Tucson Airport Authority Announces Staff Changes

Press release from The Tucson Airport Authority:

April 23, 2021

Twyla Salaiz has joined the Tucson Airport Authority as Vice President and Chief People Officer. To accept her new role, Twyla has literally moved across an airfield from Raytheon Missiles and Defense where she had been in various human resources positions since 2007, most recently as Director of Talent Acquisition.

As Vice President and Chief People Officer, Twyla assumes a critical new role leading People Operations, formerly known as Human Resources, as the TAA moves forward with its Strategic Plan that seeks to prepare the organization to meet and address challenges in a post-pandemic environment.

“Future success at TAA depends on the People Operations function cultivating leadership in the workplace, finding and retaining the best talent for our critical positions, and ensuring that we deliver on initiatives outlined in the Strategic Plan,” said Danette Bewley, President and CEO of the TAA. “She has an impressive background in achieving these kinds of goals in large and small businesses.”

As Vice President and Chief People Officer, Twyla reports directly to the CEO.

Before joining Raytheon, Twyla led Learning and Development at APAC Customer Services and SPHERION Corp. She has been a Tucson resident for over 20 years with her partner and enjoys living in one of midtown’s historic neighborhoods.

She earned a MEd. in Educational Psychology from Northern Arizona University and her undergraduate degree from Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana.

She serves on the board of directors for Thrive Ansanm, a civic and social organization that empowers young people in Haiti to achieve their potentials and was involved in the Metro Tucson Chamber’s Talent Taskforce.

Kirk Eickhoff has been promoted to Vice President of Finance/CFO for the Tucson Airport Authority. Eickhoff served as TAA Director of Finance for the past two years, and before that was the Manager of Financial Planning, Budgeting and Analysis.

“I am pleased to announce the promotion of Kirk Eickhoff as Vice President of Finance/CFO,” TAA President and CEO Danette Bewley said. “Kirk has a tremendous skillset and a demonstrated record of success; he is very bright and fully understands the airport management business model, which is critical as we move towards recovery from the pandemic and fulfill our Strategic Plan initiatives.”

In the new role, Eickhoff oversees the Finance Department, including planning and administering the business plan and administering budgets and financial functions for the TAA and its two airports, Tucson International Airport (TUS) and Ryan Airfield (RYN), as well as grant programs and regulatory compliance. He will also work closely with airline stakeholders to negotiate future airline use agreements.

A Certified Public Accountant, Eickhoff joined the TAA in June 2015. Previously he held the positions of Senior Financial Analyst with University of Arizona Health Network/Banner Health, Audit Associate with BeachFleischman, Financial Statement Accountant for Enterprise Rent-A-Car, and Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Business.

Eickhoff earned his undergraduate degree in Corporate Financial Management from the University of Akron and a Master of Accounting degree from the University of Arizona.

This press release was produced by The Tucson Airport Authority. The views expressed here are the author's own.