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Kirkegard
Gov. Ron DeSantis Monday announced the appointment of a longtime Kissimmee city official to the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board.
Kissimmee Economic Development Director Belinda Kirkegard has replaced local developer Domingo Sanchez to fill Osceola County’s seat on the seven-member board.
Kirkegard, who has been at the helm of the city’s business development department for more than a decade, is expected to assume her duties on the aviation board at its Aug. 18 meeting.
“Serving on the board will allow me to be an advocate for our business community,” Kirkegard said. “I’m very passionate about our economy and our workforce. The aviation authority has a number of programs to engage our business community.”
In her position on the high-profile, pseudo-governmental board, Kirkegard will work directly with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings and the other board members — who include Osceola County realtor and former School Board member Tim Weisheyer, appointed in May — on setting and reviewing policies and procedures for managing day-to-day operations at Orlando International Airport, Florida’s busiest commercial service airport, and Orlando Executive Airport, one of Florida’s busiest general aviation airports.
During her tenure in Kissimmee, Kirkegard has helped drive the revitalization of the Kissimmee Gateway Airport, also a general aviation airport, and diversify the local tourism-dependent economy.
From groundskeepers to pilots to fast food workers, airport industry jobs abound and increasing business opportunities for Osceola County-based companies is a top priority for Kirkegard in her new role, she said.
“OIA serves not only as a mode of transportation; it’s a major workforce hub,” she said. “The airport influences our Central Florida community in so many different ways. It’s almost like its own little city.”
The unpaid position has a four-year term. The Florida Senate must also confirm the board’s five gubernatorial appointments, including Kirkegard. The Orange County and Orlando mayor positions on the board are automatic appointments via the elected offices.
Kirkegard earned her bachelor’s degree in public administration and political science from the University of Central Florida and her master of public administration from Troy State University.
She serves on the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Orlando and the AdventHealth Central Florida Division. Kirkegard also served as Director of Hispanic Outreach for the Republican Party of Florida, and in 2019 was named “Women Who Mean Business” Executive of the Year by the Orlando Business Journal.
