Detailed Agenda: 2026 Wednesday Feb 4

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Sponsored by:  Mappedin + Safe Software + x-Spatial + EPIC Engineering & Consulting

Located at:  Symposium's exhibitor space in front of the presentation salons I - IV

David Tamir, Founder & CEO, SMart AiRport Technologies (SMART) Association

Miami Dade Aviation Department (MDAD)

• Basil Binns, Deputy Director, MDAD
• Maurice Jenkins, Chief Innovation Officer, MDAD
• James St. Louis, Director of Information Technology & Telecommunications, MDAD

Keynote Presenter:   Christiane Bausback, N+P Innovation Design Managing Director & Owner 

Q&A Panel:

• Elad Inbar, CEO, RobotLAB
• Jerry Towler, Robotics Program Director, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)
• Patrick Blattner, CEO & Founder, SOTEREON.AI
• Dr. Prasad Chittaluru, President & CEO, EPIC Engineering & Consulting Group

Description:   

• How can airports innovate without losing the human connection?
• From Service to Systems: The New Design Frontier in Airport Automation
• How can design orchestrate humans, space, and machines into one intelligent system?

Sponsored by:  Mappedin + Safe Software + x-Spatial + EPIC Engineering & Consulting

Located at:  Symposium's exhibitor space in front of the presentation salons I - IV

Moderator:  Christiane Bausback, N+P Innovation Design Managing Director & Owner 

Q&A Panel:

• Johnathan Lewis, Innovation Division Director, Miami Dade Aviation Department
• Doug Wycoff, Director of Digital Solutions & Innovation, Tampa Int'l Airport  
• Dominic Garcia, Innovation & Analytics Senior Project Manager, Denver Int'l Airport
• Jerry Towler, Robotics Program Director, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)

Proposed Solutions:  (Presented by Elad Inbar, CEO, RobotLAB)

• Concierge & Wayfinding
• Mobility Assistance including Luggage
• Deliveries
• Ground Maintenance
• Security

The Airport Robotics Opportunity: Real Capabilities, Underused Today:  Robots can already handle real airport work today, but most airports still are not using them anywhere near their full potential. Inside the terminal, they can support concierge and wayfinding, assist mobility, and help move luggage, while delivery robots run parts and tools to techs in back-of-house areas. Outside, robots can move parts and supplies across the campus and keep grounds maintained with autonomous lawn mowing. Layer in indoor and perimeter security patrols, and the opportunity is clear: the tech is ready now, adoption is what is lagging. 

Moderator:  David Dabscheck, Giant Innovation CEO

Panel:

• Johnathan Lewis, Innovation Division Director, Miami Dade Aviation Department
• Doug Wycoff, Director of Digital Solutions & Innovation, Tampa Int'l Airport  
• Thomas Niland, Innovation & Analytics Senior Project Manager, Denver Int'l Airport
• Jodie Brinkerhoff, Chief Strategy Officer, SOTEREON.AI; Vice Chair, American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Facilities & Technical Services Committee; former DFW Innovation Vice President

Description:   This session brings together innovation leaders from multiple airports to share how they’ve built their innovation functions, what they’re actually working on, and what it really takes to move ideas from pilots to scaled impact. In this candid conversation, panelists will unpack the “why” behind their structures, the practical challenges they faced, and the lessons they wish they had known earlier. Whether you already have an innovation function, are debating whether you need one, or simply want practical lessons to apply in your own airport, you will leave with concrete models, real-world insights, and ideas you can put to work immediately. 

Location:  Hilton Salon I & II

Description:  Chris Runde, Aviation & Innovation Vice President of Introba, will interview Maurice Jenkins, Chief Innovation Officer of Miami Dade Aviation Department, discussing his nearly 40 years at Miami International Airport advancing technology innovations and overall lessons learned.

Moderator:  David Tamir, SMart AiRport Technologies (SMART) Association CEO

Panel:

• Doug Wycoff, Director of Digital Solutions & Innovation, Tampa Int'l Airport  
• Patrick Blattner, CEO & Founder, SOTEREON.AI
• Chris Runde, Aviation & Innovation Vice President, Introba; ACI-NA AI Working Group Co-Lead
• Admon Shami, Senior Smart Buildings & Technology Consultant, Dar

Moderator:  Undra Patrick, Senior Principal Data Center Services, Introba

Panel:

• James St. Louis, Director of Information Technology & Telecommunications, Miami Dade Aviation Department
• Mike Bryant, Aviation IT Lead Manager, Miami Dade Aviation Department
• Norvell Barber, Aviation Director of Technology, Charlotte Douglas Int'l Airport
• Danny Palakal, Vice President Information Technology, Greater Orlando Aviation Authority [tentative]

Sponsored by:  Mappedin + Safe Software + x-Spatial + EPIC Engineering & Consulting

Located at:  Symposium's exhibitor space in front of the presentation salons I - IV

Moderator:  John White, Airport Spatial Strategy Lead, x-Spatial

Q&A Panel:

• Johnathan Lewis, Innovation Division Director, Miami Dade Aviation Department
• Haley Cerri, Geospatial Services Manager, Charlotte Douglas Int'l Airport
• Thomas Niland, Innovation & Analytics Senior Project Manager, Denver Int'l Airport
• Marshall O'Connor, Virtual Ramp Control Center Manager, Orlando Int'l Airport

Proposed Solutions: 

• AI-Powered Part 139 Safety & Security Inspections: From FOD Detection to Robotic Removal presented by Mark Lester,  Senior Aviation & Technology Advisor, Silent Falcon UAS Technologies
• AI-Powered Overwatch: Intelligent Infrastructure for Safer Runways and Public Spaces presented by Patrick Blattner, CEO & Founder, SOTEREON.AI
• AI-Powered Apron Computer Vision by Jason Fogelman, Vice President, ASSAIA

Moderator:  Dr. Aaron Glassman, College of Business Department Chair, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Q&A Panel:

• Mike Bryant, Aviation IT Lead Manager, Miami Dade Aviation Department
• Ted Cisine,  Senior Business Systems Manager, Charlotte Douglas Int'l Airport
• David Jitechian, Real Estate Officer, Los Angeles World Airports
• Jodie Brinkerhoff, Chief Strategy Officer, SOTEREON.AI; Vice Chair, American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) Facilities & Technical Services Committee; former DFW Innovation Vice President

Proposed Solutions: 

• Airport AI Expert Personas presented by Rich Griffith, Nowlabs Analytics
• AI Inclusion for Airport User Issues Reporting presented by Don Murray, Co-Founder and CEO of Safe Software
• AI Agents for BIM Models presented by Jorge Quiroz of PDBM on-behalf of Jeff Chen, Director of Digital Transformation, Symetri USA

In preparation for Happy Hour with Exhibitors and the Awards Dinner Banquet