When I began my aviation career 35 years ago, it is safe to say that providing executive searches to the airport community was not on my radar screen.  I was blessed with the opportunity to get acquainted with all facets of aviation...from being a pilot, to working for the FAA in Airport Planning and Design, to senior management in a maintenance and overhaul environment, to being an airport manager, and to the largest impact on my life...UPS Airlines. 

I became a Vice President at UPS Airlines and was part of the executive staff that started the airline in the 80’s.  I was an integral part of one of the largest airport facility expansion projects in the U.S. in recent years at Louisville International (over $1B dollars).
                                                                                                                                                                
One thing I have learned over the course of my aviation career is that airports must compete for and invest in their top executives.  Airports are multi-million dollar businesses and leadership is the crucial element for their success. Having outstanding executives in the top positions is the most important decision that the governing body can make for the future well-being of their airport.

My partner, Annell Kuelpman, and I, founded ADK Executive Search in 2003 with the one goal in mind...provide a professional, quality-driven executive search process that caters exclusively to the airport management community.  Annell was a recruiter and trainer in her previous career with professional training in personality assessments and interview techniques.  We totally understand the industry and the people who work in it.  We bring years of leadership skills, strengths, and experience to the workplace.  We utilize state of the art assessment tools. We stay involved in the aviation industry through AAAE and ACI and are active in their association sponsored activities.

Linda Frankl, A.A.E. joined the ADK team in 2011. Linda's over 24 years of airport industry experience and her work at the senior management level make her a perfect match for ADK. She was most recently Vice President of Strategy Management with the Columbus Regional Airport Authority. Her career in Columbus began in Airport Operations and advanced through numerous positons. Prior to Columbus she worked at Memphis International Airport and Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. Linda brings experience and talent in working with Boards, staff retreats, overall staff evaluations, and airport strategic planning / management.

At the end of the day, we can only be measured by the company we keep and the results we produce.
Our references include clients, candidates and business associates. We invite you to contact them.
ADK is extremely proud of our young reputation and would honor an opportunity to provide executive
search services for your airport. 

Doug Kuelpman
President
ADK Executive Search