As a student at Western Michigan University, Matthew Neyens dreamed of one day running an airport. Nearly a decade and thousands of flight operations later, that dream has landed right back in West Michigan.
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Matthew Neyens
Earlier this month, Neyens took the helm as airport manager at West Michigan Regional Airport (WMRA), returning to the region with nearly 10 years of experience in managing large-scale aviation operations, most recently at Denver International Airport.
In his new position, he’ll pilot the Holland airport in its role as a hub for economic opportunity, emergency response, and community connection.
“WMRA plays a key role in supporting West Michigan’s economy, facilitating thousands of jobs and making our region an attractive place for businesses to operate,” says Chuck Murray, chair of the West Michigan Airport Authority Board. “We are excited to welcome Matt to the airport, and we’re looking forward to seeing his leadership advance the airport and support West Michigan aviation needs.”
A native of the Greater Detroit area, Neyens—who holds a degree in aviation science and administration from WMU—says he’s excited to give back to the region that launched his career.
“I’m honored to step into this role and excited to serve the West Michigan community,” Neyens says. “This airport plays an important role in connecting businesses, families, and emergency services. I look forward to working with the Authority to maintain our high standards for safety and service.”
Under Neyens’ leadership, WMRA plans to expand its partnerships and explore new ways to make air travel more responsive to local businesses, nonprofits, and residents. That includes sustaining WMRA’s high safety standards, enhancing operations, and positioning the airport as a model of regional collaboration.
“Regional airports like WMRA are more than runways, they’re lifelines,” Murray says. “With Matt’s experience and a strong local team, we’re well-positioned to meet the needs of our users today and into the future.”
The Lakeshore connected with Neyens for a Q&A about his experience and plans for the Holland airport.
The Lakeshore: Your aviation journey began in Michigan and has taken you to one of the busiest airports in the country. What inspired you to pursue a career in aviation, and how did your path lead you from Western Michigan University to Denver and now back to West Michigan?
Matthew Neyens: I knew early in high school that I didn't want a traditional desk job, but I wasn’t sure about which career path to take until I met a neighbor who was studying aviation at Western Michigan University. Over a decade later, that same neighbor is now a trusted colleague serving as the manager at a neighboring airport.
After graduating from WMU, I sought out opportunities at Denver International Airport, a place I’d always wanted to live after vacationing there as a child. While I had an incredible experience working in Denver, I always knew I wanted to come back home to Michigan with my wife. West Michigan is a wonderful place to live and raise a family.
TL: Denver International Airport presented unique challenges and opportunities. What lessons or experiences from your time there do you hope to bring to your new role at WMRA?
MN: Working at Denver International was a fantastic experience. I had the opportunity to wear many different hats and learned so much from the amazing professionals I worked with.
One of the most valuable lessons I learned is that successful airports are always evolving. Denver International was constantly improving through construction projects and infrastructure upgrades, and I can see that same forward momentum happening here at WMRA with our upcoming projects. I know from experience that communicating early and often with contractors, vendors, and tenants is absolutely essential. I’m looking forward to frequent communication with all the airport's stakeholders.
TL: West Michigan Regional Airport is a critical link for business, health care, and emergency services in the region. What are your immediate priorities to ensure the airport continues to meet and grow with the needs of the community?
MN: My top priority at the airport is to ensure we’re taking excellent care of existing infrastructure while strategically planning for growth. I’ll be focusing on both infrastructure rehabilitation and planning for new growth opportunities, like the north taxi lane project.
The challenge is rehabilitating aging infrastructure while seamlessly integrating it with our expansion plans. We’ll need to ensure our runway stays operational to serve businesses throughout construction. It will be important to identify these so they don’t interfere with construction and have minimal impact on airport operations.
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