport’s $12.8M budget;
Improved the airport’s aviation revenue profile by contracting with various corporate jet users for fuel purchases, signing land leases for hangar development and land/building leases for the reuse of existing airport-owned structures and redeveloping the east side of the airport by improving and extending Mary Dunn Way; paving the way for future aviation development;
Completed various airport enhancements and development projects over the past several years to provide superior facilities and improve customer experience at the airport;
Continued working with airline partners (Cape Air and JetBlue) and introduced new airlines to the airport: Southern Airways Express in 2019; and American Airlines in 2024.
Developed construction guidelines for “green” development of airport infrastructure promoting the use of solar, wind or other means to promote emission reduction;
Spearheaded emission reduction opportunities to support the replacement of fossil-fuel-powered ground vehicles, equipment and aircraft, with electrically operated systems;
Recipient of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s SMART Program, “Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation”. Cape Cod Gateway Airport was the only Airport in the nation to win this grant to develop a Smart Microgrid at the Airport. A Smart Microgrid would generate and distribute reliable power at Cape Cod Gateway Airport to reduce emissions and increase energy independence.
Created and implemented an airport strategic plan in 2018 with set goals, objectives, and action plans to drive the day-to-day operation and management of the airport and to maximize financial self-sufficiency; to date, completing over 90% of the planned tasks;
Rebranded the airport from Barnstable Municipal to Cape Cod Gateway Airport. Implementing a new logo, a new look, and a new message to complement a new communications strategy and visual identity;
Completed an airport master plan update, essential in planning the future of the airport, providing a vision for strategic development of the facility;
Created the Community Event Series offering community-based events held at the airport featuring events in the terminal and on airport grounds; inviting the community to experience events in a unique setting. This included the first ever annual Southeastern Massachusetts Aviation Career Fair for 8th – 12th graders, Scout Sleepover (A Night at the Terminal) and A Great Day at the Gateway to name a few, catering to over 1,000 in public participation; and
Implemented the airport internship program so that students can gain practical knowledge of the industry and to help foster the growth and interest for workforce development.
Prior to this post, Miss Servis served as the Assistant Airport Manager at Cape Cod Gateway Airport. Proceeding her time at the Airport, she had been employed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division, as an Airport Planner and Environmental Analyst. Previous positions held in the aviation industry include:
Airport Planner for Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) and Hoyle, Tanner and Associated (HTA);
Airport Operations Specialist for Hanscom Field and Logan International Airport in Massachusetts and Paine Field Airport in Washington; and
Several positions held with Delta Airlines and Business Express (a former commuter airline for Delta).
She is a 1995 graduate of Bridgewater State University’s Aviation Management program; while in school, she earned her private pilot’s license and joined the Rhode Island Air National Guard where she held a position as an Air Traffic Surveillance Operator. In June 2018, she graduated from the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) Local Government Leadership & Management program offered through Suffolk University and is pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA).