TakeOff North America 2025

Tallahassee, Florida
• 4 – 6 November 2025

Dedicated to the North American marketplace

TakeOff North America 2025 will bring together airlines, airports, destinations and suppliers from across the region in Tallahassee, Florida.

Register Now About the Destination Sponsor

Conference Programme Speakers

John Heimlich

VP & Chief Economist, Airlines for America (A4A)

John Heimlich joined Airlines for America (A4A) in April 2001 and currently serves as Vice President and Chief Economist. He is responsible for matters pertaining to economics and energy and frequently engages with members of the media. Prior to A4A, Heimlich spent five years at United Airlines in financial planning, financial analysis and international and regulatory affairs. In the latter role, he worked on competition matters, mergers, route cases and antitrust immunity for alliances.

A native of Kent, Ohio, Heimlich holds a Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Cornell University and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

Participating Talks and Sessions

Erin Porter

Manager, Marketing and Public Relations, Gainesville Regional Airport

Her mom, Holly, found out she was pregnant with Erin while taking flying lessons from her father, John, and aviation-related life is natural to her. Growing up in a flying family, Erin (nicknamed “ErPort” since nursery school) flew all over the country with her family in a small airplane. Since graduating from the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications, Erin has been lucky to spend much of her career in the industry she loves. 

She has provided media relations, diplomatic relations and project management for some great global companies, including LearJet, Hilton Hotels Corporation, and Virgin Group of Companies. She led Media and Public Affairs for the National Park Service’s First Flight Celebration at Wright Brothers National Memorial in 2003. Earlier in her career, she even worked as a flight attendant at America West Airlines and used her flying benefits to do public relations and media projects all over the world. 

When Erin returned recently to her college town of Gainesville, Florida, she learned the airport had an opening that suited her skill set. Despite the amount of time she has spent in the industry, she never knew how complicated the airport world could be, even at a small regional airport where there is never a dull moment. Erin is grateful every day for her multifaceted career in this amazing industry. 

Participating Talks and Sessions

John E. Dailey

Mayor of Tallahassee

Participating Talks and Sessions