Spencer Ballard, Director

Spence leads the Business and Finance group of LeighFisher.  Previously he was Managing Director of the airport management consulting firm John F. Brown Company for 10 years, including 6 years as a partner.  Spence joined LeighFisher in 2007 as a Director when LeighFisher acquired John F. Brown Company.

During his 34-year career in local government and consulting, Spence has undertaken a wide variety of complex projects and managed numerous teams in pursuit of project goals. From his positions as senior business executive for large-hub airports and an urban transit system, and as a senior manager of consulting companies, his responsibilities frequently included problem identification; conceptualizing alternative courses of action; selecting and implementing action plans involving teams of specialists; evaluating and implementing organizational realignment concepts; managing project execution; and presenting project results to executives, stakeholders, and appointed and elected officials.

The State of Hawaii Airports Division is embarking on a terminals modernization program following enactment of a new airport/airline use agreement.  Spence assisted with implementation of the new agreement by actively participating in consultations with airlines leading to a reduced capital program and jointly desired rate considerations in light of the global economic recession in 2008, and in 2010 completed a bond feasibility report leading to the first bond issuance for the program.  An annual report assessing sufficiency of the rates structure and evaluating the condition of airport facilities is produced annually.