PITTSTON TWP., PA — The Bi-County Airport Board announced Thursday that negotiations with Kim William "Bill" Hopper have collapsed, leaving the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport (AVP) without a designated successor for its top administrative role.
Hopper, who was unanimously chosen by the board last month to serve as the airport's new executive director, was slated to officially assume leadership on Nov. 1. However, airport officials confirmed that the board and Hopper were unable to reach an agreement on final contract terms, prompting Hopper to formally withdraw his name from consideration.
The unexpected setback forces the airport board back to the drawing board after months of recruitment following the retirement announcement of longtime director Carl Beardsley.
The Bi-County Board—comprising commissioners and representatives from both Lackawanna and Luzerne counties—is convening an emergency session to outline next steps for restarting the nationwide search process for a permanent leader. Until a new director is secured, assistant airport director Stephen Mykulyn is expected to continue overseeing daily administrative operations and ongoing capital improvement projects at AVP.
