The Florida Airports Council (FAC) recently awarded their 2025 Benjamin J. Siwinski Sustainability Award to the Naples Airport Authority (NAA) at their 56th Annual Florida Airports Council Conference & Exposition in Tampa, Florida. The award was named in honor of Ben, who joined VHB in 2007 as an aviation planner and also served as Managing Principal of VHB Gulf Coast offices and lost his battle to cancer in 2022.
The FAC is a professional organization dedicated to the growth and success of Florida’s aviation industry, empowering members in airport management and operations. The state has 125 public airports that generate $336 billion in economic activity and support 1.4 million jobs.
This year’s awardee has grown their sustainability program with focus on reducing environmental impacts and enhancing aviation practices through key initiatives such as adopting sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and unleaded aviation gasoline (UL 94) at Naples Airport. Successful implementation of this program included roll-out of financial incentives for tenants using UL 94 and electrification of ground fleet. These efforts position the airport as a leader in cleaner aviation fuels on the East Coast, while significantly replacing traditional fuel sales with sustainable alternatives and showcasing measurable advancements in sustainability.
Ben was an enthusiastic sustainability advocate and leader at VHB and throughout the Florida aviation and planning communities. During his tenure at VHB, he contributed to some of the most meaningful projects in the Gulf Coast and Central Florida, including Resilient Pinellas Action Plan for Pinellas County, the City of St. Petersburg’s Integrated Sustainability Action Plan, and continuing services alongside the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), which included the LEED certification of several buildings. His extensive national experience within the aviation industry included sustainability projects for Salt Lake City International Airport, Philadelphia International Airport, Southwest Florida International Airport, and more. He left a legacy of planners and sustainability professionals who continue to champion these important initiatives to deliver on operational efficiencies, financial responsibility, resilience to climate impacts, and environmental stewardship.
Learn more about aviation planning at VHB.
