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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
William C. Wren
is the Air Service/Business Development Officer for the Metropolitan
Airports Commission (MAC), the owner and operator of Minneapolis/St. Paul
International Airport and the Twin Cities’ system of reliever airports. In
that capacity, he is responsible for MAC’s overall marketing initiatives
with specific focus upon promoting new competitive air service. Wren also
has responsibilities in the areas of community and civic relations and as
MAC’s liaison with Federal and State agencies in issues of international and
domestic air service.
Wren’s background in aviation and business development is extensive. He
spent 25 years with Northwest Airlines in a variety of positions with
increased responsibility. Early in his airline career, he gained expertise
in airport operations via station management assignments at New York’s JFK
International Airport and LaGuardia Airports, Tampa, Honolulu, Tokyo and
Portland (OR). In 1979 and 1980, he was part of a small team responsible for
opening and inaugurating Northwest’s first service to Europe. His
assignments were at Stockholm, Sweden, Shannon, Ireland and Hamburg,
Germany. Shortly thereafter, in 1981, he was promoted to Station Manager,
London-Gatwick, then to Country Manager – Ireland in Dublin, then finally to
Country Manager – Sweden in Stockholm. In 1984, Wren was elected Vice
President, Public Relations by NWA’s Board of Directors, then Vice
President, Corporate Relations in 1987. He continued in that capacity until
July, 1992 following an LBO by a group of private investors.
Following his departure from Northwest, Wren became Vice President, Business
Development for the Gannon Companies of St. Louis, MO. His responsibility
was for the development of business opportunities for American Companies in
Vietnam. Activity in this area was made possible by the Vessey Initiative to
restore relationships between the USA and Vietnam.
Wren has been active in civic and philanthropic activities for many years.
He formerly served as Vice Chairman of the Board and Presiding Officer of
Operation Smile, a worldwide humanitarian organization that provides plastic
surgery and other medical assistance free of charge for children, primarily
in under-developed nations. He is a long time member of the Board of
Directors of the St. Paul Chapter of the American Red Cross where he served
two terms as Board Chair, the Board of Directors of North Central Blood
Services and the Metropolitan Public Airports Foundation, formerly serving
as it’s Chair. Other civic activities include serving on the Board of
Directors and Executive Committee of Wheeling Jesuit University, the Board
of Directors of both the Greater Minneapolis Convention and Visitors
Association and the Bloomington (MN) Convention and Visitors Bureau, the
Advisory Council for Intercollegiate Athletics at the University of
Minnesota, the Advisory Council for the Minnesota State University – Mankato
- College of Business and as an Advisor to the Metropolitan Economic
Development Association (MEDA). Wren is an active member and past chair of
both the Twin Cities Dunkers and the Twin Cities Communications Council. He
is a founding Board Member of the British/American Business Council of
Minnesota. He has previously served on the Boards of the Minneapolis Chamber
of Commerce, the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce, the St. Paul United Way, the
St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Plymouth Music Series of Minnesota, the
Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce and the Decathlon Athletic Club.
Born in Denver, CO, Wren grew up in Monterey, California and holds a degree
in Social Science from California State University at Fresno. An avid sports
enthusiast, he played football in both high school and college. He and his
wife Linda reside in Burnsville, MN and also maintain a home on the Oregon
Coast.
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WILLIAM C. WREN
Business Development Officer
Metropolitan Airports Commission
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