2026 Conference Speakers

Graham Coffelt

Aviation Discipline Leader, Neel-Schaffer, Inc.

Graham Coffelt leads Neel Schaffer’s aviation practice, bringing a unique perspective shaped by experience in both the public and private sectors. He offers clients a comprehensive understanding of airport development, regulatory compliance, and project implementation.

Graham began his engineering career with Neel Schaffer in 2010 before serving nine years with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in progressive roles spanning engineering, airport compliance, and leadership. After spending 6 years with FAA in the Jackson ADO, Graham was promoted to lead oversight of airport compliance activities across five states, advising FAA leadership, state agencies, and airport sponsors on regulatory requirements and enforcement matters. He interpreted and enforced FAA Grant Assurances and federal obligations for small, medium, and large hub airports; Adjudicated complaints filed under 14 CFR Part 13, including disputes related to access, exclusive rights, and rates and charges; Oversaw complex transactions including privatization efforts, management agreements, sponsorship transfers, and airport closures; Managed land release requests and non-aeronautical use determinations in accordance with federal policy; Provided compliance training and guidance to ADOs, state Block Grant programs, and commercial service airports.

With deep insight into FAA policies and processes, Graham effectively bridges the gap between regulatory requirements and practical execution, helping airport sponsors deliver projects that are compliant, efficient, and aligned with federal expectations.

Ron Corun

President, Ron Corun Consulting, LLC

Mr. Corun is the President of Ron Corun Consulting LLC. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Civil Engineering. Previously, he worked for 23 years as the Specialty Products Sales and Marketing Manager for Associated Asphalt Partners, LLC, Director of Asphalt Technical Services for Axeon Specialty Products, Manager of Asphalt Technical Services for NuStar Asphalt LLC and the Sr. Technical Manager for the CITGO Asphalt Refining Company. Prior to those positions, he worked for 32 years for Corun & Gatch, Inc., an asphalt paving construction firm founded by his grandfather. He has worked extensively in all areas of the asphalt paving industry – laborer, equipment operator, plant operator, quality control and mix design technician, superintendent, estimator and general manager. He has served on numerous committees of the Asphalt Institute, the National Asphalt Pavement Association and the Association of Modified Asphalt Producers and is currently Co-Chairman of the Northeast Asphalt User Producer Group. He is a member of the Transportation Research Board, The Association of Asphalt Pavement Technologists and Who’s Who in America.

MATTHEW DOWELL (MATT)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGIONAL AIRPORT

Matt Dowell, A.A.E., is the Executive Director of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. Dowell received both his Bachelor of Commercial Aviation and Masters in Aviation Management from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi. He is an Accredited Airport Executive who has been involved in airport management since 2012. He is also an FAA licensed Flight Instructor and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle pilot. In addition, he volunteers with the local Civil Air Patrol.

Les Goldsmith

President, Virtower LLC

Virtower is America’s largest airport operations tracking system, serving more than 500 airports across the United States. Under Les Goldsmith’s leadership, Virtower holds statewide airport operations tracking contracts covering every public-use airport in Florida, Utah, Kentucky, and Illinois, providing real-time operational intelligence, situational awareness, aircraft activity monitoring, and aviation analytics.

In addition to his airport industry leadership, Les serves as a contracted subject matter expert and technical contractor supporting federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies in the field of air domain awareness. His work focuses on aircraft and Remote ID-equipped UAS detection, aviation intelligence, airspace monitoring, critical infrastructure protection, and support for public safety, homeland security, and national security missions. He has supported agencies in leveraging aviation data and sensor technologies to improve operational awareness, investigate airspace activity, and enhance responses to emerging aerial threats.

Les is a Certified Member of the American Association of Airport Executives and is recognized for his expertise in airport operations, aviation technology, airspace intelligence, and the application of advanced data-driven solutions to support both aviation and public safety objectives.

Angie Seymour

Director of Government and Community Relations, Pearl River Community College

Ms. Seymour began her college experience at Pearl River Community College (PRCC) and went on to graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi with a B.S. in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing. While most of her career has been in marketing and public relations, both have prepared her to work with our federal, state, and local elected officials to consistently maintain a positive relationship for PRCC. Her other roles with PRCC include, but are not limited to: serving as the project and program manager for the new PRCC Hancock Aviation Aerospace Workforce Academy, where she successfully secured over $22 million in federal, state and local funds; she has established Aviation, Aerospace, and Industry Manufacturing Roundtables to provide insight to our industry leaders and help build partnerships; she serves on numerous boards throughout the Gulf Coast Region and attends community events to raise awareness about PRCC’s programs and opportunities. She recently began serving as the PRCC Workforce Development Project Manager for Hancock County.

Angie is the proud mother of Emily McCord, who is currently attending Mississippi State University, and Mark Seymour III, who attends Biloxi Upper Elementary.

JOSH STUBBS

Director of Aeronautics and Rails, Mississippi Department of Transportation

Josh Stubbs has been at MDOT since 2009. After a short stint in highway safety, Josh spent the next 11 years working on railroad related matters, primarily focused on railroad crossing safety issues around the state of Mississippi. He began serving as the Director of the Aeronautics and Rails Division in September of 2021. He is a 2008 graduate of Mississippi State University and a registered professional engineer.

JEFF WAGNER

SHAREHOLDER, BAKER DONELSON BEARMAN CALDWELL & BERKOWITZ. P.C.

Jeff Wagner, a shareholder in the Firm’s Jackson office, focuses his practice on public/governmental law and commercial transactional work. He has extensive experience in public law matters, including the financing of public projects, public procurements and construction matters. He regularly works with airports on all types of procurement, contracting and regulatory issues. He served as counsel to the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority for over twenty years and has served as special counsel to the March Joint Powers Authority and the March Inland Port Airport Authority (Riverside, California) on Federal Aviation Administration regulatory issues. He is general counsel to the Mississippi Airports Association. He also helps clients in complying with regulatory requirements in other transportation infrastructure projects.

In addition to his public/governmental law work, Mr. Wagner helps clients in structuring and closing all types of complex financial transactions. He has significant experience working with lenders and borrowers using federal and state loan guaranty programs, including programs through the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the United States Small Business Administration. Mr. Wagner also represents clients in all types of affordable housing development.

Mr. Wagner’s experience has allowed him to develop an understanding of the organizational and practical considerations necessary to the achievement of a successful and timely result in all types of large and complex projects.

Bobby Walston, P.E.

Vice President of Aviation Development, 1200.aero, Inc.

Bobby Walston is a distinguished aviation executive and professional engineer with more than 35 years of experience in aviation planning, development and management. Throughout his career, he has focused on expanding aviation infrastructure, advancing aviation technologies and fostering public-private partnerships to meet the evolving needs of government and industry.

Bobby serves as Vice President of Aviation Development for 1200.aero, Inc., an innovative aviation technology company developing advanced decision-support and data analytics tools for airport operators and state aviation agencies. In this role, he leads business and product development initiatives and represents the company at national conferences and forums.

Bobby also founded Walston Consulting, LLC, through which he provides strategic and operational guidance to airports, aviation agencies and airport industries, the areas where he has built his deepest expertise over more than three decades.

Prior to his consulting work, Bobby served for ten years as Director of Aviation for the North Carolina Department of Transportation. In this role, he led all aviation functions for the state, including airport system planning and development, funding and grant programs and initiatives to assist communities in building and improving their airports. He also managed North Carolina’s emerging aviation programs, directed the state’s flight department serving all agencies and supported aviation-related business development across the state.

Bobby also had a distinguished 28-year military career in the Air National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. As a Civil Engineer Officer, he supported missions and training exercises across four continents and multiple U.S. states.

In 2020–2021, Bobby served as Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Association of State Aviation Officials.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Master’s in Military Operational Art and Science from the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of North Carolina.

Ronald A. Ward

Federal Security Director, Mississippi TSA

Ronald A. Ward serves as the Federal Security Director (FSD) for the State of Mississippi. In this role, he provides executive leadership and oversight for security operations across the state’s eight Hub and Spoke airports: Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN); Greenville Mid-Delta (GLH); Gulfport-Biloxi International (GPT); Golden Triangle Regional (GTR); Natchez-Adams County (HEZ); Meridian Regional Airport (MEI); Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional (PIB), and Tupelo Regional Airport (TUP).

He oversees security operations that include passenger and baggage screening, regulatory compliance, workforce leadership, stakeholder coordination, and specialized transportation security programs designed to protect the traveling public. He was previously the Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening (AFSD-S) in Alabama.

Mr. Ward began his TSA career in June 2002 as a Supervisory Transportation Security Screener (STSS). He has held numerous leadership positions, including Acting Federal Security Director for the State of Alabama, Acting Federal Security Director – Inspections as well as Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening.

Throughout his career, Mr. Ward has received numerous awards and commendations, including being named TSA Honorary Employee of the Year in 2010 and the Alabama Staff Employee of the Year on multiple occasions. He served on the TSA National Advisory Council (NAC) and the TSA Diversity Advisory Council (DAC). He co-facilitated the Essentials of Managing Screening Operations (EMSO) and Essentials of Leading Screening Operations (ELSO) courses at the TSA Academy in Charleston, South Carolina, and Glynco, Georgia. He is a graduate of TSA’s Leading from the Middle, leadership development training course and TSA’s Middle Leadership Development Program (MLDP) and later served as a mentor.

Prior to joining TSA, Mr. Ward served in the United States Air Force, both, active duty and as a reservist. On active duty, he worked in Electronic Security with tours in Japan and the National Security Agency (NSA). As a reservist, he worked in Air Transportation at Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS, before retiring from military service.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Faulkner University and an Associate Degree in Applied Science (Communication Technology) from the Community College of the Air Force.