2025 Annual Conference Agenda
Complete agenda for the 2025 Annual Conference Agenda
Association of California Airports (ACA)
Tuesday, September 16th
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Lunch Ready for Leasing Workshop Attendees
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Workshop with the Experts: Airport Leasing – Details TBA
Workshop
Workshop with the Experts: Airport Leasing – details TBA
(Please note that there is a $75.00 fee to attend this workshop.)
Lakeview Ballroom
Curt Castagna, C.M., Chief Executive Officer Project Principal
Ascension Group Partners
Ryan Leick, Ph.D., C.M., Associate Professor, Airport Operations and Planning
Utah Valley University
Margaret Martin, Partner
Thompson Burton, PLLC
Wednesday, September 17th
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Open Registration
registration
12:45 pm - 2:15 pm
Opening Remarks
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm
Session 1: The State of the Industry
Session 1: State of the Industry
Moderator – Justin Castagna, President, Association of California Airports
Panelists:
Curt Castagna, President and CEO, National Air Transportation Association
Phil Derner, Western Regional Representative, National Business Aviation Association
Andrew Swanson, 1st Vice President, Southwest Chapter, American Association of Airport Executives
Niki Britton, Regional Manager, Government Affairs
Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association
2:15 pm - 3:00 pm
Session 2: Caltrans Aeronautics in Focus
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm
Break/Networking Time
3:15 pm - 4:15 pm
Session 3 - Airport Risk Management – Insurance Fundamentals and Loss Case Study
Workshop
Karen Caoile, Director of Risk Management
Contra Costa County
Greg Baer, Airport Director
Contra Costa County Airports
Ashley Whitmore, Airport Director
Tehachapi Municipal Airport
4:15 pm - 5:15 pm
Session 4: EAGLE Initiative Update
Maria DiPasquantonio, Deputy Director
Office of Senior Technical Experts, Aviation Safety, Aircraft Certification Service
Federal Aviation Administration
6:00 pm
Harry's Welcome Reception
reception
Thursday, September 18th
7:45 am
Continental Breakfast
break
8:30 am - 9:45 am
General Membership Meeting
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Session 5: Neighboring State Updates
Session 5:
Neighboring State Updates
Kenneth G. Moen, A.A.E., C.A.E., President
Nevada Aviation Association
Lorene Robinson, President
Washington Airport Management Association
Edward A. Rose, President
Arizona Airports Association
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Open Registration
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Session 6: Operational Playbook: Airport Support for CAL FIRE – CMA Case Study
Operational Playbook: Airport Support for CAL FIRE –
CMA Case Study
Linnea Edmeier, Aviation Communications Officer, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Casey Pullman, Deputy Director of Airports, Ventura County Department of Airports
Paul Karpus, CAL FIRE’s Chief of Air Operations
12:00 pm - 1:30 pm
Lunch On Your Own
meal
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Session 7: Aviation in the Heat: Wildfire Response & Air Operations
Exploring the vital role of aviation in wildfire detection, suppression, and emergency coordination.
Dan Dufrene, Battalion Chief, Air Operations
Orange County Fire Authority
Brett R. Willis, Battalion Chief, Air Operations
Los Angeles City Fire Department
Dan Child, Chief Pilot
Los Angeles City Fire Department
2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Session 8: SMS – General Aviation Briefing
Amy L. Choi, Manager, San Francisco Airports District Office, Federal Aviation Administration
3:30 pm - 3:45 pm
Break/Networking
3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
Session 9: State & Federal Legislation – Potential Impacts of Big Beautiful Bill
Juliet Jordan, Managing Director of Industry Affairs and Innovation
National Air Transportation Association (NATA)
Jim Lites, Vice Chair and Partner
California Strategies & Advocacy
Moderator – Justin Castagna, ACA President
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Reception
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Dinner
reception
Friday, September 19th
7:45 am
Light Breakfast
break
8:15 am - 8:30 am
Opening Remarks by ACA President
8:45 am - 11:30 am
Session 10: Roundtable/Town Hall –