2022 Conference Speakers

Join SCCAAAE  for the Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

   

Speakers

Grayson Ardies

The Commission is a state agency in charge of promoting aviation and aerospace across the state, including the 108 public airports that comprise Oklahoma’s air transportation system. Ardies’ emphasis is on promoting the aerospace industry, the state’s second largest industry; planning and development of the state’s air transportation system; and encouraging public-private partnerships to enhance the aerospace industry and support workforce development. Director Ardies graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Aviation Management with minors in Business Administration and Air Traffic Control. As part of his education through the aviation program, he also received a commercial pilot’s license with single and multi-engine instrument ratings and is a certified flight instructor.

Toby Baker, P.E.

Toby Baker, PE, is an Associate and Aviation Team Leader. Toby received his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He has not only worked on over 165 projects at 41 different airports throughout the state of Oklahoma but is also an active pilot. He holds a commercial pilot certificate for single and multi-engine aircraft and also flies as a copilot in several Cessna Citation jets. Having flown into many airports throughout Oklahoma, he can give a rare perspective to an aviation project by being a pilot and an engineer. Toby is very familiar with FAA and OAC’s design and construction standards, grant administration procedures, and required reporting. To date, Mr. Baker has worked on over 165 projects at 41 different airports throughout the state of Oklahoma.

GLEnn Boles

Glenn is the manager of the Federal Aviation Administration’s Arkansas/Oklahoma Airport District Office. He is responsible for overseeing and directing implementation of multiple Federal grant programs to include the Airport Improvement Program, Covid Relief programs, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law program and Passenger Facility Charge program. Oversight and implementation of these programs demand constant coordination between his team, local officials and their consultants.

The annual AIP investment in Oklahoma is approximately $50 million dollars. Starting in 2022, BIL allocations for Oklahoma total approximately $27 million dollars. Federal grants provide resources to Airport Sponsors so they can improve safety, meet FAA design standards, preserve existing infrastructure and meet new operational needs.

Glenn has been with the FAA for nearly 30 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Architectural Engineering from the University of Kansas and is a diehard Jayhawk! Glenn and his wife just celebrated their 28th wedding anniversary. They have two children. Their son is a junior at the University of Arkansas and their daughter is in a sophomore in high school. Away from the office, Glenn enjoys taking on house projects or simply hanging out in the garage working on a hot rod.

Geoff Camp

Geoff Camp is the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s State Director for Aerospace and Defense and Director of the ACES Program. He is a licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic and a graduate of the Oklahoma State University Aviation Program where he received a BS in Aviation Science with an emphasis in Technical Services and Management. He started his 29 year career as an Engine Maintenance Technician I the USAF with roles of increasing responsibility with companies such as GE Aviation, Textron, and FAR 145 licensed MRO facilities. Geoff is passionate about Advanced Aerospace, Aerospace Workforce Development, and Advanced Manufacturing technologies.

Shawn Chittum, C.m., A.C.E.

Mr. Chittum has over 24 years of experience in the aviation field with 14 years in direct airfield operations roles. Prior to joining TAIT, Mr. Chittum was an Airside/Landside Operations Manager with the Houston Airport System. Mr. Chittum earned his commercial pilots license, flight instructor license, and associate degree from Spartan School of Aeronautics at Tulsa Riverside Airport in Tulsa Oklahoma. Mr. Chittum then went on to complete is Bachelor of Science degree in Aviation with a minor in Aviation Safety from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He has also received his Certified Member designation form the American Association of Airports Executives, as well as designation as an Airport Certified Member for operations. In addition to his professional experience, Mr. Chittum has also served on local corporate advisory boards, civic organizations, and as chairman of charitable events in the Houston area.

Keith Clark

Keith Clark is the Lead Quality Control & Technical Rep at Phillips 66® Aviation whose responsibilities include managing the Aviation Fuel Quality Assurance Program. This is Keith’s 40th year at Phillips 66 and during this time he has held various roles within marketing, customer services, sales, accounting, and lubricants. He is a regular guest speaker at National Air Transportation Association (NATA) Quality Control Trainings, Facet Filtration Trainings, Gammon Technical Trainings, and has spoken at various State Aviation Conferences. By working closely with the Aviation Industry, Keith has helped raise awareness to a Phillips 66 Aviation campaign called “Save a Life – Verify Fuel Type”, which helps educate Pilots and FBO’s on the importance of proper communication and verification during a fuel order and ways to help prevent mistakes that could lead to an aircraft misfueling.

Kelly Fincannon, P.E.

Kelly Fincannon began working for the Aeronautics Commission in September of 2021 as the agency’s Chief Airport Engineer. His focus is on airport planning, design, construction, and project management with a mission to provide continued development and improvement of the Oklahoma Airport System, working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration, airports, consultants, and construction contractors.

His 38 years of related work experience includes office management, staff management, regional financial oversight, business development, client negotiation, project management, engineering design, bidding services, construction administration, construction observation, grant administration, master planning, and capital improvement plans. His airport experience spans civil, military, commercial, and general aviation airports as well as other civil infrastructure projects including highways, streets, drainage, water lines, sewer lines, and water resources projects. He holds professional registrations in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Arkansas, and Missouri.

Kelly earned an MS and BS in Civil Engineering from Oklahoma State University. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association.

Thomas Galloway 

Thomas Galloway came to the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission in June of 2020. Before coming to the Commission, Thomas worked as an Operations Specialist at the Crater Lake – Klamath Regional Airport in Klamath Falls, Oregon; in addition to a prior background in the oil and gas industry. Thomas is an active member of the aviation community as a private pilot in both gliders and powered aircraft as well as hang gliding. Thomas’ educational background includes a Bachelor of Science form Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Campus, and Certified Member and Airport Certified Employee Designations from the American Association of Airport Executives.

As an Aviation Program Manager, he is responsible for 5010-1 Master Record updates by conducting pavement and safety/standard inspections at Oklahoma’s public-use, general aviation airports. Thomas assists with developing the Airport Construction Program (ACP) and updates to the Oklahoma Airport System Plan (OASP). He also conducts airspace zoning reviews and prepares related permitting documents in accordance with the Aircraft Pilot and Passenger Protection Act (APPPA).

Alexis Higgins, A.A.E. 

Ms. Higgins has been with the Tulsa Airports Improvement Trust for over 20 years, and was named Chief Executive Officer in March 2019 after serving previously as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Director of Marketing & Community Relations. As Chief Executive Officer, she develops organizational policy, administers all activities associated with the operation of Tulsa International Airport and Tulsa Riverside Airport, and sets the organization’s annual and strategic business plans. She graduated cum laude from the University of Tulsa Business School, where she was named Outstanding Marketing Graduate, with a degree in Marketing and double minors in Management and Russian Language. She achieved the professional designation of Accredited Airport Executive from the American Association of Airport Executives in June 2010. In addition to her work at the airport, she serves on the advisory boards of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program and Tulsa Community College’s aviation program. She also actively supports Challenge Air for Kids and serves on their Tulsa Fly Day event committee.

Randy Huff

I joined the army in 1989 and was inducted at the Oklahoma City MEPS center in the Federal building that was destroyed in the bombing. Thought I was going straight off to see the world but was sent to Fort Sill for basic training. I am rated in the UH 1 Huey, the AH 1 Cobra, the AH 64A Apache, and the AH 64D Longbow. I ended up it around 5600 military rw hours, around 5000 of that was in the 64 A&D. Around 2500 of those hours were combat time. I had 7 deployments starting with Desert Storm in 1990 and ending with Afghanistan 2011. I retired from the Army after 24 years at Ft. Campbell, KY where I still live.

My presentation will cover a little about my start in aviation, attack helicopter tactics and will mostly cover Operation Anaconda. Operation Anaconda started in March 2002 during the initial invasion of Afghanistan and lasted for 13 days. The battle cost the lives of 15 soldiers. Two Medals of Honor were awarded for the battle.

Lisa Jewett

Lisa M. Jewett has served as the airport manager at Grove Regional Airport in Grove, Oklahoma since 2009. She has led the airport through significant growth and development in the last thirteen years. In addition to a new, five thousand (5,000) square foot terminal building, she has been responsible for overseeing the development of the west side of the airport where new taxilanes and hangars have been constructed.

She is responsible for the financial planning, implementing and coordinating the day-to-day operations of the airport in accordance with the goals of the Grove Municipal Airport Managing Authority.

Lisa has served as a past president of Oklahoma Airport Operator’s Association as well as a board director. She has also served in city government for over 20 years, including Mayor and Police Commissioner of her town in Fairland, Oklahoma.

Lisa’s goals are to work in helping further community relationships with the aviation community, moving the airport on to the next level of excellence together.

Paula KEdy, M.A. ED

Paula Kedy is a life-long educator, most recently serving as the Executive Director of Academics and Instruction for the Ada City School District. Kedy was named the Oklahoma Supreme Court Teacher of the Year in 2004 and has also been recognized as a finalist for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. She is a past president of the Oklahoma Council of Teachers of English and currently serves on the national steering committee for the AOPA High School You Can Fly program. Kedy has partnered with aviation business and industry leaders in the implementation of The Sky is Not the Limit, the Ada City School District's district-wide aviation program and currently works across the state to strengthen aviation education on behalf of the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission in her role as their Aerospace & Aviation Education Program Coordinator. Kedy may be reached at 580.436.9223 regarding aerospace education initiatives and the agency's Aviation Education Grant Program.

Kelly Maddoux

Kelly Maddoux is a Project Manager/Senior Airport Planner with Mead & Hunt, located in their Tulsa Oklahoma office. Kelly has over 33 years of airport master planning and environmental planning experience. His educational background is in environmental design obtaining his degree from the University of Oklahoma. During his career he has served as project manager, senior planner, or environmental specialist for various aviation related projects across the United States. Typical projects have included: airport master plans and terminal area plans, environmental studies, Part 150 noise studies, site evaluation and selection studies, and development programs at airports ranging from general aviation up to and including medium-hub air carriers.

In addition to his comprehensive understanding of airports and the airport planning process, Kelly has extensive knowledge and expertise in airport forecasting, runway length requirements, analyzing airfield geometric layouts, resolving non-standard airfield dimensional criteria and land use compatibility issues within Runway Protection Zones (RPZs). He is technically well-versed in the preparation of airport environmental programs and has a thorough understanding of FAA technical guidance and regulatory requirements.

Michael Mallonee

Michael Mallonee joined KSA in 2015 as seasoned Aviation Planner with several years of experience encompassing aviation planning, grant contract oversight, airport system planning and regulatory compliance. Previously, Michael managed the aviation planning and education program as a Principal Transportation Planner for the North Central Texas Council of Governments, which serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization for the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In this capacity, he led general aviation airport system planning and long-range development training. Additionally, Michael led the North Texas Aviation Education Initiative to facilitate regional aviation education programs that will sustain the aviation and aerospace workforce in North Texas. Michael served as lead staff to the Air Transportation Technical Advisory Committee comprised of federal, state and local aviation officials. His other accomplishments include completion of a Joint Land Use Study surrounding the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, surface access enhancement to airports, and special event planning for the North Texas Super Bowl XLV. His previous aviation experience also includes working as an aircraft dispatch and weather observer at Southern Illinois Airport in Carbondale, IL, and as a line service technician at Mid America Jet at Owensboro Regional Airport, in Owensboro, KY. Michael is excited to be working with KSA to plan and implement innovative, custom-tailored solutions for both general aviation and commercial airports for the 21st century.

Sean mcGraw, P.E.

For 14 years, Garver’s Oklahoma Aviation Leader Sean McGraw, PE, has dedicated himself to serving our nation’s aviation infrastructure through innovative designs and solutions. In that time, he’s accrued experience in a wide range of settings — from airfield projects to roadway and commercial land development projects, from large airports like Nashville International, Kansas City International, and Will Rogers World Airport, to smaller general aviation airfields — that span Garver’s nationwide footprint. These experiences have allowed him to develop an expertise in civil engineering design and plan development services for municipal, federal, and private clients, particularly when it comes to managing client relations. Now, as Garver’s Oklahoma Aviation Leader, he leverages that unique perspective and expertise in his work across his native Oklahoma, maintaining client relations and managing projects – and ultimately working to solidify Garver’s role as its clients most trusted advisor.

Jeff Mulder, A.A.E.

Jeff has more 30 years of aviation and transportation experience with more than 20 years as an Airport Director at Appleton, Tulsa, Fort Myers and now Oklahoma City. He is a past National Chairman of American Association of Airport Executives, recipient of the AAAE Distinguished Service Award, and Airport Revenue News Airport Director of the Year.

Benyamin Naghavi, P.E.

Benyamin Naghavi, PE, joined the Aeronautics Commission in November 2018 as its Airport Engineer. Ben has a professional background in civil engineering and environmental science and has worked as a geotechnical engineer for more than 4 years. His employment experience includes working with non-destructive testing equipment on pavement and also with pavement design and analysis software. He earned his certificate in “Airfield Pavement Distress Repair and Pavement Inspection Training” from FDOT in 2019. His expertise in PAVER and ArcGIS facilitates and maintains the efficiency of the Airport Pavement Management System.

Jeff Seymour

Jeff Seymour serves as the Executive Vice-President for Economic Development for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber. In this role he leads the Chamber’s effort to expand the regional economy through new business recruitment, providing support to existing businesses and entrepreneurs and meeting the talent and workforce needs of current and future employers.

Prior to serving at the Chamber, Jeff served as Executive Director of the Franklin County Development Council, a county-wide economic development organization in the greater Kansas City region and the Executive Director of the Blackwell Chamber of Commerce and Blackwell Industrial Authority in Blackwell, OK. Jeff also worked at the Ponca City Development Authority.

Jeff lives in Northern Oklahoma City with his wife Natasha and daughter Emmaline. He is an avid biker and traveler and is graduate of Oklahoma State University and Northern Oklahoma College with degrees in economics and international business. Jeff holds the status of a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council.

Sandra Shelton

Sandra Shelton joined the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission in April 2016 as the Aviation Education Coordinator & Government Affairs Liaison. She assumed the responsibilities as the Communications and Government Affairs Coordinator a few months later. She was promoted to Government Relations and Communications Manager in 2021 and is accountable for the marketing and communication and legislative policy development efforts for the agency. In addition to tactical aviation marketing, she directs social and print media, branding, advertising and website development. She manages and oversees events, content writing, legislative research and development, policy development, speech writing, video vignettes and document layout/design.

Able to leverage over 24 years of continued education, training, technical expertise and hands-on private sector and state civil service experience in communications with a focus in government affairs, she is a native of Yukon and attended Oklahoma State University’s Oklahoma City campus. Hired in 1997 as a legislative assistant in the Oklahoma House of Representatives for State Representative Ray McCarter, (D) Marlow, her nine-year tenure includes clerking for Representatives Bill Nations, Clay Pope, Wallace Collins, Mike Ervin and Congressman Dan Boren. Recruited by the Senate Republican Leadership in 2004 by then Freshman Senator Don Barrington, she also was the interim assistant to Senator Eddie Fields, Senator Dan Newberry, and Senator Patrick Anderson.

Peter Van Pelt, A.A.E. 

Peter Van Pelt brings decades of airport experience to the clients he serves. Peter has managed seven airports in his 21-year management career from the largest of large and to the smallest of small. Peter’s experience includes managing Stillwater Regional and Grand Lake Regional Airports during his management tenure. He has managed and/or provided senior technical leadership for over 50 airport planning programs since 2001. His areas of expertise include airport planning, airport development, operations and management, public outreach and regulatory compliance. Peter has been involved in virtually every aspect of the airport business and has experienced many firsts in the business, including as the Founding President of the Oklahoma Airport Operators Association and Co-Founder of the SCC/AAAE Accreditation Academy. Peter excels at helping people achieve and use his experiences to teach and assist others find their path. He provides senior support to our airport planning assignments and delivers strategic and organizational leadership with a focus on satisfaction and going beyond client expectations. Peter received his Education Bachelor of Science, Aviation Management, from the University of Central Missouri; Graduate Studies, Fontbonne University.

Nick Young

Nick Young was named Airports Division Manager for the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission in August 2021. Young joined the Oklahoma Aeronautics Commission in October 2019 as an Aviation Program Manager. As head of the Division he will be responsible for the agency’s many airport programs including the 5010 airport safety and standards inspection program at Oklahoma’s public-use, general aviation airports as well the airport pavement management program. Young will also oversee the development and execution of the agency’s 5-year Airport Construction Program (ACP) which provides federal and state grant funding for airport infrastructure and updates to the Oklahoma Airport System Plan (OASP). Other activities within the Division include airspace zoning reviews and related permitting authority in accordance with the Aircraft Pilot and Passenger Protection Act (APPPA), overseeing military training airspace regulations within Title 17, airport grant administration, and outreach for operational/technical support at Oklahoma’s 108 airports within the public airport system.