Airport Authority Administration & Board Members

A 36,000-foot View 

• Most Cherished Travel Memory: Family vacations to Cancun

• Favorite Spot at the Ford Airport: Anywhere at the airport, but the airfield is exciting!

• Best Travel Advice: Pack a carry-on

Torrance “Tory” Richardson, A.A.E. is the Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s president and CEO, overseeing all functions and activities of Michigan’s second-busiest airport. He is also responsible for developing and implementing the Ford Airport’s strategic vision, including long-term plans for future development, infrastructure improvement, guest growth and other initiatives.

Successful in guiding airports through significant change and boosting regions’ economic vitality, Tory is leading the Authority’s Project Elevate, a revolutionary expansion of the Airport to accommodate passenger growth that includes adding nonstop international commercial flights. He has managed numerous airport functions during his long aviation career, from HR and operations to government affairs and strategy. He started out as an airport maintenance worker doing lighting, airfield, asphalt and concrete repairs.

Prior to joining the Ford Airport in 2019, he was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which oversees three airports in central Ohio: John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field. During his tenure, passenger traffic grew 33% to more than 8.4 million travelers while freight increased 91% to more than 300 million pounds. He previously served as the Columbus Regional Airport Authority’s chief strategy officer and vice president of human resources, government affairs and strategy. Before that, he was executive director of airports for the Fort Wayne-Allen County Airport Authority, which includes Fort Wayne International Airport and Smith Field Airport. He also was executive director and operations director at Rapid City Regional Airport and an operations specialist and maintenance worker at Dubuque Regional Airport in Iowa.

Tory is past Chair of the American Association of Airport Executives and is past President of the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. He also has held leadership positions with the Airports Council International-North America and is past President of the Ohio Aviation Association. He has a bachelor of science degree in aviation management from the University of Dubuque.

A 36,000-foot View

• Most Cherished Travel Memory: Connecting my family to my Eastern European roots
• Favorite Spot at the Ford Airport: Ink Bookstore
• Best Travel Advice: Get to the Airport early!

Alexander Peric, A.A.E., manages the daily operations of the Airport Authority by directing facilities, engineering and planning, public safety, business, information technology and operations functions. He is charged with being the catalyst for the Authority’s growth in business development, economic development, non-aeronautical revenue and innovation. He ensures that all Airport facilities and operations comply with federal, state and local rules and regulations. Additionally, Alex serves as President and CEO in Tory’s absence. As the integrator of the team, Alex works to hold the Authority accountable and helps each department work harmoniously while executing its high-level plans.

In 2019, Alex was named one of Michigan’s Most Valuable Professionals by Corp! Magazine, a reflection of his steadfast economic development ingenuity and innovative business modeling. In 2013, he was named to the Top 40 under 40 by Airport Business Magazine. Alex has also worked tirelessly to enhance the air service development program at the Ford Airport, which has been well received by airline partners, resulting in significant additions to the Airport’s route map.

Prior to joining the Ford Airport in 2017, Alex was Vice President of Business Development and Properties for the Allegheny County Airport Authority in Pittsburgh. While there, he was responsible for all business-related matters for the airport system, which includes Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport, as well as management and development of 9,000 acres of land, 3.5 million square feet of commercial facilities, concessions and innovative revenue strategies. Additionally, he also served in business development and management roles for the cities of Cleveland and Phoenix airport systems and Continental Airlines.

Alex’s diverse background within the aviation industry includes strategic roles in airline relations, business management, real estate, operations, project management, revenue development, negotiations, risk management and data analysis.

Alex earned his bachelor’s degree and pilot license in aviation management with minor in management information systems from Kent State University and master’s degree in labor relations and human resources from Cleveland State University. He is an accredited airport executive with the American Association of Airport Executives and a member of the Airports Council International North America, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties and Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

A 36,000-foot View

Maria Kim joins us from Fraport USA where she was a Director of Financial Analysis and Reporting. In this role she oversaw the concessions programs and revenue development at Nashville International Airport, JFK terminal 5, Newark International Airport, Baltimore International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport and Cleveland International Airport.

Prior to Fraport, she worked for Allegheny County Airport Authority in Pittsburgh (ACAA), where she was responsible for revenue management of Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport. She developed strategies to optimize revenue & vendor management. She was recruited to ACAA from the Consumer Product Goods sector, where she held progressive marketing and finance roles across Heinz and Samsung.

Maria grew up in Seoul, South Korea, and holds B.S. in Finance and minor in Chinese from the University of Notre Dame. She recently finished her Master’s in Business Management from Harvard University Extension School. In her free time, Maria enjoys hiking, cooking, reading, painting, and traveling with her husband.

Maria is a data driven passionate leader with over 10 years of experience in strategic planning, analysis, forecasting and financial modeling across public and private growth companies, with a specialized background in aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue development. Her goal is to create and deploy sustainable, balanced, and well-integrated roadmaps for GFIAA’s success.

A 36,000-foot View

• Most Cherished Travel Memory: Hiking the trails of Glacier National Park as a family.
• Favorite Spot at the Ford Airport: The Airport Viewing Park on Kraft just north of 52nd.
• Best Travel Advice: Be open-minded and make flying part of the experience, not just a necessity of vacation or a business trip. Look up from your cell phone and enjoy the airport and airplanes.

Casey Ries, P. E., LEED AP ensures the Gerald R. Ford International Airport’s indoor and outdoor physical spaces are ready and able to support guest and aircraft activities. Casey is responsible for engineering, planning and environmental functions at the Ford Airport. His duties involve monitoring, maintaining, planning and updating buildings, runways, facilities and other infrastructure to keep pace with growth projections. Casey also plans and administers the capital improvement program, supports sustainability initiatives, ensures compliance with permits and provides engineering guidance for airport operations and maintenance.

During his time at the Ford Airport, Casey has been instrumental in leading three key projects: Gateway Transformation, a $50 million investment that reimagined the guest experience, Reconstruction and Expansion of the Terminal Apron and Project Elevate, including the upcoming $90 million expansion of Concourse A.

Prior to assuming his current role in 2017, Casey served as the Airport’s engineering manager, leading the engineering team of airport staff, consultants and contractors to execute airside and landside capital development projects. An expert in construction and airport project management, Casey has worked on projects with the Michigan Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Agency, the Department of Defense and airports across Michigan.

Casey earned his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan Technological University. In 2013, he was named Engineer of the Year by the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers Capital Area Chapter. Casey is a licensed professional engineer, certified industrial stormwater operator and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. Additionally, he is a member of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, where he serves as Chair and Panel member, Airports Council International North America Environmental Committee, National Society of Professional Engineers and American Society of Professional Engineers. He serves as vice president for the Grand Ledge Robotics Club and is a chapter coordinator for the MATHCOUNTS program.

A 36,000-foot View

• Most Cherished Travel Memory: My most cherished travel memory would have to be our family trip to Ireland.  We explored the entire island from top to bottom and side to side.  It was so inspiring to see where our family came from and create memories with my family.
• Favorite Spot at the Ford Airport: My favorite spot at GRR is the baggage area.  I love seeing all the families hug when they meet again.
• Best Travel Advice: Plan as much as you can ahead of time and if this does not work – then be flexible!

Heather Day, SHRM-SCP, C.M. serves as the Director of Human Resources for the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority.  In her current role, Heather is responsible for leading GFIAA’s overall human resources strategy, talent acquisition, development, diversity and inclusion, employee education and development, compensation and benefits, HR technology, and employee relations.  The human resources department works with all the leaders across GFIAA to meet the needs of each department. 

As the Director of Human Resources, Heather will oversee the efforts to find more effective and streamlined companywide talent acquisition practices that better utilize technology; a companywide diversity and inclusion strategy and more thoughtful, comprehensive talent management and talent development programs. One of the more important contributions that Heather has been focused on is the dialogue between leadership and the employees through focus groups and face to face meetings that engage all employees at all levels and serves as the foundation for future change and progress here at GFIAA.

Prior to coming to GFIAA, Heather worked as the Director of Benefits and Compensation at the Wayne County Airport Authority (DTW) for 19 years.  Heather holds an MS of Human Resources Development from Villanova University, is an SPHR, an SHRM-SCP and holds a Certified Member from AAAE. Heather currently sits on the Human Resources Steering Committee for ACI-NA and participates in both local and national SHRM groups.