Tim Unruh
Salina Airport Authority
Salina, KS, (October 19, 2021) – North-Central Kansas native Maynard Cunningham took over as the Salina Airport Authority director of facilities and construction Oct. 12.
He is replacing Kenny Bieker who is retiring Nov. 30 after 13 1/2 years.
“We couldn’t be more pleased that Maynard accepted our offer to succeed Kenny,” said Tim Rogers, airport authority executive director.
“People who meet Maynard will realize that with his educational background and work experience, he’s well-prepared to guide us in the future development of airport and airport industrial center facilities and construction,” Rogers said.
A mechanical engineering technologist, Cunningham came to the airport authority after eight years as a product engineer and manager with Bergkamp, Inc.
Based in Salina, Bergkamp has been manufacturing pavement maintenance equipment since 1980 and serves customers throughout North America and the world, according to the company website.
Cunningham, 47, brings a plethora of work experience, as a project manager for Maico Industries of Ellsworth; designer for Doonan Trailer Corp. of Great Bend; self-employed in residential repair and remodeling; engineering technician for Salina Vortex; automotive technician at Cunningham Motors of Ellsworth and a driver for Cunningham Trucking of Kanopolis — both family businesses — and quality assurance manager for Central Ozark Machine of Alton, Missouri.
He graduated from K-State Salina with an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering technology. Truck driving certifications were achieved at Southwest Missouri State, along with national firefighting certifications through Kansas University. Cunningham is a volunteer firefighter in Ellsworth.
While attending K-State Salina, he worked at Exline, an industrial engine remanufacturing business in Salina, and worked at Central Mechanical Construction while taking classes at K-State in Manhattan.
“Maynard has a diverse background,” Rogers said. “He understands how things operate.”
Cunningham and his wife, Deanna, plan a move to Salina soon. She is currently office manager and administrative assistant at First United Methodist Church in Ellsworth.
