Hard-Charging Director, Jana Filip, Has Left The Post... Now What?

ANN has learned that the 2022 DeLand Sport Aviation Showcase is NOT going to happen, according to Airport Manager John Eiff, who noted that, "hopefully, we can do  something next year..." in response to questions about the event's future as we learned that Event Boss Jana Filip had left her position with the city.

Filip was well-known to be the backbone of the event, after creating it to pick up where she left off after departing a similar event in Sebring, FL, which went AWOL thereafter. Filip had kept the DSAS event alive despite two years of pandemic related issues as well as lackluster support from the city government... which liked having the event but reportedly didn't like doing all that much to support it.

Now... without Filip at the helm, DeLand Airport manager admits that it will be difficult to find the right personnel to staff an event in the future and that 2022 is already been taken off the roster, though he admits that the event brought a lot of positive attention to the airport and the city. 

Filip has reportedly taken a job with the Sun 'n Fun organization in business development and has already made the move to Lakeland, FL... and will likely be tasked with helping them revitalize the once-bustling Sun 'n Fun SportPlane area known as "Paradise City" -- which, according to a number of the vendors at SnF 22, needed a little more attention and some improvements.

And... the obvious question is... with DeLand bowing out of the winter sport aviation event gig for the foreseeable future, and with Filip at the ready, might we see such an event at Lakeland in 2023??

More info to follow...

FMI: www.sportaviationshowcase.com, www.delandairport.com