City’s Huber to head airport biz-development efforts

Michael Huber, the city's deputy mayor for economic development since March 2010, is stepping down to take a lead role in commercial development at Indianapolis International Airport.

Huber will become senior director of commercial enterprise at the airport and will manage the airport's revenue-generating operations, which include parking, attracting new air service to the city, and commercial development of airport property and facilities.

Mayor Greg Ballard is replacing Huber with Deron Kintner, whjo has been executive director and general counsel at the Indianapolis Bond Bank since March 2010. Kintner will assume his new job on an acting basis Sept. 4, pending confirmation of the City-County Council.

"Deron is the right choice to lead economic development efforts for the city of Indianapolis," Ballard said in a prepared statement announcing the appointments.  "For the past four years, Deron has played a key role in every major economic and neighborhood development deal in the city. I hope the City-County Council will quickly confirm this appointment, so our city's efforts to attract new investment and jobs continue without missing a beat."

Kintner joined the Bond Bank as deputy executive director and general counsel in February 2008. He previously was an attorney in the Government and Public Finance Group at Bingham McHale LLP.

Huber joined the Ballard administration as director of enterprise development in January 2008. He previously worked in state government as deputy commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration and deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget Government Efficiency and Financial Planning group.

"Michael's work to attract new investment, jobs, residents and development to our city is unmatched," Ballard said. "I am thrilled he will continue his service to our city by leading economic development at one of our most critical assets, the Indianapolis International Airport."

The Indianapolis Airport Authority reorganized its executive ranks earlier this year in an effort to cut costs. It eliminated the position of of senior director of business development and said it planned to broaden the role to include more economic development.

Huber recently received an 23-percent raise in his job of deputy mayor, boosting his annual salary to $120,000.

Huber was named among the honorees of IBJ's "Forty Under 40" class in 2010, and has been interviewed for its "Leading Questions" video feature. In the video below, Huber discusses how he learned to keep a thick skin while working in the politically tinged world of economic development.