|
Arizona Airports Association- Home
- Events
- 2024 Annual "Walter Burg" Fall Conference
- 2024 Annual "Walter Burg" Fall Conference Speakers and Moderators
2024 Annual "Walter Burg" Fall Conference Speakers and Moderators
October 2-3, 2024
Conference Speakers |
Tony Bianchi
Tony Bianchi is currently a Program Manager- Planner with the FAA’s Phoenix Airport District Office (ADO). Prior to joining the FAA, he served as the Planning Manager for the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport Authority for 10 years getting the opportunity to work on a wide variety of airport planning and development projects. Tony is a proud 2-time Sun Devil graduate where he completed his graduate and undergraduate degrees. Tony is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.), is a Certified Planner with his AICP designation, and is also certified as a Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP). He has also served on the Town of Gilbert’s Planning & Zoning Commission. Don Leffler
Matthew Munden
Jenny Watts
Jenny Watts, C.M. is a senior aviation planner in Dibble’s Airport Development business unit based in Phoenix, Arizona. She has more than 14 years of comprehensive experience in the aviation industry related to airport management, corporate aviation operations, aviation education, and aviation planning consulting. As a senior planner with Dibble, Jenny assists in creating traditional aviation planning, specialty, and environmental documents for our airport clients at general aviation and commercial service airports throughout the Southwest. Her experience as an aviation planning consultant spans nine years, three of which have been spent at Dibble in her current role. Jenny has a Master of Aeronautical Science degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Worldwide in aviation management and a Bachelor of Science from Arizona State University in aeronautical management technology. She is also a Certified Member (C.M.) of the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). She is a native of Arizona and resides in Gilbert. Jeff Webbe
Jeff Webbe’s foray into the aviation industry comes after a successful 20 year career in law enforcement. After retiring from the Phoenix Police Department in 2017, Jeff immersed himself in the field of aviation. For several years, Jeff was the Airport Administrator for the Buckeye Municipal Airport where he managed all facets of the busy general aviation airport. For several years, Jeff served on AzAA’s Board of Directors and in 2023, Jeff became an airport grants manager with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Aeronautics Group. In this current role, Jeff processes and manages state grants for federal and state projects for over 20 airports within the state of Arizona. Jeff is a Certified Member (CM) with the American Association of Airport Executives, has two ACE certifications in both Planning and Environmental and Operations and is in the third and final phase in obtaining his Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) designation. Jeff holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate and is a Certified Flight Instructor. | Corey Harper
Mr. Harper is currently the Airport Business Development Executive for Veregy. He is an active member of 15 state aviation associations including AZAA. He has a diverse and accomplished career in the Aviation industry. For over 25 years, Mr. Harper has strived to assist airports nationwide in implementing their development and sustainability goals through various job roles. His previous background as an aviation design technician and planner provides him extensive knowledge to assist airports with innovative solutions to their development needs. While working with the client, Mr. Harper and team create a unique plan for each aviation facility that is not only achievable, but also provides for optimal savings and the highest potential of new revenue generation for the airport. Chelsea McGuire
Jason Musselman
Jason Musselman is a Principal at Armstrong Consultants and leads all airport services in Arizona as the Arizona State Program Manager. Jason joined Armstrong in 2009, has 21 years of airport engineering and construction administration experience on airport projects throughout the eastern and western United States. Mr. Musselman has managed and designed a variety of projects, both large and small, on general aviation and commercial service airports. Carmen Rose
Carmen Rose, P.E. (Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico) is the State Airport Engineer working for the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), Multimodal Planning Division (MPD) – Aeronautics Group. Carmen graduated with her BSE in Civil Engineering from Arizona State University (ASU) in 2010, and her MSE in Transportation Engineering from ASU in 2011. Her career in the airport industry began in 2006 with a three-year internship at Z&H Engineering while she was still in college. For three and half years during college, she worked on pavement and drainage designs for airport development projects in Arizona, including the development of construction drawings for the ADOT funded program. Since graduating from ASU, Carmen has worked for three different firms transitioning from Engineer-In-Training to Project Engineer to Sr. Project Manager, with a 90% focus on airport development projects across the Southwest US. Carmen started her current position at ADOT in April 2024. She oversees the APMS program as well as the annual ACIP submissions. Her role is to work closely with the airport grant managers and airport sponsors to ensure airports are in compliance with their grant agreements. This includes completing the 30% and 100% engineering design reviews. Mike Williams, A.A.E., C.A.E.
Mike Williams represents the Federal Aviation Administration as the Manager of the Phoenix Airports District Office. The ADO serves airports in the States of Arizona and Nevada. Prior to joining the FAA, Mr Williams served as the Director of Airports for the County of San Bernardino, (CA), where he oversaw a system of six (6) general aviation airports. Prior to that, Mr Williams was employed as the Development Manager for the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport Authority. Mr Williams began his airport management career in 1992 with the City of Palm Springs, California, serving in various capacities with the Palm Springs International Airport. Ultimately, Mr Williams served as the Deputy Director of Aviation – Operations where he had oversight for operations, maintenance, security and capital development for the Airport. Mr Williams is a 1990 graduate of Arizona State University, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Management Technology: Airway Science Management. Mike is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.), having received this distinction in 1998 from the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). Mike is a Certified Airport Executive (C.A.E.) from the Southwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (SWAAAE). Mike is a past member of the Arizona Airports Association and SWAAAE. Mike is a past Board Member of SWAAAE and the AAAE Board of Examiners. |
Matthew Munden joined ADOT in June 2018 and the Aeronautics Group within ADOT in October 2019. He serves as the state technical and administrative authority for airport design and construction grants. He provides engineering and administrative inspection, audit, and review and oversight of both ADOT airport development grant project, and for the Airport Pavement Management System (APMS). Prior to employment with ADOT, he earned his Master of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the University of Arizona where he also worked as an intern for Dr. Wu at the Smart Transportation Lab, located in the U of A’s Civil Engineering Department. 
Chelsea
McGuire is the Assistant Director for External Affairs at the Water
Infrastructure Finance Authority of Arizona. At WIFA, Chelsea oversees
legislative relations, media, and all other external communication,
highlighting the agency’s financial investments in effective water
augmentation, conservation, reuse, and quality actions. Chelsea holds a
Bachelor’s Degree in Agribusiness Economics from the University of Arizona and
Law Degree from Regent University School of Law. She has extensive experience
in state and federal natural resources policy, especially relating to water
rights and water use. An Arizona native who was raised on a farm in Pinal County,
she previously served as the Director of Government Relations for the Arizona
Farm Bureau, leading the organization’s lobbying efforts on issues including
water rights, environmental regulations, and tax policy.
.jpg)
Conference Moderators
Jacob Allen
He began his career in the airline industry holding supervisory positions in customer service and ground operations for major Part 121 air carriers. He then served as the Airport Coordinator for Sedona-Oak Creek Airport Authority where his responsibilities included assisting the Airport Manager to plan, direct, and coordinate airport operations. He has also gained valuable experience working as an Airport Planner for an airport consulting firm that specializes in Airport Master Planning and all types of other airport planning/environmental studies for airports of all sizes and service levels. Ryan Reeves
Born into a General Aviation family, he took his first ride at three and is an aircraft owner, following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. He began managing aircraft and flight crew support services in 1995. Outside of aviation, Mr. Reeves has instructed at both the high school and university levels and served as an administrator for program and course development. Mr. Reeves is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and holds a Masters Degree from the University of Illinois. Mr. Reeves is the current Vice-President of Research for the Arizona Aviation Historical Group, an organization focused on the celebration and preservation of our state’s aviation history. He has served as the President of the Arizona Airports Association and the Phoenix Wing of the American Aviation History Association. He is a member of the Eighth Air Force Next Generation Association, the Foundation of the U.S. Air Force Museum, the Arizona Aerospace Foundation, the Experimental Aircraft Association, The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, and a former docent at the Pima Air & Space Museum, as well as a public lecturer on a variety of aviation historical subjects. He is currently conducting research for a text on the history of Naval Air Facility Litchfield Park and a book on the heritage of U.S. flight crews in WWII. Scott Rinkenberger 
Scott Rinkenberger is the Operations Manager at KCHD – Chandler Municipal Airport since June 2022. He is responsible for the safe and efficient airside and landside operations of the airport. Scott started his aviation career as the General Manager of the Journeys Aviation Academy in Colorado. He was formerly the Deputy Airport Manager in Juneau, Alaska where he was responsible for airport security, operations, airfield maintenance, snow removal / ice control, emergency services and FAA Part 139 compliance. Scott has also worked in flight operations as an airline dispatcher and was a flight operations coordinator as a military contractor in Kandahar, Afghanistan. He is also retired Colorado State Trooper, a pilot and an avid motorcyclist and safety instructor. Zenia Cornejo | Cameron Atkins
Dave Reffner
Prior to working as an Airport Manager, David was the Airport Operations Technician for the KCGZ – Casa Grande Municipal from August 2012 to June 2018. He worked on the management of airport lease agreements and was the acting FBO operations. David is ACE Fuel Safety Supervisor Certified and NATA Safety 1st Professional Line Service Technician. David is also a Reserve Firefighter II/EMT/SRT and has been since September 2013. He provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the citizens of Rural Pinal County. He is Firefighter 1 & 2 certified and is a certified Arizona DHS Emergency Medical Technician. David currently attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is in the Aviation Business Administration Program. He previously attended the Central Arizona College from 2013 to 2014 in the Emergency Medical Services Program. He also holds a Business major and Fire Science minor from Northland Pioneer College.
Ed Rose
Edward started his career in the U.S. Air Force; he won’t say how long ago…next he secured a job as an Airport Maintenance Mechanic at his hometown airport, Hudson Valley Regional. After a few years of full-time work and full-time studies, he advanced into airport management as Director of Airport Operations and later as the Airport’s Director. Edward led teams on a myriad of improvement projects. After 33 years, he departed New York for an Operations Manager position at the Sedona Airport. Shortly after arriving Edward was made Sedona’s Interim Airport Manager and subsequently, the Airport Manager. Edward has served state aviation organizations in the past. He has gone through the Chairs of the New York Airport Manager’s Association representing the Port Authority of NYNJ, the Capital District Transportation Authority, and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority as well as numerous other Airports in the state. As NYAMA President, he leads a team that worked, successfully, to establish a state aviation grant program.
Edward advanced a number of projects during his career touching on almost every aspect of airport operation. Some of the more interesting projects have been: regrading and recapping of an abandoned landfill/Superfund site; over 330 acres of tree obstruction removal, including EAs and Supplemental EAs, endangered species habitat and land set-asides; relocation of a congregation/historic church and chapel from Part 77 intrusion (this included SHPO coordination, dismantling and rebuilding on a new foundation); and establishing a new turf runway for taildragger practice. In Sedona, his first action was to develop a Water Master Plan to address needs identified in the Airport’s Master Plan. Next, improve drainage features adjacent to the runway. Third, replacement of an aging fuel storage facility.
Edward is also on the Board of Directors for the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. He is a big believer in staff development and have educated staff on offerings through AAAE. |
Jacob Allen is the Airport Manager for the Show Low Regional Airport. Jacob has 12 years of experience working in the Arizona aviation industry and has been a member of AzAA since 2016. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management and Flight from Southern Illinois University. Jacob is an FAA certified commercial pilot and has gained experience in a wide variety of professional positions.
Mr. Reeves is the Airport Manager at Chandler Municipal Airport. His posting at Chandler comes after two-years as the Airport Coordinator of Buckeye Municipal Airport, which followed a 10-year tenure as General Manager of the Lux Air Jet Centers FBO at the Phoenix-Goodyear Airport.
David Reffner has been the Airport Manager at the KCGZ – Casa Grande Municipal since June 2018. His primary duties include planning and directing the daily operations of a busy general aviation airport; developing short and long term planning and goals for the Airport; promoting airport development through marketing and development of airport policies and procedures. He also works on ACIP preparation and presentation and grant/project management. He coordinates with FAA, ADOT and other agencies on Airport and Air Transportation matters and has been affiliated with AzAA since 2015.