ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
John M. Schussler spent his professional career in aviation, beginning as a flight instructor, corporate pilot, and manager of an airport business before specializing in airport property management.
In his thirties, he became Director of Properties for the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority. He later served as a Regional Airport Properties Manager for Federal Express, working with approximately forty airports, including major airports in California and across the country.
In 2005, John became Director of Properties for the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, owner and operator of Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ). He remained in that position until retiring in 2018 and considers his years at SRQ the most enjoyable and rewarding period of his career.
Airport real estate, leases, tenant relations, and long-range land planning were John's professional specialties. His work required balancing the immediate needs of airport tenants and other institutions with an airport's responsibility to preserve its property for future aviation needs.
John began researching the New College–SRQ Airport land controversy because he believed his professional experience provided a perspective that was largely missing from the public discussion. His interest is not in the political direction of New College. It is in the stewardship of publicly owned airport property and in preserving an accurate historical record of the decisions surrounding the proposed sale.
John lives in Sarasota, Florida, and is retired.
