More than 200 attended the 2025 Mississippi Airports Association Conference, held at Hattiesburg’s beautiful and welcoming Lake Terrace Convention Center. The meeting offered airport directors and those in connected businesses insights and useful information as well as opportunities to connect with one another, share experiences and enjoy fellowship.

Tommy Duff of Duff Capital Investors, the largest privately-owned business in Mississippi, was the keynote speaker at Thursday’s lunch, sponsored by Shows, Dearman & Waits, Inc. At the luncheon, a special presentation was made to Kris Godwin, who retired this year as State Director at USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, in gratitude for her work with Mississippi’s airports. Meanwhile, conference spouses enjoyed a trip to Laurel, MS, where HGTV’s Home Town home renovation show is taped.

Conference speakers also included Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker; Tammra Cascio, Principal, Cascio Sanford Government Law Group, PLLC; Jon Coleman, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy/Airline Pilot, Denver Air; Tara Corse, Federal Security Director of Mississippi & Alabama, TSA; Sara Doss, Executive Director, Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi; Scott Lynn, FAASTeam Program Manager, FAA; Mike Mooney, Senior Consultant, Air Service Development, Volaire Aviation Consulting; Will Schuller, Jackson Airports District Office Assistant Manager, FAA; Josh Stubbs, Director of Aeronautics and Rails, MDOT; Jeff Wagner, Shareholder, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC; Brad White, Executive Director, MDOT and Clay Williams, Executive Director, Gulfport Biloxi International Airport. Many of their presentations can be found on our website HERE. FAA personnel were also on hand for one-on-one meetings with attendees.

Opening events on Wednesday included a golf tournament and sporting clays competition followed by a reception in the conference center presented by Jackson Municipal Airport Authority. On Thursday night, things got a little “wild,” with a safari party at the Hattiesburg Zoo, presented by Neel-Schaffer, Inc.

Thanks very much to all our sponsors – listed below – without whom the conference would not be possible! We also appreciate the exhibitors who took part.

The 2026 MAA Conference will be held September 30-October 2 at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi – mark your calendar!

Avflight

Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

GovDeals

Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport Authority

Allen & Hoshall

Dungan Engineering

Garver

Golden Triangle Regional Airport

ACE Consulting and Design

Airport Management Solutions

Barge Design Solutions

Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission/Stennis International Airport

Madison Air

Pomeroy Consulting

ADB Safegate/Allen Enterprises

Airport Cooperative Research Program

American Integrated Contractors

BECC, Inc.

BrightPortal Resources

Campbell Oil Company

ChemPro Services