A Vancouver-based airport management and development group would take over operation of Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport immediately as Brown County seeks to increase the airport’s profitability, passenger activity and flights.
The Brown County Board on July 15 will consider a resolution to approve a five-year contract with Vantage Group to provide airport management services effective the next day, July 16. Representatives from Vantage will make an informal presentation to supervisors and the public at 6 p.m. July 15, before the County Board meeting begins at 7 p.m.
The resolution also eliminates the positions of Assistant Airport Director Rachel Engeler and Marketing Director Susan Levitte from the county’s table of organization. Airport Director Marty Piette’s position would remain on the county’s table, but its salary would be reduced to $1. The county would continue to own the airport and employ the rest of the airport staff.
Vantage would hire, at the county’s expense, an executive director, commercial director and operations director, to oversee the strategic, operational, financial, commercial and management of the airport.
The resolution indicates the action is being taken to take the airport “to the next level” and says the agreement with Vantage will take the airport in a different direction. Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach echoed that sentiment in a statement provided to the media.
“Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport is one of Brown County’s most important economic development assets. After months of careful work and negotiation, we’re bringing in a partner with the experience to help this airport grow to new heights.” Streckenbach said in the statement. “Brown County will continue to own GRB, approve its budget, and set its direction. What changes is that we now have a management team with the expertise and relationships to deliver on it, and we’re excited to move forward together.”
The Green Bay airport has struggled to keep up with an ongoing surge of growth and investment at Appleton International Airport, northeastern Wisconsin’s other commercial airport.
Green Bay’s passenger activity numbers remain just below 700,000 arrivals and departures in recent years, according to the airport’s 2026 budget and in August 2025 Frontier Airlines ended flights out of Green Bay. In contrast, Appleton International Airport saw passenger activity top 1.3 million arrivals and departures in 2025, key commercial airlines in early 2026 added more flights to hub airports, and Allegiant Airlines this year added nonstop flights to the Los Angeles area and Orlando.
Supervisor Patrick Evans echoed Streckenbach’s sentiment, recalling a recent legislative breakfast he attended at which an Outagamie County official made a joke about how much better the Appleton airport was doing compared to Green Bay’s. It wasn’t funny to Evans.
“They’re doing a great job. That’s fine. But it almost sent a clear message that we’ve got to step up our game,” Evans said. He later added: “We have a great opportunity here. We have a gem with the airport. We just need to enhance it.”
The five-year agreement with Vantage includes both set payments and potential incentives Vantage can earn based on performance measures. If both parties mutually agree, the contract can be extended by another two, five-year terms.
The proposed agreement’s fees and incentives are:
In addition to overseeing the day-to-day operations of the airport, Vantage would analyze the airport’s operations, performance and strategic priorities. It would also conduct aviation and market research to identify opportunities to increase passenger activity, expand flights and increase revenues.
The firm would look to develop business cases and proposals to help the Green Bay airport attract new and enhanced passenger service, additional air cargo services and look to maximize food, beverage and retail operations in the airport.
Contact business reporter Jeff Bollier at (920) 431-8387 or jbollier@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X at @JeffBollier.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: County eyes new management to boost Green Bay airport flights, service
Reporting by Jeff Bollier, Green Bay Press-Gazette / Green Bay Press-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Bollier, Green Bay Press-Gazette | USA TODAY Network
