Soar ahead

Eugene Conrad has boosted Lakeland Linder Regional Airport's economic impact to $300 million — up from $162 million just six years ago.

And with the recent announcement that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plans to operate its Hurricane Hunters team on the property, airport officials hope the facility will soar to new heights.

Conrad has the right to brag a bit about the growth he's seen since becoming the airport's executive director in 2010. He continues to increase the airport's amenities for future growth, with plans for more hangars, another hotel, a United States Customs and Border Protection facility, and eventually commercial flights to New York City, Atlanta and Charlotte.