Airport Experience® News - Conference Issue 2026

SPEAKERS & MODERATORS

CHAD MAKOVSKY Chad Makovsky is the City of Phoenix aviation director, providing executive leadership and strategic direction for the Phoenix system of airports, including Sky Harbor

BENNETT NAST Bennett Nast is the managing director and founder of Interactive Airport Intelligence TM LLC (IAI), a company whose mission is to empower airports and

International Airport (PHX), Phoenix Deer Valley Airport (DVT) and Phoenix Goodyear Airport (GYR) In his role, Chad leads one of America’s largest airports with 24 airlines providing nonstop service to more than 140 destinations across North America and Europe Chad returned to Phoenix after serving as the executive vice president of operations at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) Prior to DFW, Chad held a variety of roles with the City of Phoenix Aviation Department, Burbank Airport (BUR), John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and America West Airlines over his 35-year professional career

their stakeholders with interactive business intelligence tools designed to optimize operations and business planning Prior to his current role with IAI, Bennett most recently represented airports serving Denver, Milwaukee, and Providence, specializing in air service development, business intelligence, and data analytics Earlier in his career, Bennett developed experience in airline pricing and revenue management with American Airlines, route and schedule planning with United Airlines, and airport industry internships at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) and C & S Companies

MOOKIE PATEL Mukesh “Mookie” Patel serves as the director of aviation for San José Mineta International Airport (SJC), managing a San José City department with an annual operating

GEORGE MBOYA As CEO of SSP America, George Mboya’s remit covers the USA, Canada and South America Mboya joined SSP America in 2017, initially as senior vice president and corporate controller, before assuming the role of chief

budget of $176 million, overseeing a 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Program budgeted for $614 million, and leading more than 200 employees responsible for SJC’s safe and efficient operations Prior to joining SJC, Patel was the business and finance chief officer at Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS); chief aviation administration officer and assistant director of aviation at San Antonio International Airport (SAT); senior vice president of airline affairs and commercial property at Denver International Airport (DEN); the airport affairs corporate real estate manager at Alaska Airlines; business consulting practice manager at AvAirPros and served as the manager of commercial development at Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

financial officer and deputy chief executive officer Prior to joining SSP America, Mboya worked at Compass Group, in both the American and Canadian markets, as well as at Sodexo Canada

RODERICK MCOWAN Roderick (Roddy) McOwan serves as chief development officer with WHSmith North America, incorporating In Motion Entertainment Group and The Marshall Retail

Group He has gained 35+ years of experience in leading the expansion and growth of both retail and food and beverage concepts and brands across International and North American Travel locations including airports, train stations and highway locations For approximately 14 of those years, Roddy has been instrumental in leading the company’s growth from three stores in LAS when he joined in 2012, to today where WHSmith North America has presence in 49 airports across Canada and The United States

ROBERT PATERSON Robert Paterson is vice president operators for Patrick King Woollen Company He a designer and brand specialist with a focus on heritage branding and storytelling Drawing

on 30 years of experience in development of retail and lifestyle brands, he creates timeless identities rooted in tradition and craft with a modern edge, using plaid/tartan elements to incorporate the brand identities for corporate clients; licensed NHL teams; colleges and universities; museums; national parks and a range of souvenir markets

SHERIDAN MORDUE Sheridan Mordue is the founder and CEO of Hip & Humble, a leading women’s lifestyle and gift retailer known for its distinctive curation and experiential approach to shopping Sheridan launched the brand more than 25 years ago with

CHARLENE REYNOLDS Charlene Reynolds currently serves as the airport director of John Wayne Airport (JWA) Reynolds manages all activities related to the airport’s operation and is directly

her sister after graduating from the University of Utah, transforming a single boutique in Salt Lake City’s vibrant 9th & 9th district into a nationally recognized retail concept In 2021, she negotiated a North American licensing agreement that brought Hip & Humble stores into major airports across the U S and Canada—an expansion that now includes ten contracts in premier international hubs such as Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Charlotte, Salt Lake City, and Toronto

responsible for six airport divisions, including business development, finance, maintenance, operations, and public affairs Reynolds formerly held the position of chief commercial officer for the Houston Airport System where she led the airport system’s revenue-generating entities, including the in-terminal sales, parking and ground transportation, airline affairs, real estate development and leasing business units Prior to that, Reynolds served as the assistant aviation director of business planning for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX) and as the interim aviation services director during the pandemic from October 2020 through March 2021

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AX NEWS MARCH 2026