RECEIVED
MAY 312024
Cathedral City CITY CLERK DEPT
CITY OF CATHEDRAL CITY
COMMISSION/BOARD/COMMITTEE APPLICATION
Commission/Board/Committee
on which you would like to serve: Palm Springs International Airport Commission (One Application for each Commission/Board/Committee)
NAME: Christian Samlaska
HOME ADDRESS:_
(Applicants must be a Registered Voter in Cathedral City) HOME PHONE: CELL PHONE:
E-mail ADDRESS: [email protected]
LENGTH OF RESIDENCY IN CATHEDRAL CITY: 4 Years
IF EMPLOYED, PLEASE LIST WHERE YOU WORK AND POSITION YOU HOLD:
Convergint Technologies: Director, Global Aviation Vertical
PLEASE ATTACH A LETTER OF INTEREST INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING:
• Why you wish to be considered for appointment to the Commission/Board/Committee • Your relevant experience and knowledge
he intormation provided will be used by the City Council as part of the application process and wil be considered by the City Council upon receipt, provided a vacancy exists on the Board, Commissior or Committee for which you have applied. If there is no vacancy, your application will be kept on file for one year for consideration should an opening occur.
Please keep in mind that State Law requires specific Commission/Board/Committee members to file a Financial Disclosure Statement.
Please return application to: City of Cathedral City
Office of the City Clerk
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
Submit by email to: [email protected]
Thank you for your willingness to serve your local government and community.
City of Cathedral City
City Clerk
68-700 Avenida Lalo Guerrero
Cathedral City, CA 92234
May 31, 2024
Dear Ms. Hermosillo,
I am submitting this letter for consideration for the open commission position representing Cathedral City on the Palm Springs International Airport Commission.
If selected, I bring nearly forty years of vast and diverse experience as a visionary leader in the aviation industry. I have dedicated essentially my entire career to strategic planning and guiding operational excellence in leadership roles at both airports and airlines.
As a leader in the airline industry, I worked closely with all departments to build viable service routes in the cities I was responsible for. I fully understand the costs of airline operations and route planning and the importance of delivering high levels of customer service through building smart strategies. I led operations in both large and small airports serving in both domestic and internationally focused roles.
From the airport perspective, in senior-level leadership roles, I have sponsored and delivered more than $50M in capital improvement projects, collaborating with governmental agencies to ensure regulatory compliance and working across all departments to ensure all marks were always delivered upon. In the roles I served in, I led large teams, always focused on delivering excellence and accountability.
Currently, I lead the global aviation team for one of the largest technology integrators in the world. I work closely with our customer airports and airlines to ensure common sense technology solutions are planned and delivered appropriately. I understand all aspects of the unique nature concerning the aviation industry. My years of experience, allows me to lead this team to consistently delivering above our customers expectations.
Along with my nearly four decades of experience, I have taken on specialized training through a variety of avenues which would also benefit the commission role. Training in aviation-related intelligence, FEMA disaster training, and on-site counter-terrorism training. I have chaired a western US regional airport think-tank group, buitding innovative best practices, and have served two terms on the Board of Directors for National Safe Skies Alliance. I have also been an active member of both ACI-NA and AAAE, serving on several committees.
In short, I am very interested in serving my community in a role that I know I can provide positive insight and impact in. As a part of the larger team, I know my experience can provide creative problem solving and in-depth guidance to help lead PSP to new levels in delivering the best possible operations and customer service and continue to be a beacon of success in our community.
I am sincerely looking forward to discussing how my knowledge, experience, and connections to the larger global aviation community through the selection process.
I am happy to provide further information including my resume upon request.
Kind regards,
Christian Samlaska
Cathedral City, CA 92234