Pictured: Kevin Podsiad will bring 10 years of experience in aviation finance to the growing airport. Photo courtesy of Kevin Podsiad

Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport is welcoming Kevin Podsiad to their team as the new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. In this role, he will lead the airport’s financial decisions and planning and work closely with President and Chief Executive Officer Fredrick Piccolo. Podsiad will work to maintain and manage the airport’s finances, while also leading the airport’s support of local economic growth.

Piccolo said that he and his team were looking for a candidate with a background in finance and accounting, but in particular, an applicant with experience in the airport industry and aviation finance. Piccolo said that Podsiad, who worked at Tampa International Airport for 10 years prior and has a master’s degree in accounting, stood out among nearly 100 applicants.

Both Piccolo and Podsiad spoke to the particular nature of aviation finance — as a public entity, the airport must adhere to federal and state regulations while balancing private aspects such as revenues and local development.

“It's two unique worlds. If you had somebody who was focused on government, they would probably struggle more with the business side and the business thinking of it. If you had somebody from private business, they would probably get lost in the government side of things, because there are certainly nuances to government accounting that private accountants will struggle with from time to time. It's really that perfect blend of those two worlds,” Podsiad said.

As he transitions to his new role, Podsiad aims to increase his understanding of the airport’s operations, look for areas to improve financial efficiency and begin planning for future development.

“What interested me about Sarasota specifically was that I really wanted an organization that was growing. I want to take this role head-on and do a really good job. And so in the next five years, I hope I'm still here, making good decisions, helping the airport grow, assisting that wherever that may be–whether that's additional facilities or enhancing what we currently have.” Podsiad said.

Pictured: Kevin Podsiad will bring 10 years of experience in aviation finance to the growing airport. Photo courtesy of Kevin Podsiad