THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410120132
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DOVE WIMBISH, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Brenda Mauldin faced a situation last July that would make any administrator's stress level soar.
At a time when all of her bosses were away, agents from the state and federal government agencies that regulate Hampton Roads Airport showed up for an unexpected inspection.
Mauldin remained calm, hurriedly pulled out the airport's records and winged a full-scale presentation. At the end of the day, the inspectors left with smiles on their faces.
In recognition of her competence as administrator of Hampton Roads Airport, Mauldin has been presented a plaque by the Virginia Department of Aviation and the Federal Aviation Administration.
``I am very honored to be chosen,'' said Mauldin. ``This month I celebrated my 20th year here, and I've always tried to do my best, but this just came as a complete surprise.''
A native of Portsmouth, where she graduated from Wilson High School, Mauldin began working for the Hampton Roads Airport in 1974. Since then she has held positions ranging from sales representative to accounting executive. Today, as chief administrator, she supervises the day-to-day operations of the airport.
Her boss, airport owner Fran Sykes, couldn't be more pleased.
``Brenda is on the spot all the time and is really the key person at the airport,'' Sykes said. ``We are down here about one week of every month, and we telephone her almost every day, so we really depend on her ability.
``This July, the FAA and the Virginia DOA paid a visit to the three reliever airports in this area. Generally, they notify the airport 48 hours before they arrive, but there was a mix-up, and we didn't know about it. Brenda was able to get information, make a presentation, guide them during the inspection and generally answer all their questions at the airport on the spur of the moment.
``The airport and Brenda came through with flying colors, and I think it was at that time that these officials really realized how much Brenda did. They sent her a letter before the convention notifying her that she was the recipient of the award.''
According to Sykes, only three awards are given per year to airport workers who have advanced aviation in some way. The list of people who have received the award represents airport workers from all of over and all sorts of professions: transportation workers, pilots, supervisors of specific projects, and just generally people who work very hard for the DOA are among past recipients.
But this is the first time that anyone from the Chesapeake airport has ever received the award, traditionally given out at the annual Department of Aviation conference. Mauldin was this year's only female recipient.
``This is something that the Department of Aviation, probably in consultation with the FAA, put her in for,'' said Sykes. ``They have been presenting these awards for the past 20 years, but Brenda's situation is unique in that we are the only privately-owned reliever airport in the state of Virginia. Generally, publicly owned reliever airports are supported by tax dollars and are owned by municipalities or counties.''
It's not just her bosses and employees who like her work. According to Sykes, everyone who comes in contact with her admires her management style.
``She's in constant contact with people that rent our hangers and, to a person, everyone who rents a hanger here really likes Brenda,'' said Sykes. ``She listens to their suggestions and complaints, will pick out the best part of a suggestion and present it to use and try to implement. She's very open, very easy to get along with and, even in the most difficult situations, she keeps a smile on her face.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
Brenda Mauldin is the chief administrator of the Hampton Roads
Airport.
by CNB