Columbia Metropolitan Airport welcomes Sharon Nelson, airport’s first Vice President of People and Culture
September 29, 2026
Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) shared that Sharon Nelson has been named the airport’s first Vice President of People and Culture, effective October 5, 2026.
“Sharon’s energy, strategic approach, and attention to detail made her the standout candidate,” said Chris White, CAE President & CEO. “With a proven track record of attracting, retaining, and developing talent, Sharon’s skills will be a welcome addition to the CAE leadership team.”
Nelson brings more than 15 years of exceptional, people-first HR expertise to CAE. Having developed and established inclusive talent strategies during her career, Nelson champions workplace culture and strong employee engagement.
Sharon Nelson
This new position will play a vital role within the organization, providing a new approach to innovative human resource tactics, while also identifying ways to strengthen the airport’s culture for ongoing success.
Most recently, Nelson served as the Deputy Director for Human Resources at the City of Columbia, where she created, piloted and implemented several noteworthy and impactful initiatives focused on organizational development, culture and retention.
Nelson holds an MBA from The University of Phoenix, as well as a BA from South Carolina State University. She has earned the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) – Talent Acquisition Specialty credential, is a member of Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)-Columbia and a 2024 Leading EDGE graduate.
“I am thrilled and deeply honored to serve as the first Vice President of People and Culture at Columbia Metropolitan Airport. This opportunity represents more than a new role—it is an opportunity to help shape how we invest in our people, strengthen our culture, and connect both to the continued success of CAE.”
About the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE):
Now providing 30+ daily flights with nonstop service to 10 major airports in 9 cities including Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, New York City (LGA), Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. (Dulles and Reagan National), Miami and Newark. Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE), a two-time Global Biorisk Advisory Council® (GBAC) STAR™ accredited facility, continues to be a major economic driver for the Midlands region. Proudly welcoming over 1.3 million passengers in 2025, CAE is served by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, and serves as a regional cargo hub for UPS and served by cargo carrier, FedEx.
