Three new faces joined the Gary/Chicago International Airport Authority Tuesday, but the chairman’s seat is still vacant.
The terms of all past seven members expired Aug. 31 by state law.
Gary Mayor Eddie Melton, who has four appointments, named Vanessa Allen-McCloud, Tyrone Hamilton and William Godwin, and reappointed Stephen Mays.
They replaced Trent McCain, Millicent Lyles, and Gerald Anderson, former Mayor Jerome Prince’s appointees.
Remaining on the authority are Lake County appointee Philip J. Mullins and Porter County representative Thomas Collins Jr., although he said he hasn’t heard anything from Porter County officials concerning his reappointment.
Gov. Mike Braun hasn’t named a new chairman to succeed former congressman Peter J. Visclosky, who resigned in July.
Former Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed Visclosky in 2022 after Visclosky retired after 35 years in Congress.
Allen-McCloud is a former educator who is president and CEO of the Urban League of Northwest Indiana. She served on the Gary School Board until this year.
William Godwin, an attorney, is a former First District Gary council member. He was a White House Fellow for the 2023–2024 class, serving in the Office of the National Cyber Director.
Hamilton said he worked for American Airlines for 35 years in Chicago as a facilities manager. He was also an electrician for 15 years, he said.
During the meeting’s business portion, the board approved a $1.27 million contract with Milestone Contractors North, Inc., of Griffith, for paving and crack sealing work at both Gary and Griffith airports.
Resident Ronald Jones asked what the airport was doing to position and market itself.
Marketing representative Adam Gypalo, of Chicago-based Resolute Public Affairs, said officials just returned from an aviation trade show in Las Vegas, where the airport provided promotional materials to potential stakeholders.
He said the airport also does advertising and promotions in aviation news outlets, and it engages frequently with local, regional and national news outlets.
“We take every opportunity to promote the airport to these outlets,” he said.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
