MISSISSIPPI AIRPORTS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Wednesday, September 13 – Friday, September 15, 2023
The Riley Center
Meridian, MS
TENTATIVE AGENDA
Wednesday, SEPTEMBER 13
9:00 am – 5:00 pm: Exhibitors set up, Riley Center
10:00 am: Tour of Meridian Regional Airport
11:00 am: Golf and Lunch – Northwood Country Club
1:30 pm: Sporting Clays, Binachi Shooting Sports
6:00 pm: Opening Reception – The Riley Center Exhibitors Hall
Thursday, SEPTEMBER 14
6:30 – 7:45 am: Breakfast
8:00 – 8:08 am: “Welcome & Introductions,” Tom Heanue, President, Mississippi Airports Association
8:08 – 8:10 am: Sponsor Presentation: GovDeals
8:10 – 8:55 am: “Mississippi’s Current Economic Development Landscape,” Gray Swoope, President and CEO, VisionFirst Advisors
8:55 – 9:30 am: “MDOT and Your Airport,” Brad White, Executive Director, Mississippi Department of Transportation
9:30 – 9:40 am: Sponsor Presentation: Jackson Municipal Airport Authority
9:30 am: Spouses depart for their outing – Merrehope Home tour, “Simple Floral Arrangements You Can Make at Home” presentation, lunch
9:40 – 10:05 am: Break – Exhibitors’ Hall
10:05 – 10:35 am: “How to Easily & Compliantly Dispose of Unwanted Airport Assets at Absolutely Zero Cost or Risk,” Carey Welsch, Manager, South Central Region, GovDeals
10:35 – 10:37 am: Sponsor Presentation: JBHM Architecture
10:37 – 11:07 am: Robert Stewart, Retired NASA Astronaut and U.S. Army Brigadier General
11:07 am & 11:15 am: Shuttles depart for Soule’. Soule’ is within easy walking distance if preferred, or car parking is available.
11:15 am – 1:00 pm: Lunch and Tour, Soule Industrial Museum
1:00 pm & 1:10 pm: Shuttles depart for Riley Center
1:30 – 2:00 pm: “Military Aviation in Mississippi,” MG Barry Blanchard, Assistant Adjutant General of the Mississippi Air National Guard
2:00 – 2:45 pm: “Helpful Info Regarding DBEs” – Taffy Pippin, President, Taffy Pippin Consulting; Mary Geter, DBE Specialist; Carolyn Bell, Civil Rights Director, Mississippi Department of Transportation
2:45 – 2:55 pm: Sponsor Presentation: Neel-Schaffer
2:55 – 3:15 pm: Break
3:15 – 4:15 pm: “FAA 1 on 1 Meetings” Sign up for a meeting HERE
3:15 – 4:30 pm: Board Meeting
5:30 – 7:30 pm: Party at the Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience (MAX)
8:00 – 9:30 pm: Chapel Hart Concert, Riley Center Theater
Friday, SEPTEMBER 15
6:30 – 7:45 am: Breakfast
8:00 – 8:28 am: General Membership Meeting
8:28 – 8:30 am: Sponsor Presentation: Michael Baker International
8:30 – 9:00 am: “Recognizing Insider Threats,” Special Agents Tara Ford and Nick Amiano, Federal Bureau of Investigation
9:00 – 9:30 am: “Overview of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),” Eric Tomasovic, Environmental Protection Specialist, FAA Jackson ADO
9:30 – 10:00 am: Break
10:00 – 10:30 am: “The Federal Outlook for Aviation,” Brad Brandt, Aviation Director, Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
10:30 – 10:45 am: “MDOT Aeronautics Report,” Josh Stubbs, Director of Aeronautics and Rails, Mississippi Department of Transportation
10:45 – 11:00 am: “FAA Report,” Rans Black, ADO, Federal Aviation Administration
11:00 – 11:15 am: “Legislative Report” Jeff Wagner, Shareholder, Baker Donelson
11:15 – 11:30 am: “TSA Report” Kim Jackson, Federal Security Director of Mississippi, Transportation Security Administration
11:30 am: “Closing Remarks” Wes Kirkpatrick, President, Mississippi Airports Association