BSU Aviation and Collier County Airport Authority

Airport Management Internship

Marco Island, FL - Summer 2010 - Student: Nick Dexter 11'

BSU Aviation is very thankful to everyone at the Collier County Airport Authority and Marco Island Executive Airport for their help and assistance with Nick. We are very thankful to Mr. Bob Tweedie who was instrumental in securing funds from the Florida Airports Council in order to make this a rare paid internship! 

From Left - Nick Dexter and Bob Tweedie

Here is what Nick had to say about the experience......

I am immensely pleased to have had the experience of working for the Collier County Airport Authority in Naples, Florida for my summer internship.  During those summer months in 2010, I gained first hand knowledge on working in the public sector of aviation as part of a county government.

At Marco Island Executive Airport, the headquarters of the airport authority, I made contacts with the phenomenal employees and ground crew as well as with many tenants of the airport.  I worked with the various departments at the airport authority as well as at the county government headquarters.  I attended several managerial meetings for issues regarding airport construction progress, for several service vendors who wished to bring their business to the airport and even board meetings with the airport authority’s advisory board. I also had the privilege to travel to the other airports operated by the airport authority: Immokalee regional and Everglades airpark where I completed various projects.

Overall, my experience living and working on Florida’s “paradise coast” was extraordinary. I developed contacts and learned about the aviation industry from the perspective of the airport management, and experienced what it’s like to work for a public government.  I am grateful to my friends at the Collier County Airport Authority as well as to the entire collier government for providing and contributing to this experience that further developed my skills and that I learned so much from. 

For more information please contact gbongiorno@bridgew.edu or (508)531-2654