Wisdom Wednesday: "Flying Helena: The Economics of Airline Service in a Smaller Community"

The Helena Regional Airport has a very unique business model when compared to many other traditional airport business models in similarly sized communities. The airport/airline industry has some unique challenges which are changing faster than ever before. Learn how the airport’s business model adjusts to meet those ongoing challenges from Helena Regional Airport Director, Jeff Wadekamper.

Jeff spent much of his childhood at airports and around aviation with his parents, which fueled his passion for the aviation industry. Jeff started working for the Helena Regional Airport in 1991 on the seasonal groundskeeping crew while still attending Capital High School. He continued to work at the airport every summer while attending MSU in Bozeman and after receiving a Bachelors degree in Business Management in 1998, he began working at the Helena Regional Airport full time. Through the years he worked in several different capacities including Airport Maintenance, Airport Rescue Fire Fighting, Business Development Officer, and Assistant Airport Director. Jeff became Airport Director in 2014. He is Past President of the Montana Airport Manager’s Association and currently serves as the representative for all of Montana’s airports on the State Aeronautics Board. He remains very active in the Helena community including a member of the Helena Kiwanis Club and the Helena Ambassadors. Jeff served as Board Chair of the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce in 2013, and also worked on numerous committees such as the 2002 and 2009 Air Show Committees, Transportation Committee, Visitor Center Committee, and Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Committee, and is a past graduate of Leadership Helena.