Airport Experience® News - Conference Issue 2025

SPEAKERS & MODERATORS

ALVIN BROWN Alvin Brown is the president of Gideon Toal Management Services LLC During his time at Gideon Toal, Brown has expanded the company and utilized a social entrepreneur

PAMELA DECHANT Pamela DeChant is the senior vice president of concessions at Denver International Airport (DEN), providing oversight to concessions development and the

model to open a concession location – The Bridge Travel Essentials at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) - partnering with The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center in an effort to address the social issue of homelessness Prior to his time at Gideon Toal, Brown served in leadership roles at Human Capital Management Concepts LLC ; San Juan College; Worldwide Flight Services and AMR, the parent company of American Airlines at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)

airport’s commercial master plan Prior to joining DEN, DeChant spent more than 20 years in the Colorado business community at the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, Colorado Travel and Tourism Authority, and as a retail and manufacturing small business owner

ANDREW DURKEE Andrew Durkee is the airport concessions manager of the Sacramento County Department of Airports at Sacramento International Airport (SMF), leading a collaborative

KEVIN BURKE Kevin Burke is the president and chief executive officer of the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) Since he joined ACI-NA, Burke has expanded

concessions team that focuses on developing strategic partnerships, creating inclusive proposals, prioritizing robust community engagement, and negotiating agreements that support both the airport’s economic viability and guest satisfaction Prior to his role at SMF, Durkee worked as senior real estate manager at John Burns Real Estate Consulting, research associate at Hanley Wood Market Intelligence and accounting assistant at Delta King Hotel and Restaurant

ACI-NA’s reach and influence as the Voice of Airports® in North America by amplifying the important role airports play in our everyday lives, unifying the industry behind shared priorities, and advancing a common cause with non traditional allies Prior to ACI-NA, Burke served as president and CEO of the American Apparel and Footwear Association (AAFA) and led government affairs efforts for Food Distributors International, the American Bakers Association, and the National Association of Broadcasters

ATIF ELKADI Atif Elkadi is the chief executive officer of the Ontario International Airport (ONT) In this capacity, he orchestrates day-to-day operations, spearheads an

JUDITH BYRD Judith Byrd is the president and CEO of Byrd Retail Group, LLC (BRG), a brand representation and investment company involved in the ownership, management and operation

expansive capital development program, oversees revenue management, finance, administrative functions, marketing and communications, and information technology, consistently exploring innovative approaches to drive both revenue and passenger growth Prior to his current role, Elkadi served as ONT’s senior director of marketing before progressing to the position of deputy chief executive officer Before joining ONT, Elkadi served in communications roles at Dallas/Fort-Worth International Airport (DFW), and Dubai International Airport (DXB)

of food and beverage outlets at airports throughout the country BRG’s management responsibilities range from brand selection, hiring and training of staff, menu development, product pricing, marketing and promotions, to performance reviews and operational oversight Prior to founding BRG, Byrd founded airport consulting firm Unison Consulting Group She currently serves as the vice chair of the board of the Airport Restaurant and Retail Association (ARRA)

KAREN ELLIS Karen Ellis is the chief customer experience officer for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) Ellis has 27 years of aviation experience in leadership and

CATALINA “KIKA” COLLAZO Catalina “Kika” Collazo is the vice president of operations and business development at Newslink, where she oversees retail and food and beverage operations across

customer service by serving with the following airports: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, San Antonio Airport System, and the Houston Airport System Ellis currently serves as an at-large board member and event planning chair for the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) and as a member of the Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience Steering Committee with Airport Council International-North America (ACI-NA)

diverse markets nationwide Collazo values the history and processes that support operations, balancing a respect for tradition with the implementation of new systems and technologies to drive growth and efficiency Her leadership approach focuses on optimizing processes and enhancing customer experiences by fostering collaboration amongst the NewsLink team across all levels Prior to her current role, Collazo served as the organization’s business development manager and director of business development

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AX NEWS MARCH 2025