Article authored by:
Holly Elmore - LAI FL Suncoast Member & LAI Global Water-Land Series Group Co-Chair
Holly's eclectic career path includes multiple facets ranging from the corporate arena (Arthur Andersen Auditor & Trammell Crow Controller) to the foodservice industry (owner of a corporate catering business & restaurants) to sustainability-industry leader (Zero Waste Zones & Earth Impact Founder). In addition, Holly is an avid nature & documentary photographer and respected journalist with prominent articles and photographs featured in national publications.
On November 21, the recently chartered LAI FL Suncoast Chapter hosted its first meeting as an official chapter! With over 50 attendees and six LAI-member inductees, the meeting was a grand success.
Thanks to the generous sponsorship from Magnum Builders, DeAngelis Diamond, and Spectrum Underground, the event was open to LAI members and prospective members at no charge. The meeting ended with a lovely reception that was much appreciated by the attendees.
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) CEO Rick Piccolo gave an excellent presentation on the airport's recent expansion plans and facility upgrades, damage caused by Hurricane Milton, and how the airport is a local economic driver.
LAI VP Craig Binning traveled from Toronto to introduce the chapter and induct six new members. ... and Craig flew directly from Toronto to SRQ!
LAI FL Suncoast Chapter-member inductees include John Osborne, Green Streets Associates CEO, Kelly Gilliland, Integrity Mortgage Capital President, Scott Beck, DeAngelis Diamond VP & Division Manager, Ralph Abela, Magnum Builders VP, Elliott Falcione, Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director, and Steve Reinfeldt, Manatee County Habitat for Humanity VP Construction. Committed to active membership, John serves as the Chapter VP and Kelly as the Membership Committee Chair.
After the induction ceremony, Rick impressed the attendees with SRQ’s successes over his thirty-year reign as CEO.
After his 1995 arrival, SRQ CEO, Rick Piccolo guided the small regional airport from an untidy scenario to its current, prominent status as the fastest growing airport in the nation. Within its impressive growth, SRQ is a debt-free airport with profitable operations; the final debt payment was in August 2014.
According to Rick's PPT presentation, SRQ provides the following local economic benefits:
- 23,009 jobs
- $1.0B payroll
- $1.7B value added
- $3.2B economic impact (output)
Since 2018, SRQ experienced tremendous growth including the addition of six new airlines along with 41 new destinations, many via direct flights to final destinations. Seats are up 232% while onboards increased 213%. In 2024 SRQ boasts 11 airlines and 67 nonstop destinations; SRQ estimates total 2024 passengers at 4.5 million. Thus, SRQ holds the designation of the fastest growing airport in the nation.
Additional impressive details of SRQ’s regional economic impact are available in Rick’s PPT.
The IMPACT Magazine article, SRQ: an economic driver for the region, gives an overview of the meeting including Rick’s presentation; the Holly Elmore Images album, 11-21-24 LAI FL Suncoast Meeting is a pictorial recount of the meeting.
As a welcome to 2025, the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 30, 2025; Michael Snipes, Ph.D, Professor of Instruction of Economics at University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee campus, will share his Suncoast economic forecast.
With six new-member inductees and a plethora of interest in LAI-member nominations, the LAI FL Suncoast Chapter achieved the 30-member goal by year end. The Chapter Board commits to build a strong chapter that brings value to its members as well as the community.
 LAI FL Suncoast Chapter Inductees Pictured: front row, left to right: Steve Reinfeldt, Scott Beck, Craig, Kelly; back row, left to right: Ralph Abela, John Osborne, and Elliot Falcione. |
 Rick Piccolo gives an overview of planned development projects at the airport. |
All photos are courtesy of Holly Elmore Images
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