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Nicole Noll-Williams is the President and CEO of the Capital Region Airport Authority (CRAA), overseeing the operations of the Capital Region International Airport and Mason Jewett Field.

Nicole brings over 25 years of experience in the aviation industry to her leadership role at CRAA, with a background that includes air service development, airline management, and contract management. She also served nearly three years as the Mid-Michigan Regional Director for U.S. Senator Gary C. Peters.

In her previous role with the Airport Authority, she was the Director of Marketing and Passenger Development, where she spearheaded development, marketing, advertising, and public relations efforts. Her initiatives were instrumental in establishing direct flights to Washington D.C. and international destinations, including Cancun and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Before joining the Airport Authority and working for the U.S. Senate, Nicole was the Director of Sales for Spartan Travel, a Michigan corporate travel management company. There, she helped organizations develop travel policies and negotiated contracts for state-wide organizations such as the State of Michigan, Michigan State University, and various Michigan insurance and manufacturing companies. She began her aviation career with United Airlines/United Express as a Customer Service Representative, handling responsibilities from boarding passengers and loading baggage to deicing the aircraft. She then advanced to Regional Sales Manager, overseeing sales in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and finally to Airline Station Manager, managing daily airport operations.

Nicole actively participates in key industry organizations, serving as a member of the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) U.S. Policy Council Committee, the Michigan Association of Airport Executives (MAAE) Legislative Committee, and is a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). She is also deeply involved in the mid-Michigan region, contributing as a member of the Michigan State University Mobility Advisory Council, a Board Member for the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), the Port Lansing Next Michigan Development Corporation, the Lansing Community College (LCC) Foundation Board, and an ex-officio member of the Mid-Michigan Business Travel Coalition Board. Additionally, she serves as a Commissioner of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan.

Nicole has been honored with the distinguished ATHENA Award, recognizing her excellence in her profession, meaningful community service, and her mentorship of women in achieving their professional goals and leadership skills.  She also received the LCC Distinguished Alumni Award, crediting her experience at LCC as a significant influence that inspired her aviation career. 

Nicole is married to Keith Williams and is the mother of two daughters, McKenzie Perry (John Perry, Son-in-law) and Brooklyn Noll.

Robert (“Rob”) Benstein is the Vice President & COO for the Capital Region Airport Authority. In this role, Rob oversees the public safety, operations, planning, engineering, and properties administration functions for the Authority’s two airports - Capital Region International Airport (LAN) and Mason Jewett Field Airport. Rob has over 36 years of airport management experience; he previously held positions at Gerald R. Ford International Airport, San Jose (CA) International Airport, Central Wisconsin Airport, and Midland (TX) International Airport.

Rob is an accredited member of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE); he is also the former chair of the Airports Council International - North America Public Safety and Security Committee. Rob earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Airport Management from Southern Illinois University. He also holds several licenses including MDOT Airport Manager, FAA Aircraft Dispatcher, and FAA Private Pilot with airplane and glider ratings. Rob also serves as the board chair for the Lansing Gateway Corridor Improvement Authority, and is a board member of the Vevay Township Downtown Development Authority. 

Katherine Japinga is the Director of Marketing for the Capital Region Airport Authority. In this role, Katherine is responsible for the development and execution of all marketing and advertising, public relations efforts, and event planning and management. She also serves as the Public Information Officer and manages all media relations on behalf of the Capital Region International Airport and Mason Jewett Field Airport.

Katherine has over ten years of experience in advertising, communications, and public relations. Prior to joining the Airport Authority in 2021, Katherine spent nearly seven years as the Deputy Director of the Michigan State Senate Majority Communications Office and served under two Senate Majority Leaders. As Deputy Director, she managed daily operations of a team of 20 individuals, overseeing all projects within the Senate Majority Communications Office including all communications on behalf of the Senate Majority Leader and senators in the majority caucus such as press releases, media events, columns, e-newsletters, digital content, mailers and social media content, as well as assisted with the development of long-term communication strategies and campaigns. She also assisted the Senate Majority Leader and majority caucus members with message development and provided media relations support. Prior to her position with the Michigan State Senate, she was an Account Coordinator for Marketing Resource Group, a full-service public relations and public affairs firm, managing the public affairs interests and communications needs of a diverse client list, including business, association, education, environmental, transportation and professional sports industries.

Katherine earned a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and a Master of Arts in Public Relations, both from Michigan State University. She is currently a member of the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Policy Committee. She also served on the board of the Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America (CMPRSA) for eight years, both as a Director at Large and Assistant Treasurer. Additionally, Katherine served on the board of Grand River Connection, a young professionals networking organization, for nearly seven years, and serving as board president for three years. She also received the “10 Over the Next Ten” award in 2018, which is awarded to greater Lansing’s top young professionals who are anticipated to contribute to the community significantly over the next 10 years.

Ron O’Neil, CM, FMP is the Director of Facilities and Infrastructure for the Capital Region Airport Authority. In this role, he leads the maintenance efforts for both the Capital Region International Airport (LAN) and Mason Jewett Field Airport, ensuring the safe and efficient upkeep of all airport-owned facilities, assets, and fleet. With extensive experience in facilities operations and management, Ron directs and manages the team responsible for keeping the infrastructure of the LAN and Mason Jewett Field ready to serve airline partners, tenants, and guests.

Ron is responsible for LAN’s entire 2160-acre campus of airport-owned buildings, warehouse facilities, air cargo facilities, hangars, roadways, grounds, airfield, baggage handling, guest mobility, as well as all snow removal operations (both airfield and landside), preventative maintenance, HVAC, and electrical systems. Additionally, he oversees the airport’s farming program, environmental efforts, construction projects and mangers third-party contractor performance.

Ron has more than 30 years of experience in facilities management. He rejoined the Capital Region Airport Authority in 2013 after spending four years as the Facilities Supervisor for Michigan State University Federal Credit Union (MSUFCU). Prior to his years at MSUFCU, he was the Facilities Manager for the Capital Region Airport Authority for four years. Ron began his facilities management career at Jackson National Life, where he worked for 22 years.

Ron attended Baker College and studied Business Management. He earned his Facilities Management Professional Designation from the International Facilities Management Association (IFMA), as well as his C.M. Designation from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Ron is also active on several local boards and committees, and serves as a board member for Clinton County Catalyst, vice president of the Building Owners and Managers Board, committee chair of the Aviation Careers Institute Advisory Committee, member of the Capital Area Manufacturing Council, and as a technical committee member for the Capital Area Regional Transportation Study Committee. 

Chief Steve Gonzalez is responsible for the leadership and management of the Capital Region Airport Authority’s Department of Public Safety. Comprised of full-time professional Public Safety Officers, the department is responsible for aircraft rescue and firefighting, emergency medical first response, and law enforcement services at Capital Region International Airport. The Department of Public Safety also works closely with adjacent municipal police and fire departments to ensure integrated response resources are available in the event of an emergency.

Prior to joining the Capital Region Airport Authority in 2021, Steve served 24 years with the East Lansing Police Department, the last four as the Deputy Chief of Police. Throughout his career Steve held both supervisory and operational assignments in the Patrol, Investigative, and Administration Divisions of the department. Steve also served as an enlisted member of the United States Coast Guard Reserve.

Steve holds a Masters Degree in Emergency and Disaster Management, a Graduate Certificate in Law Enforcement Executive Leadership, and a Bachelors Degree in Homeland Security from American Military University. He is a state certified Police Officer, Firefighter, and Medical First Responder. Steve is a graduate of the Michigan State University School of Staff and Command, Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Chief’s and Police Executive’s course, and Michigan State Police Leadership in Police Organizations course. He is also active on several boards and committees, and serves as the mid-Michigan representative for the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Legislative Committee, president of the District 7 Mid-Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, board liaison representing LAN to the Region 1 Homeland Security Planning Board, and is the state coordinator for the state of Michigan ARFF Working Group. 

Evan "Blake" Roy, A.A.E., is responsible for the daily management of the Airport Operations Department and ensuring the airport is compliant with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and all other federal, state, and local airport regulations. Blake manages a team of seven Operations Officers who have a wide array of aviation knowledge and ensure the airport is operating safely and efficiently. 

Prior to assuming his current position at LAN in 2021, Blake served as the Interim Airport Manager, Assistant Airport Manager, and Operations Manager for Middle Georgia Regional Airport (MCN) in Macon, Georgia, and was responsible for the overall management, security, operations and compliance of the airport. His aviation career also led him to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) as a Ramp Operations Coordinator and Louisville-Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) as a Ramp Agent for Piedmont Airlines/US Airways Express. 

Blake earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation from Eastern Kentucky University and a Master of Aeronautical Science degree in Airport/Aerospace Operations from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.  He is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE), and a general member of the Michigan Association of Airport Executives (MAAE) and Airports Council International North America (ACI-NA).

Steve Ball, ACE, A.S.E., is the Maintenance Manger for the Capital Region Airport Authority. In this role, he is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance and facilities work on the airfield, at airport-owned buildings and grounds for both the Capital Region International Airport (LAN) and Mason Jewett Field Airport. Steve works on a daily basis to ensure LAN’s entire 1,260-acre campus is in top shape and ready to serve airline partners, tenants and guests, as well as Mason Jewett Field.

Steve has more than 20 years of experience in maintenance and facilities management, primarily in the aviation industry. He joined the CRAA in 2006 in the airfield maintenance department, and transferred to the airport operations department in 2008. During his time in the operations department, Steve gained valuable experience outside of airfield maintenance and was responsible for the daily Part 139 Airfield Inspections, wildlife control, and monitoring and reporting of snow events. Steve rejoined the airfield maintenance department in in 2010, and has been the Maintenance Manager since 2018.

Steve has earned both his Airport Certified Employee (ACE) and Airport Snow Expert (A.S.E.) designations through the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).