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WINTER WEATHER TRAVEL ALERT: Ride App & Taxi Pickup area on curb outside of ticketing through 2/2/26, 12pm

The Authority employs 90+ staff members in the areas of Administration, Air Service and Corporate Communications, Business Development and Properties, Finance, Information Technology, Marketing and Public Relations, Operations, Planning and Public Safety. Listed here are the key contacts for each department.

Organizational Chart

President + CEO

Lew Bleiweis, A.A.E.

President + CEO
Phone
(828) 684-2226
eheywood@flyavl.com

Lew S. Bleiweis, A.A.E., has over 30 years of experience in the aviation industry with the majority of his time focused on airport management, including areas of properties, operations, maintenance, purchasing, and risk management.

He has been with the Greater Asheville Regional Airport Authority since 2008, and has led the organization since 2009.  During his tenure, he has grown the organization from a non-hub airport to a thriving small hub airport with over one million passengers, increased the airport’s fund balance from just over $7 million to $31 million, while overseeing $100 million+ in capital expansion projects, inclusive of the airport’s first parking garage.

Prior to Mr. Bleiweis’ relocation to Asheville, he joined the Louisville Regional Airport Authority, Louisville, Kentucky in 1999, where he held several positions including Director of Properties.

Mr. Bleiweis also held several positions with the Kansas City Aviation Department, Kansas City, Missouri and the Roanoke Regional Airport Commission, Roanoke, Virginia.  

Mr. Bleiweis is currently serving as Airport Council International North America’s (ACI-NA) Chair.  He has served as Chair of the ACI-NA U.S. Policy Board, a member of ACI World Governing Board, a Member of the Board of Directors for American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and President of the Southeast Chapter AAAE.  He is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) by the American Association of Airport Executives, and he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation Business Administration/Airport Management from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Ellen Heywood

Executive Assistant to the President + CEO
Phone
828-684-2226
eheywood@flyavl.com

Chief Administrative Officer

Tina Kinsey, A.A.E.

Chief Administrative Officer
Phone
828-684-2226
tkinsey@flyavl.com

Chief Financial Officer

Amy Harris

Chief Financial Officer
Phone
828-684-2226
aharris@flyavl.com

Chief Operations Officer

Lexie Farmer, C.M., M.P.A.

Chief Operations Officer
Phone
828-684-2226
lfarmer@flyavl.com

DEPARTMENTS


Administration + Human Resources

Angela Wagner

Vice President Administration + Human Resources
Phone
828-684-2226
awagner@flyavl.com

Teisha Baynard

Human Resources Manager
Phone
828-684-2226
tbaynard@flyavl.com

Tanya Hensley

Human Resources + Administrative Assistant
Phone
828-684-2226
thensley@flyavl.com

Air Service + Corporate Communications | Marketing + PR

Angi Daus, MPA

VP Air Service + Corporate Communications
Phone
828-684-2226
adaus@flyavl.com

MEDIA: 828-209-5111

Alexandra Ingle

Marketing + PR Manager
Phone
828-684-2226
aingle@flyavl.com

MEDIA: 828-209-5111

Heather Pfeffer

Marketing + PR Coordinator
Phone
828-684-2226
hpfeffer@flyavl.com

David King

Guest Services + Advertising Manager
Phone
828-684-2226
dking@flyavl.com

Business Development + Properties

Christina Madsen

Vice President Business Development + Properties
Phone
828-684-2226
cmadsen@flyavl.com

Kathy Price

Business Development + Property Manager
Phone
828-684-2226
kprice@flyavl.com

Finance

Amy Harris

Chief Financial Officer
Phone
828-684-2226
aharris@flyavl.com

Karen O'Connor

Accounting Administrator
Phone
828-684-2226
koconner@flyavl.com

Information Technology

IT Help Desk

Phone
828-209-2121
Helpdesk@flyavl.com

Operations + Maintenance

John Coon, A.A.E.

Vice President Operations and Maintenance
Phone
828-684-2226
jcoon@flyavl.com

Daniela Lajos

Operations Manager
Phone
828-684-2226
dlajos@flyavl.com

Jeremy Arthur

Maintenance Manager
Phone
828-684-2226
jarthur@flyavl.com

Eric Scifres

Terminal Operations Manager
Phone
828-684-2226
escifres@flyavl.com

Geoff Burgess

Assistant Operations Manager
Phone
828-684-2226
gburgess@flyavl.com

Planning

Jared Merrill

Vice President Planning
Phone
828-684-2226
jmerrill@flyavl.com

Mark Sullivan

Airport Development Project Manager
Phone
828-684-2226
msullivan@flyavl.com

Anna Henderson

Planning Coordinator
Phone
828-684-2226
ahenderson@flyavl.com

Public Safety

Samuel Sales, A.M.F., ACE

Public Safety Chief
Phone
828-684-2226
ssales@flyavl.com

Kelly Smith

Public Safety Deputy Chief
Phone
828-684-2226
kelly.smith@flyavl.com