heldon Klapper is recognized as a national leader in airport concession concept planning, development and management. In his nearly seven years at the Port of Portland, where he functioned as deputy director of their four airport system, he was responsible for planning, property leasing and management, commercial management, noise and reliever system management. In 1987, he created and developed the Oregon Market at PDX and with it, many of the concepts of contemporary airport concessions including local themes, nationally recognized branded products, shopping environment design, market basket or street pricing, and internal and external promotion of airport shopping and restaurant opportunities.

Mr. Klapper also developed a number of analysis techniques such as "traffic flow targeting" and discovered patterns and principles such as "dwell time" and "bounce back" which were unknown in the traditional concession analysis lexicon, but have proven to be critical to an understanding of how to project and increase revenues, and satisfy customers.

Mr. Klapper's first 15 years in the real estate business began in the construction industry, where he functioned as a construction supervisor and as an estimator. He then received a Master's of Architecture degree from MIT and worked on a number of shopping center, commercial and hospitality projects. He moved to the development field as a project manager, market and feasibility analyst, and then principal. He has expertise in the field of merchandise and menu assortment plans. Prior to his 28 years' total experience in real estate and retail businesses, he worked in a number of finance, operations and marketing positions at his family's restaurant management companies in New York City.

He is a founder of The Center For Airport Management, LLC, a research and consulting firm whose services are exclusively focused on enhancing airport revenues in a manner consistent with superior customer service. In addition to concession planning and implementation, CAM programs include a "Retail Assistance Program" (RAP)sm. and a "Store Doctor"sm. program designed to assist stores and restaurants succeed in an airport environment. Additional expertise lies in the area of airport adjacent property development and feasibility analysis and cargo marketing programs.

Mr. Klapper has presented numerous papers at industry conferences in North America and in Europe . He has chaired airport industry trade association committees on concessions and commercial management, and has served multiple terms on the ACI-NA Economic Steering Committee. He was the director of the industry trade association seminar on-airport Contracting Procedures and is the author of the industry handbook on the subject. He is on the Board of ACI-NA and is past chairman of the Board of ACI Associates.

Education
Bachelor of Science, 1969, Marlboro College
Master's of Architecture, 1977, MIT

Professional Affiliations
American Association of Airport Executives
Airports Council International – North America
National Restaurant Association
International Council of Shopping Centers