The Salina Airport Authority Board of Directors has always been an easy place to find the town’s “movers and shakers,” and the two newest appointees are no exception.

The Airport Authority is pleased to welcome Daran Neuschafer and Jeff Maes to the board.

Community service is nothing new for Daran Neuschafer, owner of Daran Neuschafer, Inc., of American Family Insurance, and the Airport Authority is happy to have him on the team.

Neuschafer has been appointed to the Airport Authority Board of Directors for a term of three years and will begin his tenure March 1 as the board’s secretary.

“I became familiar with the Airport Authority while serving on the Chamber Executive Committee,” said Neuschafer.  “I already have a good understanding of what is going on at the Airport Authority, so I don’t think the learning curve will be too steep.  I also wanted to stay involved in Economic Development and the Airport Authority Board offered that.”

Recently ending his time on the Salina Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors where he served as the 2009 chairman, Neuschafer comes to the Airport Authority with long history of local and state board and volunteer positions.  He has served on boards for the Salina Education Foundation, Bank VI, K-State Golf Course Management Research Foundation, K-State Alumni, Salina Community Theater, Site Council for Meadowlark Ridge and Lakewood, Volunteer Connection and more.

On April 26, 1965, M. J. Kennedy became the first chairman of the Salina Airport Authority Board of Directors.  Two decades later his son, Thomas J. Kennedy joined the Board his father had founded and served as chairman for a year as well.

It may have been the first time but it wouldn’t be the last.

In 1995, James C. Maes began his six-year tenure on the Salina Airport Authority’s Board of Directors.  Now, 16 years later the Maes name reemerges as ComPro Reality President Jeff Maes follows in his father’s footsteps on the Airport Authority Board.

“Dad was proud to have been appointed,” Maes said.  “Through his years he always spoke highly of Tim Rogers.  This Board in particular is one of the more influential boards in town and is very effective and highly professional.”

Maes is works with the Smoky Hill Residency Program, is a member of the Salina Board of Realtors and serves as the vice chairman of Salina Family Health.

“I’ve always held the Airport Authority Board in very high regard,” he said.  “Dad was proud to have been appointed and to serve and I feel the same way.”

He will serve for a term of three years and will begin his tenure March 1 as the board’s treasurer.