Meet the Airports Conference Speakers!September 23 - 25, 2025
Isaac Mendoza
Isaac Mendoza has been passionate about aviation for as long as he can remember. He began his journey in airport operations in the summer of 2016 with an internship at General Mitchell International Airport (MKE) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In May 2017, he launched his professional career as an Airport Operations Specialist at Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI). In September 2019, Isaac joined the Greater Rockford Airport Authority as an Operations Specialist. He was promoted to Operations Compliance Supervisor in September 2021, and in August 2023, he assumed his current role as Operations Manager. In this position, he oversees day-to-day airside operations, ensures regulatory compliance, and supports the airport’s continuous improvement initiatives. Isaac holds a Bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Andrew has 16 years of Airport Operations experience working at three different commercial airports. Andrew’s airport operations career started in 2007 at the Charles M Schulz - Sonoma County Airport (STS) in Santa Rosa, CA, as an Airport Operations Specialist performing Operations, ARFF, Airfield/Terminal Maintenance. Andrew then moved to Eugene, OR in 2015 and joined the Mahlon Sweet Airport (EUG) as an Operations Duty Officer and conducted Operations, Badging and Security. Currently, Andrew is an Airport Operations Officer at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR) in Grand Rapids, MI. In addition to work his experience, Andrew is a USAF Veteran and has been ARFF certified, attended both basic and advanced Airport Safety and Operations Specialist courses from AAAE, and earned his Airport Certified Employee (ACE) - Airfield Operations certification form from AAAE.
Ben Jachim is the Airfield Maintenance Supervisor at Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, Michigan. With over 11 years of experience in airport operations, Ben has developed a strong passion for airfield maintenance, safety, and continuous improvement. He has completed the Basic Snow Academy and is advancing his expertise by attending the Advanced Academy in Buffalo this year. Dedicated to professional growth, Ben thrives on learning and training others in his field. In addition to his aviation career, Ben has proudly served as a paid on-call firefighter for the past 20 years, achieving the rank of Captain. His leadership and commitment to public safety extend from the airfield to the firehouse. A lifelong aviation enthusiast, Ben enjoys sharing his love for all things flight with his four boys, ages 16, 14, and twin 4-year-olds and wife Caitlyn. Whether exploring the great outdoors, embracing Michigan's four seasons, or traveling to new places, Ben values adventure, family, and hands-on experiences
Ryan is a senior aviation engineer known for delivering pragmatic, executable solutions tailored to the unique needs of Department of Defense clients. With extensive experience evaluating, designing, constructing, and maintaining the full range of airfield infrastructure, he blends deep technical expertise with strategic foresight to solve complex engineering challenges. Ryan is the founder and chair of the Military Aviation Subcommittee with the Airport Consultants Council and maintains active collaboration with DoD experts across the services. He recently retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Civil Engineer officer, where he completed over 200 military consultations and led major airfield projects on five continents. He previously led, developed, and instructed the Air Force’s Airfield Design
Tim is an experienced airport professional working on the concept, design, review, implementation, and close-out of pavement and construction projects for over two decades. Tim holds an Associate’s Degree in Construction Management. He earned his Project Management Professional Certification from the Project Management Institute in 2008 and his Certified Manager designation from AAAE in 2016. Tim holds a Commercial Pilot certificate with an instrument-rating, and is a licensed Part 107 UAS pilot. He maintains the OSHA 30-Hour construction safety designation and has presented at numerous aviation conferences across the United States since 2008.
Tim retired from the Columbus Regional Airport Authority as a Project Manager, where he led teams on major programs at John Glenn Columbus International and Bolton Field Airports. After retiring from the Authority, he led the Florida Statewide PCR program as a consultant from 2015-2018 . He has managed airside and landside PCI programs across the country, and is currently on the Kimley-Horn team for the Ohio and Alabama Statewide PCI programs. Genevieve (Gen) Long has 22 years of experience in airport pavement engineering, focusing on pavement management, evaluation, design, training, and research. She has extensive experience conducting pavement management programs, with visual pavement inspections as an integral part of those projects. She has also overseen pavement evaluations and designs at airports of various sizes across North America, including assessing non-destructive testing data, establishing coring/boring plans and reviewing results of geotechnical investigations, and using the FAA’s evaluation and design tools as part of her work.
Gen is a graduate of the University of Illinois and a resident of Champaign, IL. She is actively involved with ACC and its Engineering Committee, including having served as an instructor for various webinars and in-person pavement evaluation and design workshops.
When not working, she enjoys spending time outside (running, hiking, camping, kayaking, and gardening) and with her family.
Andy is a 2011 graduate of Missouri University of Science and Technology where he earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Texas and New York and holds a Certified Member certification from the American Associated of Airport Executives (AAAE).
He served on the Airport’s Consultant Council (ACC) Symposium Planning Committee in 2020 as Co-Planning Track Lead (Reno, NV) and in 2021 as the Co-Vice Chair of the AAAE/ACC Planning, Design and Construction Symposium (Virtual).
Spending the majority of his time in the private sector, Andy has notable expertise in planning, program formulation, and the design and construction of airports. He has served over 30 airports in the FAA’s Central, Great Lakes Region, Southwest, and Eastern regions and delivered over 100 projects at those airports.
Bryce grew up in a small town in northern Missouri. He attended the University of Central Missouri to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Management. He has worked at Kansas City Interational Airport (MCI) for over 2 years, first as an Airport Operations Agent and now as an Assistant Manager of Operations. His passion for aviation comes from flying with his grandfather while growing up, which prompted him to get his private pilot's license.
Eddie has been around airports since 2017, when he got his start as an intern at MSP. From 2018 to 2019, he worked in ARFF operations at LSE before moving to CMH from 2019 to 2020. He then joined DSM, where he grew into a supervisor role and now serves as a manager. A graduate of Florida Tech, Eddie first found his passion for aviation through the Civil Air Patrol and has been dedicated to airport management ever since. A fan of aviation history, his favorite aircraft is the Lockheed Super Constellation.
Jeff Harken brings over a decade of experience at Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport, where he currently serves as Manager of FAA Part 139 Compliance. He began his tenure at MSP as an Assistant Manager of Airside Operations and now leads cross-departmental coordination on regulatory oversight, response, and compliance initiatives. Prior to joining MSP, Jeff held operational roles at two other airports, which built a strong foundation in airfield management and safety. His career reflects a commitment to collaborative problem-solving in complex airport environments.
Joey Castiglione is the Director of Operations & Maintenance for the Grand Forks Airport. He holds a bachelors of Airport Management from the University of North Dakota and an Associates of Fire Science from the Community College of the Air Force. Joey served in the 119th North Dakota Air National Guard Fire and Emergency Services flight with multiple overseas deployments. He is also a Certified Member (C.M.) of the American Association of Airport Executives and a private pilot.
University of Purdue AAAE President
Double Major in Aviation Management and Aerospace Analysis.
Luke Mawhirter has served as the Executive Manager of Airport Operations and Field Maintenance at Kansas City International Airport since March of 2024. Prior to that he was the Airport Operations Manager, and has been with MCI Airport Operations since 2015. Luke attended the University of Central Missouri from 2007-2009, and holds a B.S. in Flight Operations Management and a Private Pilot Certificate. Over his 18 year career, he has worked at many Kansas City Metropolitan Area airports, including the Lee’s Summit Municipal Airport (LXT), Kansas City Downtown Airport (MKC), and Midwest National Air Center (GPH) as the Assistant Airport Manager prior to joining the Operations Division at Kansas City International Airport. He holds an ACE – Airfield Operations Certificate and is a Certified Member of AAAE.
Captain Mark Foisy has a bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan. He started his flying career when he entered USAF pilot training in 1988. He flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon, for both training and real-world operations, in the US, Korea, and Italy. For the last 26 years Mark has flown air carrier for both a regional, and a major airline, as well as 7 years as an Aviation Safety Inspector for the FAA.
 Matthew Powers Matthew Powers is the Manager of Operations & Public Safety at the Dane County Regional Airport (DCRA) and has been with the organization for the past 12 years and is responsible for managing staff that conduct daily enforcement of FAA Part 139 and TSA Part 1542 as well as State, County, and Local regulations. Before joining DCRA, Matthew was an Operations Agent at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Matthew has a keen interest in wildlife mitigation, airfield construction management, and Irregular Operations, and their impact on the airport environment. Matthew holds a private pilot’s license and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Aviation Management from Louisiana Tech University. Matthew has been involved with industry organizations such as Bird Strike Committee (BSC) USA and the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE).
 Megan Murray-MylesMegan Murray-Myles is the Operations and ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) Manager at MBS International Airport, where she oversees a variety of critical operations to ensure the airport’s safety and efficiency. A graduate of Western Michigan University, Megan has a degree in Aviation Management and Operations, with a minor in General Business. Megan plays an active role in the Great Lakes Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives. She co-chairs the AAAE GLC Inclusion in Aviation and OSPEM Committees. Megan resides in Bay City with her two children and husband.
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Ben Jachim
Tim Mentel
Andy Bodine, P
Jeff Harken
Joey
Jonah Blake Goldberg
Luke Mawhirter
Mark FoisyAnnouncements
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