MORGANTOWN – The City Manager has offered the Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) Director job to a long-time airport administration mainstay.
Jackie Marhefka, 13-year employee of the airport, accepted the position at a Wednesday Airport Advisory Board meeting. Marhefka has served in the Interim Director position since October 2013.
Before working at the airport, Marhefka was a journalist, most notably at the Dominion Post. She was hired as an administrative secretary at the Airport less than a month after the attacks on September 11, 2001. She rose through the ranks of airport administration, gathering priceless information and lessons on running an airport. She carried the title Assistant Airport Director, but has served as interim director several times over the last decade.
“I’ve always been looking for new challenges,” Marhefka said, “But I never thought I’d be in this seat.” She says she does feel comfortable, however, stepping into the Director’s position because she’s been doing so much of the job for so long.
Marhefka says that this is a very exciting time to be airport director because several improvement projects are coming to fruition – most of which were simply ideas when she was first hired:
- Runway Extension Project
- East Side Development of Hangars
- WV National Guard Morgantown Readiness Center
As she has been actively involved in these projects from the beginning, says City Manager Jeff Mikorski, it made sense for her to take the reins.
“Jackie will be a part of an Airport team, working with the City Manager’s Office, to improve the Morgantown Airport Facilities and surrounding Airport property. The East-side development of the Airport is one of the most important economic development initiatives for the City of Morgantown.”
Marhefka will be in charge of Leadership and day-to-day operations, while receiving strategic guidance and plans from Assistant City Manager of Operations, Col. Glen Kelly. Kelly was Airport Director from 2009-2011, and returned to the City in 2013.
“In a small town airport, you never know who is going to step off that plane,” remarked Marhefka. “Whatever the day holds is going to be fulfilling.”
The Morgantown Municipal Airport (MGW) – Commercial flights are operated by Colgan Air, Inc. as “UNITED EXPRESS” to DULLES INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (IAD) daily. Three departure flights with four arrival flights Monday thru Friday, with two flights daily on Saturday and Sunday. DULLES INTERNATIONAL provides daily connections to over 125 domestic destinations and over 30 international locations.