Business View Magazine Dec-2022

176 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 9, ISSUE 12 young talent to the industry, the airport took an active role in hosting an event last summer called, Kites, Flights, and Bikes, where Lake Area Tech students showcased their aircraft to youngsters. “The local children were extremely excited to be taken for a quick flight and were smiling ear to ear when climbing out of the aircraft. Most said they wanted to be a pilot. There’s bound to be a boom in aviation. I’d say it was down to movies like Top Gun coming out and reigniting the passion for the industry,” says Cyrus. Cyrus is new to his new role at the commercial airport, having been in the air force for 24 years. He has operated in numerous locations and worked with a diverse crowd of individuals over his career, and his role as a program manager at Hickman Air Force base in Hawaii prepared him for the job at Watertown. Moving forward, Watertown Regional Airport’s goal for the next few years is to get enplanements up to 20,000 annually. This objective both management and the city believe they will achieve sooner rather than later. And in the future, the airport would love everyone to fly ATY. PREFERREDVENDOR/PARTNER n Visit Watertown www.visitwatertownsd.com Visit Watertown is the official destination marketing organization for Watertown, South Dakota. Their team actively promotes Watertown to leisure and business travelers alike and is committed to providing all the tools and resources needed to plan the perfect trip or event. n Lake Area Tech College www.lakeareatech.edu Lake Area Technical College is a #1 Two-Year College in the Nation acknowledged by the Aspen Institute for Community College Excellence.  The campus is home to over 2600 students and 31 different programs of study. The college has a consistent 99% placement rate and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.