2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition

104B

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103AB

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101

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104C

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102AB

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104A

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102C

203A

102

Although threats and vulnerabilities are everywhere, and can emerge from “insiders” or entities completely external to the aviation industry, the focus should be on leveraging available resources and implementing the most effective mitigation measures. By raising awareness about emerging security concerns in the airport community, this session will assist decision-makers in understanding organizational risks and identifying strategies to improve security outcomes.

Moderator:

Deborah Flint, President and CEO, Greater Toronto Airports Authority

Panelists:

David Gates, Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation

Nada Semaan, President and CEO, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority

103

Art can be a powerful visual tool to enhance the airport customer experience, create a sense of place, and speak to the communities the airport serves. Airports frequently display art that they acquired or have on loan and sometimes even integrate art into construction projects. What happens when airports need- or want- to relocate or even destroy installations? Art can convey a message, but does the airport want to avoid or create a forum for free expression? What contract language and policies should airports consider using to achieve their goals? The panel will discuss many of the legal- and practical- considerations for a successful airport art program.

Moderator:

Yovannie Rodriguez, Chief Administrative Officer, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority

Panelists:

Lee Kaminetz, Assistant General Counsel, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority

Evan Wilson, Deputy General Counsel, Metropolitan Airports Commission

William Wright, General Counsel & Governance Officer, Edmonton Regional Airports Authority

104A

Has your airport recently received questions from stakeholders regarding ESG? If not, the questions are likely coming from investors and insurers. Come to this session to hear about how airports are developing their ESG materials, including perspectives from those that are starting from their sustainability reports, as well as airports starting from scratch. This session will also include an overview of the work that the ACI-NA cross-committee task group has undertaken on reporting and metrics.

Moderator:

Candace McGraw, Chief Executive Officer, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

Panelists:

Chris Bergstrom, Executive Director, UBS Financial Services Inc. | Public Finance

Chris Poinsatte, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Dave Bannard, Attorney at Law, Kaplan Kirsch Rockwell

104B

An array of technologies are arriving at airports that promise to increase operational efficiency, enhance situational awareness, optimize resource allocation, and improve margins of safety. In this session, we’ll survey several of these capabilities and discuss how they can be effectively utilized in the airport environment.

Moderator:

Eddie Clayson, Director of Airport Maintenance, Salt Lake City Department of Airports

Panelists:

Juan Gomez, Chief Executive Officer, Synaptic Aviation

Joe Mahaz, Founder and Senior Advisor, EDI, An Arora Company

Ian Redhead, Deputy Director, Kansas City Aviation Department

Mike Youngs, Vice President Information Technology, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

104C

The workforce challenges our industry are experiencing now are in part due to a lack of awareness of aviation career opportunities amongst students. Educating and engaging students about the airport industry at an early stage not only inspires their passion but also equips them with essential skills and knowledge required for future employment opportunities. Learn about the pivotal role that school outreach programs – aimed at students as young as elementary school – play in fostering a strong future talent pipeline.

Moderator:

Peter Gargiulo, President, 4QD Strategy Consulting LLC

Panelists:

Jamie Rhee, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation

Nerissa Sugars, Director of Communications & Air Service, Hollywood Burbank Airport

Tanisha Lewis, Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

102

The AI-driven future of travel has arrived. Computer Vision is helping to reshape the transportation industry at every level from streamlining the passenger experience, to improving gate turnaround, to reducing your carbon footprint. As the industry continues to evolve, converging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and federated learning will enable the next generation of prescriptive and adaptive data-driven outcomes benefiting passengers, the industry and sustainability. In this session, we’ll explore how a computer vision infrastructure that is manageable, scalable, and resilient, drives real-time insights and delivers all the outcomes that an airport needs – improving the passenger experience, operational efficiency, safety and security, sustainability, and revenue generation.

Moderator:

Wayne Arvidson, Global Director, Market Development & Strategy, Dell Technologies

Panelists:

Patrick Blattner, Chief Executive Officer, The Indoor Lab LLC

Declan Byrne, Director, Commercial Aerospace & Energy, PTC

Jared Mossman, Account Executive, Genetec Inc.

103

Airport properties accommodate different types of tenants and serve many different purposes. What is – and what should be- the FAA’s role in airport development? What is the status of the Draft FAA Policy Regarding Processing Land Use Changes? Will the new FAA Reauthorization Act revise the wording of Section 163 which restricts FAA’s authority over airport land use? What creative approaches can airports consider in lease models while adhering to their grant assurances? This panel of attorneys will discuss the ways in which airports can develop their land while adhering to their legal and regulatory obligations and maintaining the control they need.

Moderator:

Brian Werst, General Counsel, Spokane International Airport

Panelists:

Amy Gonzalez, General Counsel, San Diego San Diego County Regional Airport Authority

Peter Kirsch, Partner, Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell, LLP

Paul Tomme, Legal Counsel, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

104A

Electricity has become a hot topic at airports, as stakeholders identify increased needs and airports with Net Zero plans find electricity to be a critical path item. This session will provide a c-level suite look at electricity management at airports, from projected needs, infrastructure considerations, working with stakeholders, and managing the new and different kinds of risks that come with electrification.

Moderator:

Bridget Rief, Vice President of Planning and Development, Metropolitan Airports Commission

Panelists:

Alex Chapman, Director – Environmental, Social, and Governance, Vantage Airport Group

Katy Glynn, Account Executive, Smart Buildings – Energy Performance Services, Siemens Industry, Inc.

Jim Szczesniak, Chief Operating Officer, Houston Airport Systems

104B

With the rollout of airport safety management system (SMS) requirements in the United States and ongoing efforts to in Canada to “modernize” its airport SMS programs, airport safety was a topic of intensive focus even before high profile safety incidents in the U.S. prompted the FAA’s March 2023 “Safety Summit”. In this session, we’ll explore the next steps U.S. and Canadian airport operators can take on their safety journey, with a focus on SMS, apron safety, safety data analysis, and effective safety promotion.

Moderator:

Steve Hennigan, Chief Operating Officer, Southwest Florida International Airport/Lee County Port Authority

Panelists:

Scott Ayers, Airport Manager, Safety Management & SMS, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Kathleen Henderson, Senior Director, Operations, Environment and Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Airports Council

Tara Perez, General Manager, Corporate Safety, Delta Air Lines Inc.

Ron Reichel, Airport Safety Management System Manager, Sacramento County Aviation Department

Susie Scott, Director of Corporate Safety, Delta Air Lines Inc.

104C

Airport professionals face a barrage of crises any given day.  From macro events like global pandemics and significant security events to micro disruptions like unhappy passengers and flight delays, airports are continually in a crisis response and recovery mode at every level.  Each crisis impacts the airport’s brand and reputation within its community, threatening its competitiveness and ability attract new passengers and air service options.  This session will highlight the strategies and tactics airports are deploying to proactively manage what they can and respond to what they can’t, all to protect the airport’s brand.

Moderator:

Kate O’Rourke, Manager of Public Relations and Marketing, Fredericton International Airport Authority

Panelists:

Greg Chin, Communications Director, Miami-Dade Aviation Department

Sabrina LoPiccolo-Kane, Manager, Marketing, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority

Justin Meyer, Interim Director of Aviation, Kansas City Aviation Department

102

With emerging risks, increased insurance premiums, retentions and pullbacks, this session will focus on how airports can manage and mitigate their risks in an evolving environment.

Moderator:

Tatiana Starostina, Chief Financial Officer, Los Angeles World Airports

Panelists:

Catrina Gilbert, Vice President, Risk Management, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Michael Hill, Chief Financial Officer, Charlotte Douglas International Airport

Paul Brigley, Vice President Finance & Chief Financial Officer, Halifax International Airport Authority

103

Airport managers know firsthand how much work it takes to keep things going, and how many people it takes to do it.  Employees of airports, contractors, airlines, Federal agencies, law enforcement, and concessionaires are all critical. While airports can regulate some speech and expressive activity in some ways, activity involving unions and organizing may implicate other legal principles. Social media and other forms of personal expression can also raise legal issues for airports as employers. How should airports think through these issues? How can airports contractually protect their operations from labor disruptions?  And what do recent legislative initiatives and court cases tell us about the ability of the airport sponsor to mandate certain wages and benefits for workers? The panel will address these and other legal issues.

Moderator:

Christina Marshall, Partner, Anderson & Kreiger LLP

Panelists:

Melissa Allison, Partner, Anderson & Kreiger LLP

Gale LaRoche, Senior Human Resources Consultant, ADK Consulting & Executive Search

Eric Smith, Partner, Kaplan Kirsch & Rockwell, LLP

104A

Resiliency is about being prepared for both the unexpected, as well as the slow-moving, impactful when-they-occur events. This session will focus on resiliency related to changing weather patterns and what airports can do to be prepared in advance, as well as lessons learned from recent experiences.

Moderator:

Tracy Borda, Chief Financial Officer, Philadelphia International Airport

Panelists:

Eric Caplan, Sustainability and Resilience Program Director, Tampa International Airport

John Lengel, Vice President, RS&H

Steve Thomas, Associate Director of Climate Change and Environment, Greater Toronto Airports Authority

104B

Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) systems are undergoing rapid development and refinement, significant demonstration programs planned for the 2024 Paris Olympics, 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, and airline announcements of commercial service as early as 2025 in both Chicago and New York. What do these developments mean for airport operators and the communities they serve? How will the affect airport infrastructure in the near, mid-, and long-term future? Most importantly, what can your airport be doing to prepare? Come for a discussion of these and other key topics as we help you not to fear the eVTOL.

Moderator:

Thomas Jewsbury, Executive Director, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport

Panelists:

Tom Anderson, Chief Operating Officer, Urban Air Mobility, Archer Aviation, Inc.

Kevin Cox, Chief Executive Officer, Ferrovial Vertiports

Gaël Le Bris, Vice President, Aviation Planning, WSP

104C

Looking to improve your airport customer experience?  Try looking at your employee experience.  Airport workers – especially frontline staff – are crucial “value add” brand ambassadors and, given the proper support and focus, can have a positive, measurable impact on the airport’s bottom line.  But measuring, optimizing, and leveraging airport employee satisfaction and engagement is not an easy endeavor.  This session will explore how airports are designing new strategies to examine the entire employee journey and how it impacts the customer experience.

Moderator:

Lise D’Andrea, President & CEO CXE Inc.

Panelists:

Leah Douglas, Director of Guest Experience, Philadelphia International Airport

Myron Keehn, President and CEO, Edmonton International Airport

Leslie Kwasny, CFO & Vice President, Culture and Risk, Edmonton International Airport

Atif Saeed, CEO, Philadelphia International Airport

Solutions Showcase Theater 1

Learn how to create safer spaces for travelers and employees in high-touch, high-traffic environments such as airports from Vaask’s CEO. With hands being a major carrier of diseases, it’s important to reduce risk in areas that are most susceptible to germ spread. This Solution Showcase will cover approaches to promoting healthy habits, designing hand hygiene into spaces, and applicable regulations.

Solutions Showcase Theater 2

HALIO Smart Glass has redefined a new airport experience for travelers, operators, retailers, & employees. The airport has now become a pleasant experience. Saving energy, providing unobstructed views, utilizing more floorspace & creating beautiful concourses that encourage revenue-generating dwell time, is quickly becoming the new normal. Only HALIO can provide all of these benefits. Control your daylight, in seconds, your way. Our journey together starts now!

Solutions Showcase Theater 1

Get insights into transforming the passenger experience through technology and digitization in this session with Arup. Learn about successful implementations at Delta SkyWay and other airports, improving satisfaction, reducing stress, increasing efficiency, and supporting employees at every passenger touchpoint. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to gain a competitive advantage in the industry.

Solutions Showcase Theater 2

Learn how ACI member airports can secure leadership buy-in for achieving net zero carbon by 2050. Discover tools and messaging to understand the airport’s pathway to net zero, translating technical elements into language and priorities that resonate with airport executives. This interactive Solution Showcase will include live polling for audience input.

Solutions Showcase Theater 1

Discover the latest developments in sustainable apron buses for airport passenger transfers between terminal and aircraft parking positions, presented by COBUS Industries. Explore electric and hydrogen-powered options for a future-oriented partnership that prioritizes reliable and powerful sustainable airport operations.

Solutions Showcase Theater 2

Experience the power of Smart Connected Airport Operations. PTC’s nationally deployed system empowers airport operators to enhance safety and efficiency while reducing energy costs. By improving turnaround time KPIs, our solution delivers real and measurable operational improvements that drive success.

Solutions Showcase Theater 1

Zartico’s insights combine geo-location and event data, unlocking untapped revenue streams. Analyzing the movement and behavior of passengers, these insights can help you make future-focused strategic decisions, identify if you’re losing market share and optimize your marketing campaigns based on passenger location and preferences.

Solutions Showcase Theater 2

Experience the future of aviation in this captivating Solutions Showcase. Discover Airside 4.0, a roadmap for smarter, safer, and more efficient airports. Through AI, sensorization, and cloud computing, Airside 4.0 creates a seamless airport environment, optimizing decision-making, resource allocation, and reducing human error. Join ADB SAFEGATE for real-world case studies and unlock the full potential of Airside 4.0.

102

By 2030, U.S. airports will serve an estimated 1 million more passengers per day – on top of the 2.5 million passengers per day they serve today. This session will discuss strategies to leverage innovation and technology to meet this massive increase in demand and deliver an outstanding passenger experience.

Moderator:

Kasra Moshkani, Executive Vice President, Operations, CLEAR

Panelists:

Kasper Hounsgaard, Co-CEO & Founder, Copenhagen Optimization

Rebecca Hupp, Airport Director, Boise Airport

Lance Lyttle, Managing Director, Aviation, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport

David Sunde, Co-Founder & CEO, The Landline Company

103

With some exceptions, U.S. airport sponsors are obligated to spend airport revenue only on the capital and operating expenses of the airport.  But what exactly can and should be included in those categories?  What are some lessons learned from airports who have been through an FAA revenue use audit? Beyond the basics, this session will examine the nuances of interpreting the grant assurances and policies guiding the use of airport revenue. Enjoy this panel discussion as experienced airport professionals analyze situations commonly faced by airport sponsors.

Moderator:

Carolina Potts, Assistant Chief Counsel, City of Phoenix Law Department

Panelists:

Dan Reimer, General Counsel, Jackson Hole Airport

TJ Roskelley, Partner, Anderson & Kreiger LLP

104A

Both the Canadian and U.S. federal governments have committed the aviation sector to Net Zero by 2050. Airlines have also set a Net Zero goal, in response to community and passenger demands. And ACI-NA member airports also have undertaken a Net Zero by 2050 goal. Getting there is going to require leadership, problem-solving and stakeholder management. Come to this session to hear from the airport leaders who are on varying stages of their Net Zero journey.

Moderator:

Elizabeth Leavitt, Strategic Advisor and Principal Climate Response, Jacobs

Panelists:

Sarah Cox, Director Aviation Environment & Sustainability, Port of Seattle

Panagiotis Karamanos, Senior Advisor, Airport Carbon Accreditation

Kristi McKenney, Chief Operating Officer, Port of Oakland

104B

Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) is increasingly used in all aspects of airport operations and communications. Airports, air carriers, federal/state/local stakeholders all rely on accurate PNT information to provide services from snow plowing to flight. The increasing use of Global Positioning Navigation (GPS) as the primary source of PNT information makes these stakeholders vulnerable to adversaries seeking to cause harm by disrupting or manipulating the GPS signal. This session will discuss GPS attributions, detection and roles and responsibilities during a GPS event.

Moderator:

Brig Gen (Ret) Donna Prigmore, Senior Manager PDX Terminal and Landside Operations, Portland International Airport

Panelists:

Todd Stock, Principal Engineer, MITRE- CAAD

Royce Holden, AVP Technology Security and Compliance/CISO, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

104C

We have seen a rapid evolution in the way teams communicate and engage with the proliferation of more remote work options and an inter-generational workforce.  With no shortage of communications tools and resources available, the real challenges are communicating with transparency, reaching the right audiences to make problem statements, actions, and goals known, and listening to feedback.  From the c-suite to public relations to human resources, everyone has a role in internal communications.  This session will focus on the best practices and principles of internal communications to align teams, drive effective action, and deliver results.

Moderator:

Gale LaRoche, Senior Human Resources Consultant, ADK Consulting & Executive Search

Panelists:

James Bogusz, President and CEO, Regina Airport Authority

Veronica Cintron, Vice President of Communications, Tampa International Airport

Mindy Kershner, Senior Manager, Communications, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport

Debi Marshall, Director of Human Resources, Syracuse Regional Airport Authority

102

Explore the dynamic relationship between airport data and marketing in this insightful session. Discover how airports can leverage data to enhance marketing strategies, improve passenger experiences, and drive business growth. Learn about the types of data collected, including demographics and travel patterns, and the technologies used for analysis.

Moderator:

Chad Reelfs, Vice President, Crimtan

Panelists:

Pamela Dechant, Senior Vice President, Concessions, Denver International Airport

Martin Rubinstein, Assistant Vice President, Digital and Social Media, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport

Neil Thompson, Vice President, Digital, HMSHost Corporation

103

Safety and security is a primary concern for airports throughout North America. Even with best efforts, violence can tragically erupt, affecting lives and interfering with the air transportation system. How can airports, working with TSA and law enforcement, prevent violence and, if it does occur, stop it in its tracks? What are the legal considerations for searching people? What should airports consider when different parts of their campus are under different gun laws and regulations? How do airports communicate amongst agencies in the midst of emergencies? The panel of airport leaders, security experts, and attorneys will address these and other issues.

Moderator:

Balram “B” Bheodari, Airport General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Panelists:

Brian Belcher, Acting Executive Assistant Administrator/ Director for the Law Enforcement/Federal Air Marshal Service (LE/FAMS), Transportation Security Administration

Vivica Brown, Division Chief Attorney, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Chad Newton, Chief Executive Officer, Wayne County Airport Authority

104A

This session will focus on the critical PFAS information that airport senior staff
needs to know. PFAS continues to be a complicated topic, with many moving
parts. In this session, ACI-NA and CAC staff will condense that information into
a concise overview of the most relevant information that airport executives
should be tracking in 2023 and into 2024.

Moderator:

Patrick Wilson, President, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority

Panelists:

Kathleen Henderson, Senior Director, Operations, Environment & Regulatory Affairs, Canadian Airports Council

Jeff Longsworth, Partner, Earth & Water Law

Melinda Pagliarello, Managing Director, Environmental Affairs, Airports Council International – North America

104B

Aviation activity is back post-pandemic and airports in the U.S. and Canada have pivoted back to the development of critical infrastructure to meet it. In this session, well take a closer look at how these projects are being accomplished and the lessons they provide for all considering their next major development program.

Moderator:

Joan Zatopek, Aviation Planning & Development Manager, Oakland International Airport

Panelists:

Michael Kunz, Chief Executive Officer, Terminal A, Newark Liberty International Airport, Munich Airport NJ, LLC

Hans Thilenius, Deputy Executive Director-Terminal Development and Improvement Program, Los Angeles World Airports

Emily Underhill, Deputy Executive Director – Development, Lee County Port Authority/Southwest Florida International Airport

104C

Many airports across North America are at different phases on their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion journey. Last year, ACI-NA created the DEI Working Group and at the ACI-NA Annual Conference and Exhibition will release, “The ACI-NA DEI Working Group Report: A Manual of Resource Materials of Good Practices to Develop DEI Programs at Airports.” The panelists will offer insight on such topics as how their programs got started, what impact has the program had on their employees, what transparency means to their DEI program, and what public reporting of your program status looks like. Lessons learned will be shared, challenges identified, obstacles circumnavigated, and advancements celebrated.

Moderator:

Danette Bewley, A.A.E., President and CEO, Tucson Airport Authority

Panelists:

Joyce Carter, President and CEO, Halifax International Airport Authority

Tanisha Lewis, Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact, Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

Sam Samaddar, Chief Executive Officer, Kelowna International Airport
Chair, ACI-NA

Solutions Showcase Theater 1

SITA Airside Optimizer offers a wide range of Airport Collaborative Decision Making (A-CDM) services. Customers can select and subscribe to individual services or opt for a full implementation based on their requirements. This cloud-based suite provides real-time information, giving customers easy access to relevant data whenever they need it.

Solutions Showcase Theater 2

Delivering a first-rate passenger experience has always been a critical factor for airports to improve operational efficiency and increase profits. Now, as the demand for domestic and international travel surges to new post-pandemic highs, airports are also facing mounting pressure to replace aging infrastructure amid the competitive race to achieve carbon neutrality.

Solutions Showcase Theater 1

Discover the game-changing Magnetic Stanchion, revolutionizing queue design with its hybrid features. Explore innovative queuing solutions like Smart Gate Technology, Egress Gates, Emergency Breakaway Belts, and Overhead Signage that create a holistic and modern queuing experience for passengers.

Solutions Showcase Theater 2

Discover how MySmartPlans merges customizable software with human integration to enhance construction projects. The Digital Information Librarian (DIL) ensures data accuracy and organization, creating a reliable digital twin of your project. This improves accountability, transparency, and efficiency. Explore the success of MySmartPlans on the Kansas City International New Terminal Build, reducing risks and litigation.