SCHEDULE
Updated: September 17, 2025 | Subject to Change
All Events are at the Atlanta Marriott Airport Gateway Unless Otherwise Noted
Day 2 | Friday, September 19, 2025
7:30 am–12:00 pm
Coat Room
Registration Desk Hours
8:35 am–9:30 am
Salon A-D
ATL Under the Canopy Live Podcast: Women Who Build U.S. Airports — Stories Behind the World’s Busiest Airport
This session highlights the women who design, engineer, manage and deliver the physical transformation of our nation’s airports. It explores the realities of advancing from mid-level to senior leadership, navigating visibility, sponsorship and organizational politics, while showcasing how executives have successfully made that leap. Senior leaders will share lessons learned and strategies that propelled them forward, while mid-level professionals will speak to the obstacles they face today. Together, these conversations offer practical insight and inspiration for those striving to reach the next level and those who have already broken through and can now guide the way.
Hosts:
- Monica Coleman, Interim Director, Marketing, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Jennifer Walters, Executive Communications Writer, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Panel:
- Adrienne Ayers, Assistant General Manager, Planning and Development, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Dana Blackwood, Business Manager, Turner Construction Company
- Corinne Morgan, Project Manager, JE Dunn Construction
- Joy Rohadfox, CEO & President, Rohadfox Construction Control Services Corporation
9:35 am–10:50 am
Salon E-H
Table Talk: Let’s Talk About It
Some of the most helpful conversations in our careers are the ones we rarely make time for or don’t know how to start. This interactive tabletop session moves beyond surface-level discussions of leadership. It delves into the realities that women in aviation face as they rise: managing visibility, finding mentorship, leading while under scrutiny, and balancing authenticity with advancement. Each table will focus on a key discussion prompt or scenario, guided by a conversation starter and a light facilitation structure. Participants will debrief as a large group, walking away with new connections, honest insights and strategies from women who’ve been there or are there now.
Facilitators:
- Elysia Doumbalian, Assistant General Manager, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports, Los Angeles International Airport
- Maryam Khatoon, Talent Pipeline Coordinator, San Francisco International Airport
- Tia Perry, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships & Membership, AMAC
- Jeanette Saunders, Vice President, Education & Advisory Services, AMAC
10:50 am–11:10 am
Networking Break
Sponsored by
11:10 am–11:20 am
Salon A-D
Wellness Break
Facilitator:
- Paige Gaines, Founder, 911 Sane Jane
11:25 am–12:25 pm
Salon A-D
AMAC ALC Fireside Chat
In an era marked by disruption, reinvention and rising expectations, airport leadership demands more than strategy; it calls for vision, courage and adaptability. Angela Gittens, renowned airport leader and former Director General of the Airports Council International, sits down with an all-women panel of airport CEOs who are redefining what it means to lead through change. From infrastructure overhauls and workforce transformation to community engagement, supplier inclusion and climate resilience, these executives share how they’ve navigated pivotal moments and how they’re preparing for what’s next. This isn’t just a conversation about leadership; it’s a masterclass in decision-making under pressure, creating impact that scales and staying grounded through the journey. Whether you’re an emerging leader or an established executive, this session will challenge, inspire and reframe how you think about what it means to lead airports into the future.
Moderator:
- Angela Gittens, President, Schiphol USA
Panel:
- Thella Bowens, Former President & CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority
- Shannetta Griffin, Executive Director & CEO, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
- Cynthia Guidry, Airport Director, Long Beach International Airport
- Cindy Nichol, Director, Airports, Sacramento County Airport System
12:30 pm–1:45 pm
Salon E-H
Lunch & Mandatory Soul Care with P.A.S.S.I.O.N: The Path to Power, Purpose & Connection for Women to Soar
In today’s turbulent climate, where political and organizational instability can feel overwhelming, soul care is no longer optional; it is mandatory. For women in aviation leadership, tending to the inner life becomes the edge that sustains resilience, clarity and purpose. In this session, Authentic Power Strategist Diana Patton introduces her P.A.S.S.I.O.N Framework and Path to Power, Purpose & Connection™ as practical tools for women leaders navigating high-pressure environments. Through real-world storytelling and actionable practices, participants will learn how to ground themselves, reclaim energy and lead authentically. This talk will inspire women to embrace soul care not as self-indulgence but as a leadership imperative so they can soar higher, lead stronger and leave a lasting legacy.
Speaker:
- Diana Patton, CEO, Rise with Diana
2:00 pm–2:10 pm
Salon A-D
Wellness Break
Facilitator:
- Paige Gaines, Founder, 911 Sane Jane
2:15 pm–3:00 pm
Salon A-D
Own Your Value & Negotiate with Power
This high-energy, insight-packed session will empower participants to rethink how they approach negotiation across their career, whether it’s a job offer, performance review, promotion or project opportunity. Participants will learn practical strategies, powerful reframes and real-world language they can use to advocate for compensation, benefits, time and titles that reflect their value. Expect guided prompts, audience-driven examples and an honest look at what holds many women back and how to shift that narrative. You’ll leave with not just new tools, but a new voice for your next ask.
Moderator:
- Adrienne Washington, Vice President, Human Resources, Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority
Panel:
- Kimberly Carlisle, General Counsel, Jackson Municipal Aviation Authority
- Jil Greene, Chief Human Resources Officer, Paradies Lagardère
- Maria Meleandez, Chief of Staff, Denver International Airport
- Tosha Sorenson, Director, CRE Business Optimization, United Airlines
3:05 pm–3:55 pm
Salon A-D
The Financial Side of Career Power
Most professionals focus on their paycheck, but real wealth comes from transforming income into ownership. In this powerful session, nationally recognized wealth coach Deborah Owens unveils her Wealth Acceleration Blueprint, a proven system that helps you stop just earning money and start owning your financial future. This session equips you with the confidence, tools and strategies to turn every career decision into a wealth-building move so you don’t just earn more, you own more. Participants will learn how to unlock the hidden power of workplace benefits like 401(k)s, HSAs and insurance to build wealth while you work; spot overlooked opportunities in HR packages that can boost your net worth; align career moves with wealth goals so every role advances both your leadership and your bottom line; and shift to an ownership mindset, building long-term freedom and a lasting legacy.
Speaker:
- Deborah Owens, CEO, Wealthy U
3:55 pm
Salon A-D
Closing Remarks
- Bridget Biagas, Vice President, Business Development, Hudson by Avolta
- Andre Titus, Senior Manager, Programs & Operations, AMAC