October 2007---Passero Associates continues its expansion of its Airport Services Group with the opening of the firm’s fourth office, the Capital District Office located in Saratoga Springs, New York. The new office will allow Passero to expand its service area into the New England States, while continuing to provide award-winning, nationally recognized services to current airport clients.

Passero Associates is occupying 1,200 square feet of space in a professional office building in downtown Saratoga Springs for its Capital District Office. Saratoga Springs is a 30-minute drive north of Albany and was recently noted as a growth community in New York. Geographically, the Capital District Office will provide Passero with improved access to over 30 public and private airports within a 75 mile radius and to additional airports in eastern New York and New England. These airports include potential clients that are currently underserved and would benefit from Passero’s expertise and value-based service model.

Opening the office in Saratoga Springs are two experienced and distinguished Airport Consulting professionals, Michael L. Churchill, PE, and Daniel P. Desjardins, PE. They join the Passero Airport Services Group of 25 professionals, and will be working with support and technical staff both in their home office of Saratoga Springs and in the Rochester, New York; Fernandina Beach Florida; and St. Augustine, Florida offices of Passero Associates.

Michael L. Churchill, PE is a civil engineer with over 25 years of airport engineering experience. He has long-standing relationships with and has provided planning, design and construction administration services to airports in eastern New York, New Jersey, Vermont, and Connecticut. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in those states, and is a former Board Member of the New York Aviation Management Association.

Mr. Churchill will be the Manager in Charge of the Capital District Office in Saratoga Springs and Senior Airport Project Manager, and will be responsible for building relationships with new clients in the region. He will also provide technical oversight of all planning, design and construction services undertaken in the Saratoga Springs office, and will provide technical support and quality control for other aviation projects in New York and Florida.

Wayne Wegman, PE, President of Passero Associates, says, “Michael’s reputation and relationships developed from 25 years of aviation consulting experience were a key factor in our decision to launch the Capital District Office. Equally important to us is the professional and ethical manner in which Michael conducts his business dealings. There is a strong synergy between Michael’s personal values and Passero’s corporate values”

Daniel P. Desjardins, PE, Senior Airport Engineer, is a seasoned civil engineer with over 30 years of experience in aviation, highway, municipal and site projects, including work in airport design and administration. He is a Licensed Professional Engineer in New York and a Registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts. Dan has been working with Michael on airport projects for the past six years.

Mr. Wegman stated, “We are very excited about our expansion with Michael, Dan and our Capital District Office and the opportunities it affords us.”

Within the next year, Mr. Churchill anticipates that the Capital District Office will be providing support for three to four airports in Eastern New York and New England, and within five years will be providing services for up to ten airports in the region. Development of other architectural and engineering markets, such as municipal engineering and private development, is also planned. Passero currently serves 26 general aviation and commercial airports, nine in Florida and 17 in New York.

Obtaining funding for safety and capacity improvements is a priority for Passero’s airport clients. The Passero team has successfully assisted each of its airport clients in obtaining consistent annual funding from local, state, and federal sources. This funding has paid for runway and taxiway improvements and expansion, terminal and equipment buildings, aircraft storage hangars, security fences, aircraft parking and apron expansion, airfield lighting and other necessary upgrades.

Passero Associates (PA) is an 80+ person, full-service professional consulting firm providing planning, engineering, architectural design, environmental, surveying, program management and construction administration services in New York, Florida, and the eastern United States.