The Milwaukee county executive has named Brian Dranzik as the new director for General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), beginning Oct. 16. Dranzik has been serving as interim director since Sept. 14, when former director Ismael Bonilla left the organization.
Dranzik was previously director of transportation for Milwaukee County. Prior to Bonilla’s appointment, Dranzik served as interim director of the airport for nine months in 2015-2016, when he oversaw the completion of MKE’s $40 million baggage claim remodeling project, welcomed Alaska Airlines and other new air service, and was instrumental in continuing the airport’s long-term planning process, the county executive office said.
“Brian Dranzik has been a source of stability, leadership and innovation in various capacities at the airport for 14 years, which makes him the obvious choice to oversee MKE’s ongoing growth and success,” County Executive Chris Abele said. “In just the past two weeks we’ve announced plans for a new international terminal, launched new nonstop service to Miami and announced the major expansion of OneJet at MKE, which will include two new nonstop destinations and the addition of a Milwaukee operating base that will create up to 50 new local jobs. With Brian at the helm at MKE, I expect many more exciting announcements in the future.”
The planned new international terminal involves demolishing the current E Concourse in 2018, which is the oldest concourse at MKE, and replacing it with a new terminal that can accommodate multiple gates and flights, increase passenger satisfaction and comfort, and house all necessary U.S. Customs and Border Patrol services. The new terminal design is intended to be expandable so that the airport can add to its international capacity in the future as passenger traffic increases.
“I’m incredibly proud of everything we’ve accomplished at MKE over the past couple of years and am honored that County Executive Abele has entrusted me with the important task of making sure this growth is only the beginning,” said Dranzik. “I look forward to working with the county executive, the county board and, of course, the phenomenal team at MKE. I also am excited to strengthen my associations with colleagues in the aviation industry.”
