2026 Minnesota Airports Conference: Program

9:00 a.m.–noon—Exhibitor Check-In and Booth Set-up (Grand Ballroom, Gull Lake Center)

9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.—Attendee Registration and Check-In (Atrium, Gull Lake Center)

10:30–11:30 a.m.—Opening and Attendee Welcome (Norway Center)

11:30 a.m.–noon—Break

Noon–1:30 p.m.—Lunch with Exhibitors (Grand Ballroom, Gull Lake Center)

1:30–2:15 p.m.—Keynote Speaker Eric Perkins, Turn Decisions into Destiny: Overcoming Obstacles by Just ‘Hitting Send’ (Norway Center)

2:15–3:00 p.m.—MCOA Annual Membership Board Meeting (Norway Center)

3:00–3:10 p.m.—Break

3:10–4:10 p.m.—General Session: MnDOT Update (Norway Center)

4:10–5:10 p.m.—General Session: BlackCat 101—Grants, CIP, Payments, and Reports for Minnesota Airports (Norway Center)

5:10–5:30 p.m.—Break

5:30–7:00 p.m.—Exhibit Hall Social Mixer (Grand Ballroom, Gull Lake Center)

7:30–9:00 a.m.—Breakfast with Exhibitors (Grand Ballroom, Gull Lake Center)

7:30 a.m.–2:00 p.m.—Network with Colleagues and Exhibitors (Grand Ballroom, Gull Lake Center)

9:00–10:00 a.m.—General Session: FAA Update (Norway Center)

10:00–10:10 a.m.—Break

10:05–11:00 a.m.—Concurrent Session: MATA Annual Meeting (Norway Center)

10:10–11:00 a.m.—Concurrent Session, Technical Breakout: Obstruction Removal—Successes and Challenges (Lake Margaret, Gull Lake Center)

10:10–11:00 a.m.—Concurrent Session, Airport Management Breakout: Above-Ground Storage Tanks and Spill Preparedness (Lake Itasca, Gull Lake Center)

11:00–11:05 a.m.—Break

11:05–11:50 a.m.—Concurrent Session, Technical Breakout: Airfield Lighting Hazards (Lake Margaret, Gull Lake Center)

11:05–11:50 a.m.—Concurrent Session, Airport Management: Effective Stakeholder Communication Strategies for Airports (Lake Itasca, Gull Lake Center)

11:50 a.m.–noon—Break

12:00–1:00 p.m.—Awards Luncheon (Norway Center)

1:00–2:00 p.m.—Dessert and Drawings with Exhibitors (Grand Ballroom, Gull Lake Center)

2:00–2:50 p.m.—General Session: What Pilots Want—A Perspective of Minnesota Airports from Pilots (Norway Center)

2:50–3:00 p.m.—Break

3:00–3:50 p.m.—General Session: Creating a Great Experience at Your Airport (Norway Center)

3:50–4:00 p.m.—Break

4:00–4:50 p.m.—General Session: Hosting an Airport Event (Norway Center)

4:50–5:30 p.m.—Break

5:30–6:30 p.m.—Dinner (Norway Center)

6:30–8:30 p.m.—Bingo and Entertainment (Norway Center)

7:00–8:30 a.m.—Breakfast (Heritage Room, Main Lodge)

8:30–9:30 a.m.—General Session: Metropolitan Airports Commission Presentation Featuring Brian Ryks, Executive Director/CEO (Grand Ballroom, Gull Lake Center)

9:30–10:00 a.m.—General Session: Airport Open Mic (Grand Ballroom, Gull Lake Center)

10:00 a.m.—Wrap-up and Prize Drawing (Grand Ballroom, Gull Lake Center)