Golden Triangle Regional Airport Executive Director Mike Hainsey was named Professional of the Year by the Mississippi Airports Association at its annual conference.
Hainsey has served in this role at GTRA for the last 12 years and also serves as chair of the American Association of Airport Executives’ Air Service Committee.
“It’s an honor to be selected for this award,” Hainsey said on Thursday. “We have a great team here at GTR and the teamwork is the reason for our continued success.”
In addition to his most recent honor, he also chaired the Aviation Cooperative Research Program’s (ACRP) Panel on Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations at Airport and was named the FAA Commercial Air Service Airport Manager of the Year in 2008.
Locally, Hainsey is a member of the Golden Triangle Development LINK’s board of directors and is a permanent member of its advisory council.
He has also served as the president of the Mississippi Airports Association and Mississippi Intermodal Council and served on the board of the Mississippi Military Communities Council.
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant recently appointed Hainsey to the Board of Directors of the Aerospace Alliance, a four-state organization dedicated to economic development in the aviation arena.
Hainsey is also involved in charity work, serving as founder and CEO of Dreams on Wings, a charity that provides the experience of flight to children facing serious illnesses and their families.
“Mike played an integral role in the development of the first Lowndes County Megasite, which
is currently home to Steel Dynamics Inc.,” said Mike Bogue, vice president of APAC-Mississippi, Inc., who is one of two people who nominated Hainsey. “He also presented creative property solutions for the project that secured the selection of
Lowndes County by PACCAR Engine Company.”