As Yampa Valley Regional Airport turns the page on a decade of transformative leadership under Kevin Booth, Tinneal Gerber begins her tenure as new director.

Gerber’s appointment marks a pivotal moment for the airport, a critical transportation hub that connects Steamboat Springs and the broader region to the world. She will officially start her new role July 6.

With deep roots in the Yampa Valley and a career steeped in local government, Gerber is poised to build on the airport’s recent momentum and guide it into the future.

Gerber is no stranger to the Yampa Valley. 

“I was born and raised here in the valley,” she said. “My family homesteaded in the valley for five, six generations. So I’ve been here and have very deep roots here.” 

Today, Gerber lives in Craig with her husband, whose family also has longstanding ties to the area. Gerber’s connection to the community is more than professional — it’s personal, and it shapes her vision for the airport’s role in the region.

Gerber’s career has been defined by public service. Starting with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in high school, she has spent nearly her entire professional life in government, working for Moffat County as a budget analyst for 12 years and later the Moffat County School District as finance director before joining Routt County as Yampa Valley Regional airport’s assistant director. 

When asked what drew her to the airport, Gerber pointed to the facility’s importance as an economic driver for the region and her ability to apply her background in finance and grants management to the position.

“They were really looking for a business manager, somebody that had that finance-type background, and so that’s really what led me initially to come to the airport,” she explained, referencing her onboarding as assistant director. “Definitely all of those backgrounds, and then just working with boards and people, the public.”

Gerber’s tenure at the airport began eight years ago. Since then, she has witnessed and contributed to significant growth at the property.

“My eight years here, I’ve just gotten to see this place grow and expand the work that Kevin (Booth) has done,” she said. “COVID for us was a positive thing, that passengers were able to come here and be outdoors, and so just seeing that part of things, and then seeing our locals use the airport so much more with the introduction of Southwest and what that’s done for us.”

She credits Booth, the outgoing director, as a mentor and a driving force behind the airport’s recent successes. 

“Kevin has had vast experience over his career. Just listening to his stories is amazing,” Gerber said. “He, of probably anybody I’ve worked under, has definitely been somebody that I have learned immensely from… how to have a vision, how to continue to work on keeping that vision moving forward and making sure that all of the pieces fall in place.”

Booth’s leadership saw the airport through a period of dramatic expansion, including the construction of new terminal facilities, enhanced safety measures and increased commercial and private flights. His efforts positioned the airport as a model for regional airports, balancing growth with community priorities.

Looking ahead, Gerber sees the airport’s role evolving in two key areas: expanding general aviation and increasing off-season service. 

“The biggest piece right now is continuing that growth with the aviation business park. It’s not only the commercial side of things, but it’s bringing in that general aviation side of things, which is just continuing to grow in this valley,” she said. 

“The other piece of it is really trying to expand offseason service — our spring, summer and fall,” said Gerber. “We are very underutilized in that area.”

Gerber said she has clear metrics for success in her new role. 

“Getting this terminal constructed, these expansion phases, getting those constructed, having a successful aviation business park, getting some higher-paying jobs in here, I think that continues to be our goal for that area down there,” she said. 

For Gerber, the most rewarding moments come from the people she serves.

“Every day when we come in and when it’s the middle of the winter and we have a terminal full of passengers and as you’re walking through them there, they’re either commenting and saying how nice your terminal is, and how they love coming here to visit,” she said. 

Gerber acknowledges that, while not every interaction with passengers is positive, the overwhelming feedback is gratitude. 

“There are so many people that are just so happy to be here,” said Gerber. “So I think being able to be that gateway to our passengers and to our locals, to be able to come and go, it’s beautiful.”

Outside of work, Gerber said she enjoys spending time outdoors — hiking, boating and tending to cattle. 

Gerber is also passionate about the history of the Yampa Valley. “I definitely love family genealogy, just because of our deep roots and different things like that,” she said. “The history of the valley, for sure, is definitely something I’m very interested in. I get buried in the Colorado historical newspaper, because you can pull up so many different stories, especially in this area.”

As Gerber steps into the role of airport director, she said she brings a unique blend of local knowledge, professional experience and personal commitment to the Yampa Valley. 

And her vision is clear: to build on the legacy of her predecessor, expand the airport’s role as an economic engine, and ensure that YVRA remains a welcoming gateway for visitors and a reliable resource for the community.