About
The ACC/AAAE Airport Planning, Design, and Construction Symposium offers highly technical content for airport professionals of all disciplines and experience levels. Workshops include a balanced mix of presentations and interactive discussions between subject matter experts and participants on a broad range of topics. Technical tracks cover planning, terminal/landside, engineering/airside, and program management/construction management, as well as a new Innovation track, featuring interactive workshops on the airport terminal of the future, and workshops on enhancing diversity at the workplace and in airport projects.
Sustainability, IT, security, and the latest in airport research will be incorporated into the program and designated through icons to help inform your session selections. Plenary sessions and a keynote luncheon will cover new trends and innovations that will impact airport professionals today and into the future. The symposium also features a robust program for aviation young professionals, including technical training and opportunities for professional development.
Who Should Attend
The symposium is geared toward airport professionals involved in planning, environmental issues, architecture, engineering, program and construction management, security, IT, and airport operations. Additionally, the symposium is a fantastic event for young airport professionals to gain awareness of key challenges and solutions through the dedicated YP track.
In 2023, we had over 1,600 representatives from airports, consulting firms, construction companies, industry suppliers, airlines, and government agencies attend. Along with providing comprehensive technical content, the symposium offers time to network and connect with other industry professionals.
Symposium Highlights
- 25 Unique Technical Workshops with More Than 80 Technical Presentations
- “Open Mic” Sessions with FAA and TSA
- Networking Sessions for Thought-Provoking Discussions and Connections
- Various Keynote Talks and Plenary Sessions with Industry Leaders
- More Than 65 Exhibitors Demonstrating New Technology
- Innovation Contest Presentations from the Young Professionals Progra
Meet the Symposium Planning Committee and Track Hosts
Learn more about the symposium by visiting the blog! The Planning Committee and the Track Hosts will be providing updates on the program, events, and more. Please contact ACC VP, Operations & Regulatory Affairs Sylvia Palmer if you have any questions
Symposium Chair
Carrie Shaeffer
Swinerton
Symposium Vice Chair
Chris Spaulding, C.M.
Jacobsen | Daniels
Symposium Vice Chair – Young Professionals
Asia Johnson
Jacobsen | Daniels
Program Manager
James Gerrald, Jr., LEED Green Associate
Jacobs
Program Manager – Young Professionals
Bailey Bulls
Swinerton
Track Host – Engineering
Curtis Brown, P.E.
Woolpert
Track Host – Engineering – Young Professionals
Danielle Tabb
Woolpert
Track Host – Planning
Melissa Vasher
Hanson Professional Services
Track Host – Planning – Young Professionals
Shawn Gibbs
Hanson Professional Services
Track Host – PM/CM
Melvin Price, C.M., MBA
Jacobs
Track Host – PM/CM – Young Professionals
Annabelle Tran
Jacobs
Track Host – Terminal/Landside
Enrique Melendez, C.M.
The JW Group, Inc.
Track Host – Terminal/Landside – Young Professionals
Jack Walfish, CCNP, CCDP
The JW Group, Inc.
Track Host – Innovation
Laura Canham
McFarland Johnson
Track Host – Innovation – Young Professionals
Amanda Sheridan, P.E.
McFarland Johnson
The call for topics for Plenary Sessions and Workshops at the 2024 AAAE/ACC Airport Planning, Design, & Construction Symposium, which will take place March 5-7 in Salt Lake City, Utah has now ended. Topics were accepted through July 31.
Please note the submission of a topic or moderator does not ensure that the topic will make it onto the Symposium agenda, but rest assured your submission will be fully assessed for inclusion by the 2024 Symposium Planning Committee. The topics that make it onto the 2024 agenda will be announced at the end of August.
The 2024 Symposium will feature two Plenary Sessions for all participants and concurrent workshops in five technical tracks: Planning; Terminal/Landside; Engineering/Airside; Project Management/Construction Management; and an Innovation Track (formerly called the Mini-Track).
Selection Process
The solicitation for topics for the Symposium provides everyone that submits a proposal with the same opportunity and fair chance for participation in the program. The results of the survey will be reviewed by the Track Hosts and the entire Symposium Planning Committee. Each Track Host will review the topics submitted and begin the process of extracting topics that will be brought forward for further discussion when the Symposium Planning Committee convenes at the end of August. During this meeting, the entire planning team makes a fair and impartial assessment of all the topics brought forth by the Track Hosts and a decision is made to move forward with five topics for each track, taking into account the agreed-on selection criteria.
The committee is looking for novel, innovative, and compelling technical content that will inspire, educate, and challenge the wide range of aviation industry participants that attend the AAAE/ACC Symposium. We fully count on the industry subject matter expertise of the Track Hosts, as well as that of the Symposium Chair, Vice Chair, and Program Manager to pull off this selection process, and having well-described and fully constructed topic entries to choose from eases the process.
Every year, the call for topics generates over 150+ entries. With room for just 25 sessions on the program, it takes a lot of time and commitment to make a decision on final topics from what is typically a very robust set of proposals.
The Symposium program committee is also very deliberate in the process to identify, select and confirm moderators and speakers. An extensive process is used to consider and select speakers, taking into account ways to increase inclusion and diversity among panels, ensuring balance in companies/airports represented, seeking different perspectives from industry, airports, suppliers, and stakeholders in panels, etc. The selection of a topic does not necessarily ensure that the submitter will receive a speaking opportunity.