The Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District (EVAAD) is the owner and operator of Evansville
Regional
Airport and accompanying properties. A five-member Board of Directors, who are appointed to three-year
terms
by both the Mayor of Evansville and the Vanderburgh County Commissioners, governs the Airport Authority,
a
separate governmental unit. The Board has ultimate financial and policymaking responsibility for the
Airport
Authority, and its budget is approved annually by the County Council. Financial statements are audited
annually
by the State Board of Accounts. Board members serve as volunteers and receive no payment for their time.
In addition to the airport, the authority owns and operates Thunderbolt
Pass Golf Course, which has since recently undergone a series of improvements, including
improved
cart paths and greens, a newly installed irrigation system and new golf carts.
The Airport Authority also leases several properties around the airport of which most are ground leases
and
include, but are not limited to: Tri-State Aero, the Berry Global Warehouse, Airport Hampton Inn and
farming
parcels. These other sources of revenue enable the issue of lower rates and charges to the airlines and
other
tenants, and in total, the mixed use creates more than 500 jobs on airport authority property. According
to
the Aviation Association of Indiana’s 2012 Survey, the economic Impact of Evansville Regional Airport
exceed
$900 million annually.
Airport Authority Board of Directors
Rev. Dr. Adrian M. Brooks, Sr., President – Board appointment 2017
Rev. Dr. Adrian M. Brooks, Sr. has served as pastor of the Memorial Baptist Church since 1993. He attended the University of Evansville studying religion and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Political Science from the University of Southern Indiana. He is also the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Divinity from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminar.
Rev. Brooks strives to extend the church to become an integral part of the community. Under his leadership, the Memorial Baptist Church, and the Memorial CDC (founded in 1994) serves as an effective model of progressive ministry. The church offers over fifty ministries to the Evansville and tri-state communities which include: Substance Abuse Counseling, Youth Education Programs, Family Life Components, Women’s/Men’s Ministries, Housing and Commercial Developments.
The Memorial CDC is the leader of development activity in the center city of Evansville. Memorial Housing Corporation oversees
the acquisition and renovation of single-family residential houses in the center city. It has recently completed two multi-family complexes, the Bayard Park Lofts and Lincoln Lofts in 2021 and has completed an additional 6 homes.
Rev. Brooks has the distinguished honor of being respected both in the religious and business community. He has served on numerous boards, counsels, and committees. In 2015, Pastor Brooks was invited to accompany a US Congressional delegation to participate in the 50th Anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March. In 2016, he served as the guest Chaplain in the United States Senate and offered the opening prayer of the congressional session.
In 2018, he established the Adrian Myron Brooks Scholarship Foundation to ensure young people would have the resources to attend college.
Peter J. Paradossi, Vice President – Board appointment 2022
Peter J. Paradossi serves as president of the Evansville Regional Business Committee (ERBC), representing many of the largest and most engaged businesses in Southwest Indiana. As ERBC president, Pete leads the advancement of regional economic growth and prosperity through the advocacy, collaboration and engagement of key investments and initiatives. He was appointed ERBC President in 2016, after a celebrating a successful 25-year public affairs career in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry, most notably for Bristol-Myers Squibb and Mead Johnson Nutrition. Pete joins the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District (EVAAD) Board of Directors after serving an earlier term from 2009-2012.
Paul Green, Secretary – Board appointment 2019
Paul Green, recently retired Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 16, worked his way up from Electrical Helper to Inside Journeyman Wireman to Business Manager. He also became a NECA-IBEW Apprenticeship Instructor. While at the IBEW LOCAL #16 he served on numerous National, State, and Local committees and boards, including Airport Authority, Easter Seals and the Evansville Electrical Examining Boards. Paul was instrumental in several regional nonprofit organizations’ renovation projects, which include the old North Park Library for the creation of Holly’s House, the old Sandleben Pharmacy building for Aurora’s offices, and over the last 27 years, he’s assisted in the set-up, maintenance and disassembly of the Easter Seals’ Ritzy’s Fantasy of Lights displays. Paul was recently recognized for his leadership in raising funds and soliciting volunteers to purchase and erect the 60’x100’ storage barn that houses the Ritzy’s Fantasy of Lights displays during the off-season.
Kimberly Redding – Board appointment 2024
Kimberly Redding, since 1993, has called Evansville home, where she is dedicated to uplifting and supporting the community. Her servant leader-style attributes have led her to several local Boards of Directors, from Trustee at Nazarene Baptist Church, President and Treasurer of Joshua Academy Pre-School and Chapter President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. to Leadership Everyone, Chemo Buddies and Secretary of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). With a proven record in the insurance industry, coupled with 25 years of experience as a currently active broker at Star Real Estate Sales and Service, Kimberly is focused on helping clients achieve their dream of homeownership. As a wife, mother and “LeeLee,” Kimberly treasures time spent with her family.
Paul Saunders – Board appointment 2024
With over 20 years of experience in e-commerce, operations and supply chain management, Paul is a passionate and innovative entrepreneur who founded and continually leads two successful online businesses - eLuxury.com and ePackageSupply.com.
As the president and founder of eLuxury.com and ePackageSupply.com, Paul oversees all aspects of the business strategy, product development, marketing, sales, customer service and logistics. In 2016, eLuxury.com was named the 4th fastest growing company in the U.S. and the #1 fastest growing company in Indiana by INC 500, joining the ranks of companies like Zappos, Oracle, Under Armour and Microsoft.
Paul has leveraged his expertise in e-commerce and digital trade to serve as a member of the FedEx E-Commerce Executive Board of Directors and a speaker on Capitol Hill, representing the interests of online retailers and consumers. And before launching his own ventures, Paul applied his skills and knowledge in strategic sourcing and procurement, serving as a buyer and manager for Whirlpool Corporation and Mead Johnson Nutrition (now Reckitt). Most recently, Paul founded RidgecrestHoldingsLLC.com, which invests and manages a growing portfolio of industrial and multi-family real estate, local start-ups and various other investments within the Greater Evansville Region.
Nate Hahn, Treasurer – Executive Director 2019
Nate Hahn, Executive Director of Evansville Regional Airport, is a graduate of Purdue University’s top-rated national aviation program and a native of Indiana. Nate started his aviation career in Midland, TX, in 2005, prior to joining Evansville Regional Airport as director of operations and maintenance in 2011. During Nate’s tenure as EVV’s ops director, he was recognized for his leadership in the airport’s runway relocation project, which was completed safely, under budget and one-year ahead of the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) deadline. Nate was a driving force in EVV’s terminal modernization project that concluded December 2018, shortly before he assumed his current role as airport director in January 2019. Most recently, Nate oversaw the addition of the airport’s solar-covered parking canopies that provide world-class passenger amenities and support the airport’s sustainability commitment. Passionate about community and regional economic development, Nate currently serves as a Board of Director for Evansville Regional Economic Partnership (E-REP) and has further served the region through his leadership within Evansville Purdue Alumni Club and Young Professionals. Nate serves on Aviation Indiana’s Board of Directors and as Indiana’s state representative for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), where he holds a certified member accreditation.
