Quentin Wright

Airport manager

Port of Benton

Age: 34

Current city of residence: Pasco

Briefly describe your company:

The Port of Benton is the economic-development arm of local government. We serve the taxpayers of our district by managing rail, barge facilities, two general aviation airports and other commercial real estate to grow the economy and support thousands of jobs in our area.

How long have you worked there?

2.5 years

Education: Please list any degrees and professional certifications.

• Aviation Maintenance/Management, Utah State University.
• FAA Airframe & Powerplant Certificate.
• FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate.

Briefly describe your job and what you do.

I manage both the Richland and Prosser airports for the Port of Benton. I oversee operations and capital projects as well as lease administration.

Tell us about your work history.

My passion for aviation led me to pursue a degree in aviation maintenance/management through Utah State University. After graduation I headed to California where I worked for a company that is developing an all-electric, autonomous vertical-takeoff and landing passenger aircraft. I maintained a fleet of aircraft and was on the developmental flight test team. Now I am back home in the Tri-Cities managing the Port of Benton’s two municipal airports.

Tell us about your first job.

My first real job was working at Griggs Department Store in Pasco during the summer after my sophomore year of high school. I helped with stocking firework stands and doing maintenance around the store.

What advice would you give to your younger self about achieving success?

Don’t stress so much about the small stuff. The things that keep you awake at night are never as big of a deal when you get to work the next morning. Try to take everything into perspective and see if it is really worth fretting over.

What was your dream job as a child?

Professional pilot

Who are your role models – and why?

I’ve always looked up to people that seem to have life “figured out” and always dreamed of becoming like that one day, but the older I get I’m starting to think that we’re all just faking it, until we make it to some extent. That mentality along with a healthy dose of confidence seems to go a long way.

What would be your top three priorities to make our community a better place?

More aviation education.   I wish I could take everyone in the community and show them just how valuable the airport is and all the services it provides to all of us.

Better voter engagement. My short time in local government has taught me that we (myself included) need to become more informed before we go casting blame at the other side.

Encourage volunteerism. The more we give of our time, the more we appreciate what we have.

Tell us about your community involvement/community service:

The area that I can have the most impact over is obviously the airports. I try to volunteer and help out with any community event that is going on there. I have a strong belief in the importance of the effect that our small airports have on the community. Just a few of those activities that I help with are:

• Young Eagles flights – Local pilots volunteer their time, aircraft, fuel, etc., to give free rides to kids in our community.
• Aviation career fair – I am helping put on a career fair at the Richland Airport to connect students with future employers and show them the possibilities that are available in the STEM/aviation industry.
• Balloon Rally – I get to spend a weekend every September, helping park the thousands of cars that bring the people who come to watch the Great Prosser Balloon Rally. This event is important to me because it draws people from all over the region to our small airport and shows them just how much of an effect they can have on a community.

What else should we know about you?

This may not come as a surprise since I am an airport manager and an aircraft mechanic, but I’m also a pilot. I love to take my family flying and go exploring.

How do you achieve work-life balance?

My role requires some amount of round-the-clock work; this can drain you mentally and physically. So as long as there’s not an emergency, I try to shut my “work brain” off as much as possible while I am at home.

Do you have family? Pets? Tell us about them.

I have a wife and three girls ages 8, 5 and 3. So there’s a lot of glitter, princess dresses and Disney music at our house.

At the moment, no pets.

How long have you lived in the Tri-Cities?

About 20 years. I grew up in Pasco and moved back a few years ago when I was hired by the Port of Benton.

What’s your dream vacation?

I want to do a multiday off-road trip on dirt bikes, camping under the stars.

Planner or procrastinator?

Procrastinator ... until the stress boils up and then I become highly motivated to get things done.

Introvert or extrovert?

Naturally more inclined to be an introvert but managing two airports with hundreds of tenants, subtenants, the general public, etc., forces you to be somewhat of an extrovert.

First car?

1970 Volkswagon Baja Bug

Favorite thing to do in Tri-Cities?

Spend time with my family on the Columbia River.

What would people be most surprised to learn about you?

I have ice cream almost every night before going to sleep. Follow me for more healthy lifestyle tips!

Favorite Tri-City restaurant?

Monterosso’s Italian Restaurant

Favorite day of the week?

Friday, obviously.

Text, email, phone call?

Any of the above. My phone goes off 24 hours a day.

Would you rather travel back in time or to the future?

I think going back in time with the information of today would be more valuable.