Conference Programme Speakers
Mike Corcoran
Director Network Planning, Avelo Airlines
Participating Talks and Sessions
Evan Berg
Director, ASM
Evan Berg is a commercial and business development leader with 25 years of experience in aviation strategy, air service development, and capacity planning. His career spans roles at major airlines and leading aviation consultancies.
At Southwest Airlines, Evan served in multiple leadership positions for more than 15 years, including International Planning, where he established the airline's international planning team and developed the airline's international growth strategy. He also held leadership roles at Southwest Airlines in Network Planning, Network Initiatives, Capacity Planning, and Airport Affairs.
As Director at Informa (ASM Global – Air Service Development), Evan leads forecasting and demand planning projects for airport clients across North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.
Evan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has completed postgraduate studies at Appalachian State University and Coastal Carolina University.
Participating Talks and Sessions
John Parker
Director Capacity Planning, Southwest Airlines
John’s primary responsibilities include overseeing the near and mid-term capacity plans for Southwest Airlines, working closely with the schedule production process, from the development of routes through schedule creation and publication. Along with internal stakeholders, John’s team works with Air Service Development and Community partners to ensure Southwest markets are successful.
John began his career as an Auditor and CPA in public accounting. In 2011, John joined the Southwest Airlines family, spending two years with the Finance Department. During the past twelve years in Network Planning, John has worked with the Network Strategy and Capacity Planning teams, helping launch Hawaii and initiating service to new stations.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Brian Grefe
Airport Director, Central Wisconsin Airport
Brian Grefe is the Airport Director of Central Wisconsin Airport (CWA), where he has led the organization for more than nine years. With over two decades of experience in airport management, Brian has built a strong reputation for advancing air service, driving infrastructure development, and strengthening community partnerships.
Under his leadership, CWA has seen significant growth and innovation, including major capital improvements, enhanced air service development strategies, and stronger connections between the airport and the communities it serves. His work emphasizes collaboration, sustainability, and positioning the airport as a key driver of economic vitality in Central Wisconsin.
Brian is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) through the American Association of Airport Executives and an Airport Certified Employee (ACE) in Operations. He has also served in leadership roles at airports in Aspen, Colorado, and Duluth, Minnesota.
Beyond the airport, Brian is an active advocate for Wisconsin’s aviation industry, working closely with state and federal leaders to secure funding, strengthen policies, and position the region for long-term success. He is passionate about connecting Central and Northern Wisconsin to the world, enhancing economic vitality, and ensuring that aviation remains a cornerstone of regional growth.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Jonathon Freye
Executive Director, Association of Value Airlines
Participating Talks and Sessions
Faye Malarkey Black
President and CEO, Regional Airline Association
Participating Talks and Sessions
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
Matthew Cornelius
Executive Vice President, Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA)
Matt Cornelius joined ACI-NA in November 2012 and is currently Executive Vice President. Since joining ACI-NA, Matt has served in various positions and has been essential in strengthening our relationship with U.S. Customs and Border Protection as well as leading key initiatives to improve airport operators’ standing in commercial aviation.
Cornelius oversees ACI-NA’s regulatory work, the ACI-NA committee system and serves as the committee secretary to the ACI-NA U.S. International Air Service Program. His aviation industry experience has allowed him to provide insight and support for many issues including U.S., Canadian and international aviation regulations, air service development, international bilateral air service issues, airport/airline business relations, passenger facilitation and more.
Matt has served several terms as a member of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection User Fee Advisory Committee and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness. He served as the co-chair of the FAA’s Aviation Rulemaking Committee on UAS Detection and Mitigation Systems, which delivered recommendations to the FAA on Counter UAS policies in January 2024.
Prior to joining ACI-NA, Matt served as Airline Affairs Manager with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. He also held roles in Frontier Airlines’ finance and commercial strategy departments and worked in airport operations at Denver International Airport. He began his career with the aviation department of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where he held various positions in the central office and in airport operations at JFK International Airport.
Cornelius is a graduate of Villanova University, with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and also holds an MBA from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Participating Talks and Sessions
Christina Cole
Senior Digital Aviation Strategist, Advance Aviation
Christina Cole is the Team Leader of Advance Aviation, a respected full-service airport marketing partner known throughout the aviation industry for driving results and strengthening airport engagement.
With over 25 years of experience in marketing—and more than a decade focused exclusively on aviation—Christina launched Advance Aviation with a clear mission: to help airports reduce passenger leakage, grow enplanements and load factors, and increase community commitment to flying local. Under her leadership, the firm has become a trusted name in the industry, working with airports across the country to deliver strategic, measurable results.
Christina plays an active and influential role in one-on-one airline meetings, helping make the case for new or expanded air service. She presents tailored marketing and creative strategies that will be implemented to promote the service, ensuring it gains strong awareness, community support, and long-term success.
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
David J. Pollard, C.M
Director of Aviation, Tallahassee International Airport
Participating Talks and Sessions
John E. Dailey
Mayor of Tallahassee
Participating Talks and Sessions
Jesse Fosnaugh
Director of Airport, Gulf Shores International Airport
Participating Talks and Sessions
Kristin Schilling-Gonzalez
VP, Planning & Revenue, Allegiant