DOT Secretary Foxx, Ed Rendell Added as Speakers for AAAE Annual Conference

May 8, 2015
The American Association of Airport Executives is pleased to announce several additional speakers for the 87th Annual AAAE Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Philadelphia, Pa., June 7 through 10.

Alexandria, VA - The American Association of Airport Executives is pleased to announce several additional speakers for the 87th Annual AAAE Conference and Exhibition, to be held in Philadelphia, Pa., June 7 through 10.

U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, former mayor of Charlotte, NC, will give a keynote address to attendees on Tuesday, June 9. Former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, who also served as the mayor of Philadelphia, will speak at the Executive Business Breakfast on Wednesday, June 10. The two former mayors both have extensive experience in local government and strongly support infrastructure funding. Foxx and Rendell join political powerhouse couple James Carville and Mary Matalin, who will be giving a keynote speech on Monday, June 8.

The AAAE Conference and Exhibition is the largest such gathering of airport officials in the world, traditionally attracting 2,000 attendees from some 250 airports. This year's annual conference will feature a trade show space covering 67,000 square feet and a 400-square foot Innovation Theater that features the latest and greatest technology in the airport industry. More than 150 exhibitors, including 35 new to the show, have already signed up to participate.

The AAAE annual conference also features numerous educational sessions in each of six different areas designed to help participants with a wide range of airport job duties get the most out of their time. The sessions are tailored to focus on airfield safety, operations and security; federal affairs; finance and economics; general aviation; marketing, customer service and public affairs; and planning and facility management.

The theme of this year's conference, "Bill of Flights," is a nod to both the role Philadelphia has played in our nation's founding and the importance Philadelphia International Airport, the conference host. Attendees will also be able to tour the airport and enjoy the historic landmarks and attractions in Philadelphia.

AAAE will soon be releasing a free app that features a map of the trade show floor, a custom schedule-builder that syncs across all devices, a guide to local attractions in Philadelphia, real-time alerts from AAAE and much more. The app will be totally free and available on iOS and Android devices.

The AAAE annual conference will also feature a chance for attendees to give back to the local community and support aviation scholarships. On Saturday, June 6, attendees can volunteer to help Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia in the final work on ReStore, a second-hand store in South Philadelphia whose profits will be used to build and improve homes for low-income families.

The conference will also feature a silent auction of aviation memorabilia, gift cards, airline and hotel certificates, electronics, jewelry and much more. The proceeds go to the AAAE Foundation, which gives scholarships to students enrolled full time in aviation programs at U.S. colleges and universities. The Foundation, which is one of the largest supporters of higher education in aviation, has awarded more than 2,200 scholarships worth in excess of $3.5 million to date.

For more information about the 87th Annual AAAE Conference and Exhibition, please visit the conference website. You can register to attend here. Reporters interested in covering the conference should contact Adam Snider at (703) 824-0500, extension 195 or [email protected].

ABOUT AAAE: Founded in 1928, AAAE is the world's largest professional organization representing the men and women who work at public-use commercial and general aviation airports. AAAE's 5,000-plus members represent some 850 airports and hundreds of companies and organizations that support the airport industry. Headquartered in Alexandria, Va., AAAE serves its membership through results-oriented representation in Washington, D.C., and delivers a wide range of industry services and professional development opportunities, including training, conferences, and a highly respected accreditation program.