Sullenberger Aviation Museum Names Stephanie Hathaway as New President

At the helm of Charlotte's premier flight museum, Stephanie Hathaway steps into the president's role. She follows Stephen Saucier, who steered a $34 million funding push and saw through the 2024 reopening.

The first year back brought strong results. Visitors poured in: 100,000 strong. Money flowed too: $3 million came in while costs hit $2.6 million. With $21.6 million in holdings, the site runs on a small but mighty crew of 14 staff and 80 helpers next to Charlotte's busy runways.

"Stephanie is exactly the kind of innovative, values-driven leader who will continue to grow Sullenberger Aviation Museum's mission and reach," said Marc Oken, according to Business North Carolina.

Her path to this post winds through Discovery Education and Charlotte's Discovery Place. There, she built the Bank of America STEM Center. Back in 2000, she taught science in Las Vegas. Her work there paid off big: she got $34 million to build the William McCool Science Center.

"Walking into this next chapter, I'm honored to lead a museum that has already accomplished so much, and I feel energized by the opportunity to expand its impact," said Hathaway, per Business North Carolina.

The site adds $8.4 million to the local economy each year. A 2019 hangar loss forced a pause, but doors swung wide again on June 1, 2024. Now it shows kids and teens what's possible in flight careers.

The pick got thumbs up from Captain C.B. "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot who saved 160 lives with his Hudson River landing in 2009. Saucier stays on as a guide through the switch.

Kids get hands-on with flight science in exhibits backed by firms like Honeywell. Sitting by the world's sixth-busiest flight hub puts real planes and pros right at hand, making learning come alive.