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After Pushback, PTI Airport Open To Name Suggestions

Airport officials say they will consider ideas from the public during its rebranding process. The final decision on the name change could take several months. (Courtesy: Piedmont Triad Airport Authority)

As of Friday, nearly 6,000 residents have signed an online petition against changing the name of Piedmont Triad International Airport.

Officials voted to begin the rebranding process last month. The airport authority said the new name would be the “Central North Carolina International Airport.”

Supporters say it will provide a better idea of where the airport is located and help make it more competitive in attracting economic development. But some local residents don't like it. They're upset that public input wasn't part of the decision, and they say it's unnecessary.

PTI Executive Director Kevin Baker says he was surprised by the reaction.

"Knowing the high level interest some of the public has, the authority has said it will entertain ideas as we go through this branding process that still meets the goal of having a geographic tie to it,” he says.

The name change was set to take effect on January 1, 2018. Baker says signs and other references to PTI will remain in tact until the process is completed.

The airport authority will meet again on January 23.

Follow WFDD's Keri Brown on Twitter @kerib_news

Keri Brown is a multi-award winning reporter and host at 88.5 WFDD. She has been honored with two regional Edward R. Murrow awards for her stories about coal ash, and was named the 2015 radio reporter of the year by the Radio Television Digital News Association of the Carolinas (RTDNAC).Although she covers a variety of topics, her beats are environmental and education reporting.Keri comes to the Triad from West Virginia Public Broadcasting, where she served as the Chief Bureau Reporter for the Northern Panhandle. She produced stories for the state's Public Television and Radio programs and was honored by the West Virginia Associated Press Broadcasters Association for her feature and enterprise reporting.She also served as an adjunct instructor at Wheeling Jesuit University and Bethany College in West Virginia. She worked with the Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, WV, and other NASA centers across the country to develop several stories about the use of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts in the classroom.Keri's journalism career began at WTRF-TV 7 in Wheeling. She worked in several roles at the station, including the head assignment editor. She also was a field producer and assignment manager at WPGH-TV Fox 53 in Pittsburgh.Keri is a graduate of Ohio University. When she's not in the studio or working on a story, she enjoys watching college football with her family, cooking, and traveling.Keri is always looking for another great story idea, so please share them with her. You can follow her on Twitter @kerib_news.

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