Cathryn Stephens, A.A.E, was this week named the Director of the Eugene Airport, a role she has filled in an interim capacity since March 2020. Stephens has worked at the EUG for nearly 15 years and is a nationally recognized Airport Executive.
“For the past 18 months she has led an amazing EUG team through one of the most dynamic periods in commercial aviation history working to adapt to severe reductions in people flying in 2020,” said Matt Rodrigues, Eugene Public Works Director. “She has also led the team through the administration of Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) and Corona Virus Response grants, working to rapidly readjust to travel demand, landing three new airlines at EUG including Southwest Airlines and construction of the associated buildouts to accommodate them, and much more.”
Throughout the challenges of the last 18 months, Stephens worked with her team to develop a vision of the future for the EUG Airport, crafting mission, vision, values as part of the EUG Strategic Business plan as well as working to create a funding plan to support implementation of needed airport improvements and concourse expansion.
Additionally, Stephens has worked with the EUG team to help drive industry innovation forward by participating in best practice research resulting in EUG becoming one of the first 10 airports to receive the GBAC STAR™ Accreditation (the cleaning industry’s only outbreak prevention, response and recovery accreditation for facilities).
Stephens has worked diligently to become a high performing, nationally recognized Airport Executive serving as a National Director for the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and current chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. In recognition of her work in Oregon and the Northwest, she recently received the 2021 NWAAAE President's Award of Distinction and was named the 2021 Airport Manager of the Year by the Oregon Airport Management Association (OAMA).