Airport Experience® News - ACDBE Issue 2026

Airport Experience News (AXN) is facing many of these same dynamics. While the company has long relied on established industry leaders to help shape its reporting and position within the industry – and will continue to do so – AXN is also seeking perspectives from emerging professionals. Their insights into the industry’s biggest challenges, as well as how AXN and the AX Conference can evolve to better support their informational and networking needs, will help guide the company’s future direction. Enter AXN’s first-ever Next Gen Collective, a carefully curated cohort of industry professionals nominated by their colleagues not only for their achievements in the field, but their forward-looking perspectives on what’s needed to sustain and grow successful brands and commercial programs. To launch the Collective, AXN reached out to several industry leaders, asking for nominations from their teams or the industry at large. Those nominees – six airport representatives and six concessions representative – shared their initial thoughts on moving the industry and AXN forward in a December meeting. This spring, AXN formalized the group into the AX Next Gen Collective. The airport representatives in this inaugural cohort of AX Next Gen Collective members are Vatana Kang, program manager at San Diego County Regional Airport Authority and San Diego International Airport (SAN); Bianca Salas, customer experience specialist at Indianapolis Airport Authority and Indianapolis International Airport (IND); Josanne Kennedy, assistant director of concessions at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL); Branden Sowers, senior director of concessions at Denver International Airport (DEN); Kasey Baker, business manager of concessions at Nashville International Airport (BNA); and Austin Barry, airport concessions manager at Tampa International Airport (TPA).

AXN’S NEWLY FORMED NEXT GEN COLLECTIVE MEMBERS

Kasey Baker, Nashville International Airport

Austin Barry, Tampa International Airport

Vatana Kang, San Diego International Airport

Josanne Kennedy, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Alea LaRocque, WHSmith North America

Sal Mendola, Areas USA

Michael Parks, Avolta

Angel Reese, High Flying Foods

Bianca Salas, Indianapolis International Airport

Trish Singh, SSP America

Branden Sowers, Denver International Airport

Meghan Woods, Paradies Lagardère

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AX NEWS JUNE 2026