March 28, 2024

MBA Students Create New Plan for Stafford Airport

An MBA student group, in concert with the UMW Center for Economic Development (CED), has worked on a project for the Stafford Regional Airport (SRA).

The group of COB/MBA students, working with Associate Professor of Management & Marketing Louis Martinett and CED Executive Director Brian Baker as well as alumni mentor Micah Dalton, produced a written strategic marketing plan for SRA. The outcome of the planning process was a plan that described a clear strategy for growth for SRA. The strategic marketing planning process included hands-on work with the Stafford Airport Authority, preparation, and follow-up evaluations along with a clear strategic plan of implementation.

Through the process, the student team and the Airport Authority worked together on a review of the current business model, revising the mission and vision, answered key questions for expanding the scope of business, and identified opportunities and defined ideas for expanding the business footprint of SRA.  The student team included Omar Awan, Megan Holder, Steven Ping, Max Watson, Kaitlynn Wickersham.

Dave Ellis, vice chairman of the SRA Authority and a 25-year Air Force veteran with nine years in a senior civilian role at Air Force Headquarters in the Pentagon said: “During those years, I’ve been through numerous planning exercises and the project led by these UMW grad students has the been the best by far. Each meeting was professionally run and we accomplished specific activities and achieved desired outcomes to produce an exceptional Strategic Plan. The plan will re-focus our collective efforts into a cohesive approach, allowing the SRA to deliver outstanding experiences to our customers, business partners and the community.”