Sea-Tac Airport Director Announces Plans To Leave Seattle; New Airport Director Appointed

After 10 years as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport's managing director, Gina Marie Lindsey announced plans to leave the Port of Seattle to pursue opportunities in Washington, D.C. She is planning a departure in late summer, following the grand opening of the airport's new Concourse A and Arrivals Hall. Lindsey's key role has been to manage the airport and an unprecedented capital improvement program at Sea-Tac.

"Gina Marie took on challenges and opportunities at Sea-Tac Airport with her characteristic style and energy, and the list of accomplishments during her tenure is remarkable and impressive," said Port of Seattle Chief Executive Officer M. R. Dinsmore. "As fortunate as we have been to have her extraordinary talent, passion and leadership over the past decade, I am excited for her as she opens a new chapter in her career and her life."

Lindsey is acknowledged for changing the business models with airlines and concessions in the airport to better reflect market demands; planning and designing a $4 billion re-development program and bringing half of the projects on-line; keeping the third all-weather runway project moving successfully through the lengthy permitting and litigation process; setting long-term plans for a fiscally responsible ultimate build-out of the airport; and for leading the airport's recovery after the Nisqually Earthquake and the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, which changed many of the airport's passenger and baggage processes.

Dinsmore announced today that Sea-Tac Deputy Managing Director Mark M. Reis will become the new airport director. Reis joined the Port in 1988 as director of Marine finance and business development, and moved through a number of finance and strategic planning positions within the Port until joining the airport team in 1997. Currently, Reis oversees business, operations, financial management and police/fire services at the airport.

"As deputy director of the airport, Mark shares the credit for some of the airport's most important accomplishments over the past several years," said Dinsmore. "He brings to the position a long history of creative leadership."

Prior to joining the Port, Reis was executive director of the Northwest Conservation Coalition and the Northwest Renewable Resources Center, both Seattle-based non-profit organizations. He holds a master's degree in public administration from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and a bachelor's degree in environmental studies from Western Washington University.