Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2017 issue
MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL – Bridget Rief, a 20-year veteran of the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC), has been promoted to the position of vice president – planning and development, effective July 1, 2017. In that position, Rief will oversee capital improvement programs from planning through construction at the MAC’s seven airports, including Minneapolis-St. Paul International and six general aviation airports: Airlake (in Lakeville), Anoka County-Blaine, Crystal, Flying Cloud (in Eden Prairie), Lake Elmo and St. Paul Downtown. Rief replaces Gary Warren, who retired June 30.
“Bridget has managed hundreds of millions of dollars in airport improvement projects during her two decades of service at the Metropolitan Airports Commission,” said MAC Chief Operating Officer Dennis Probst. “In the process, she has worked with airport tenants, community leaders, governmental entities and stakeholders throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area to ensure investments in our airports result in increased safety and efficiency, while minimizing environmental impacts.”
During her time at the Metropolitan Airports Commission, Rief has managed a wide variety of airport improvement projects at MAC’s seven airports, including numerous efforts related to the $3 billion MSP 2010: Building a Better Airport program. Prior to this appointment, Rief served as director of MAC’s Airport Development Department. In that capacity she oversaw construction related to MSP’s 2020 long-term comprehensive plan, including a four gate expansion of Terminal 2-Humphrey, and efforts currently underway to improve and expand the Terminal 1-Lindbergh complex: multi-year projects to modernize the terminal’s arrivals and departures areas; ground preparations for a new 300-room InterContinental Hotel and construction of a skyway connecting the hotel to the terminal; plans for a new 5,000 space parking ramp to satisfy Terminal 1 parking demand; and roadway and parking exit plaza changes to accommodate the expanded parking facilities.
Rief’s key achievements at MAC’s general aviation airports include expansion of Flying Cloud’s primary runway to 5,000 feet and creation of a new south hangar development area, as well as serving as a central force in creating a public-private partnership with Anoka County that allowed for expansion of that airport’s primary runway to 5,000 feet, and construction of a new development area for hangars and commercial aviation facilities on the northwest side of the airport.
“More than 50 million passengers are expected to use Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport by 2035, and I look forward to leading the efforts to enhance our facilities to meet that demand,” said Rief. “We are updating our design and construction standards to incorporate new sustainable building parameters, exploring universal accessibility concepts and reviewing design and building options that are both financially sound and environmentally friendly. In every aspect of airport planning and development, we want to reflect the MAC’s vision of providing your best airport experience.”
Rief holds a civil engineering degree from the University of Minnesota. She is also a graduate of the Hamline University Public Works Leadership Academy. She and her husband have three children and live in Lakeville, Minnesota.
