Strategy Summit Speakers

Kim Day began leading Denver International Airport (DEN)—the fifth-largest commercial airport in the United States—in April 2008. DEN boasts a robust network of more than 180 destinations served, including an ever-growing list of international destinations. Reappointed to her position as the Chief Executive Officer in 2011 by Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock, she has continued her vision for the region’s primary economic engine.

Since her tenure began, she oversaw an update to the airport’s master plan and set in motion the program that would complete its original vision: the Hotel and Transit Center Program, which will bring a 519-room at-terminal hotel in late 2015, as well as a commuter rail for the system linking the airport and downtown Denver in 2016.

With more than 35 years of experience, Ms. Day has served as Executive Director of Los Angeles World Airports —the agency that manages Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport, Van Nuys Airport, and Palmdale Regional Airport. Before assuming the top position with LAWA, she oversaw the agency’s design and construction.

After receiving a Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) degree from Cornell University, Ms. Day practiced architecture for more than 20 years.

In September 2011, she was named Airport Director of the Year in the large/medium airports category by Airport Revenue News and recognized by Visit Denver in 2011 and 2012 for Outstanding Contributions to Tourism. From 2010-2013, the Denver Business Journal named her one of its annual Power Book finalists—a designation that honors the top men and women newsmakers in the business community and the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce honored Ms. Day as one the “25 Most Powerful Women in Denver” in January 2013.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 12:35
  Welcome Address

John Byerly advises clients on the full range of international aviation issues, including negotiations, economic and environmental regulation, aviation safety and security, government relations, and strategic planning.  John graduated with highest honors from the University of North Carolina, studied European and German law on a Fulbright Scholarship in Berlin, and received his JD from Yale in 1979.  Upon graduation, he joined the State Department, serving thirty-one years in positions addressing American foreign policy, national security, and international economic relations. 

For almost a decade (2001-2010), John was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State responsible for market-opening air transport agreements with over 70 countries and led U.S. delegations in talks that secured Open Skies with Germany, France, the European Union, and Japan.  He was active in the economic, legal, and environmental work of ICAO and helped implement the U.S. response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 12:45
  Keynote Address

David has worked extensively in the aviation industry serving as a Principal at SH&E for over 24 years. He advises large, medium, and small-sized airports on air service development issues, airport marketing, and economic impacts. He has been instrumental in creating numerous successful air service plans resulting in new airline service for his airport clients.

Over the past five years Dave’s efforts have led to over a dozen new routes, including the first ever transpacific and transatlantic routes for two major U.S. hubs. He has also performed a wide range of studies for air carriers and state aviation agencies.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 13:05
  Session 1 – Airline Spotlight - How will new routes be successful across different airline models?

Courtney was appointed to his current position as Regional Manager of the Americas for Bombardier Commercial Aircraft Marketing in January 2011.  

Mr. Miller leads the Marketing team responsible for developing and implementing market research, strategic planning, sales campaign support, and airline analysis activities in North and Latin America.

Prior to joining the Toronto Bombardier team in 2009, Mr. Miller worked in Air Network Planning for DHL Express USA, and has been involved in aviation since 2003 when he joined Comair Airlines as a pilot flying the Bombardier CRJ700 regional jet.  In that role, Mr. Miller was also responsible for industry and scope clause analysis as the local ALPA Strategic Analysis committee chairman.

Mr. Miller holds a degree in Aviation Technology from Purdue University and a Masters of Science in Aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.

A native of small town Indiana, Mr. Miller currently lives in Dallas with his wife and two young children.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 14:25
  The Shifting Dynamics of the Regional Market in the Americas

Peter Cerdá is the Regional Vice President in the Americas for IATA, the trade association whose 240 member airlines transport more than 84% of total air traffic. He leads a multinational team of professionals which proactively pursue IATA’s industry priorities with governmental authorities and industry stakeholders to make the air transport industry safer, more secure, efficient and profitable.

Peter possesses a wealth of senior industry experience acquired over a long and successful career in aviation. Most recently, he served as Regional Director for Safety, Operations and Infrastructure for the Americas and Atlantic until 2013.

Fluent in English and Spanish, Peter was born in Spain and received his Master’s Degree in Aeronautics and Aviation Management from Embry Riddle University and a Bachelor of Business Administration at Florida International University.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 14:05
  New IATA-ALTA Study On Infrastructure and Taxes In The Americas

Gregg is an anchor/reporter for 9NEWS/KUSA in Denver, Colorado and Business Editor for Newsradio 850 KOA.  Moss has done work for CNBC, CNN, MSNBC and he’s   covered major news events including the London Summer Olympic Games, the Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, Super Bowls, the Consumer Electronics Show, the Democratic National Convention, the Denver Summit of the Eight, World Youth Day and the Consumer Electronics Show. 

As part of his work covering the Olympics, Moss has had the privilege of working for Sport Accord and interviewing world renowned leaders in the world of sport, CEO’s of major worldwide companies and Olympic athletes.       

Prior to joining 9NEWS, Moss worked for American City Business Journals/The Denver Business Journal and he was also a columnist for The Denver Post.  His background also includes experience as an entrepreneur, senior level manager and educator.

Gregg moved to Colorado in 1985 from New Orleans, Louisiana where he attended Loyola University and majored in Communications and Social Work.  He also has an honorary doctorate degree from the Colorado Institute of Art.

Moss has received numerous awards for his journalistic work including Emmy awards for breaking news and best-newscast, recognition by the Colorado Broadcaster’s Association and the Colorado Association of Black Journalists and an American Eagle Award for his business reporting work while at The Denver Business Journal. 

Gregg contributes a lot of time to local non-profits and has served on the boards of more than a dozen throughout his career.  He has also received numerous awards for his contributions to the community including the Silver Flame Award for Excellence for his work helping single-parents become self-sufficient, the Spirit of the Mission Awards for his contributions to the Arthritis Foundation locally and nationally, the Small Business Administration’s Media Advocate of the Year and the Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award for his commitment to helping small business owners succeed.   

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 15:00
  Session 2 – Winter Tourism: What are the new tourism flows to consider? (Moderator)

Johanne Gallant joined the Greater Moncton International Airport (GMIA) as Director of Airport Commercial Development in September of 2004 and Acting President and CEO (2011-2014). Her responsibilities include the development and implementation of strategic marketing programs to ensure the commercial development of the GMIA.

Prior to joining GMIA, Mrs. Gallant held various positions with the New Brunswick department of Tourism and Economic Development last of which she was Director of Marketing and Trade Sales.

With over 20 years of experience in the fields of marketing, sales and international trade, Mrs. Gallant has a proven track record with establishing new routes and markets by developing strategic business partnerships with multi levels of government, other airports, private industries and associations.  Mrs. Gallant’s past successes with the development of marketing and partnership agreements have resulted in significant investments in the local, regional and provincial economy.

Mrs. Gallant has been a member of the ACI Marketing and Communications Steering Group since 2008 and presently Vice Chair, a former board member of the Greater Moncton Chamber of Commerce, Chair of Major Gifs division for the Transportation  Discovery Center and former Chair of the Canada Committee, under the auspice of the Canadian Tourism Commission.   

Mrs. Gallant completed a degree in Marketing and Business Administration from the New Brunswick Community College-Dieppe and expanded her studies in the field of marketing through the Bachelor of Business Administration program at the Université de Moncton.  Mrs. Gallant also completed the province of New Brunswick’s Management Development Program offered through the University of New Brunswick.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 15:00
  Session 2 – Winter Tourism: What are the new tourism flows to consider?

Michael is a consultant in Spencer Stuart’s Miami office and leads the firm’s Global Aviation Practice. In this capacity, Michael provides top-level executive search and board director consulting and recruitment services to a broad range of clients in the aviation sector, spanning the airline, aerospace and airport sectors. Michael has led senior-level searches for numerous aviation organizations around the globe. This work has included numerous CEO, president/COO, CFO, sales and marketing, and operations leadership assignments.  Michael is also a core member of Spencer Stuart’s Board Services Practice and has assisted numerous aviation and non-aviation sector clients in the recruitment of board directors.

Michael is a regular speaker at aviation industry conferences, having spoken at conferences across North, South and Central America, Europe and Africa. Michael has also authored several industry studies on leadership, including Crafting the Airline Leadership Team for the 21st Century, The New Breed: Profiling the Next Generation of Airline Leaders in Latin America and Crafting the Airport Leadership Team for the 21st Century.

Prior to joining Spencer Stuart, Michael spent seven years with McKinsey & Company, the leading worldwide management consulting firm, most recently as a senior engagement manager. In that role, he was responsible for developing and managing consulting relationships with client organizations. In addition to his client work, Michael was a leader in the firm’s Personal Financial Services and Organizational practice groups. Previously, Michael served for two years as executive assistant to the dean and director of administration at the Faculty of Management, University of Toronto.

Michael holds an M.B.A. and a Bachelor of Industrial Engineering degree from the University of Toronto and speaks English, French and Arabic.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 13:05
  Session 1 – Airline Spotlight - How will new routes be successful across different airline models? (Moderator)

Michael Miller is Head of Content and Industry Relations for Routes, which is part of the Transport and Technology division of UBM; a leading global event marketing and communications services business. Mike leads the creation and development of Routes conferences at events worldwide, and is responsible for relations with aviation, travel and other industry groups.

Mike has 25 years experience in the aviation industry as both a journalist and consultant prior to joining the Routes team in 2014. He has managed nine aviation publications, mostly under the Aviation Week banner at McGraw-Hill, and has had aviation clients in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Clients have included Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, US Airways, JetBlue Airways, Bombardier, ALTA and the government of France. He oversaw the creation of the ALTA Airline Leaders Forum. Michael also was Vice President, Strategy, at the American Aviation Institute and President of Miller Air Group. He has been interviewed several hundred times on aviation issues by CNN, BBC, CNBC, NBC, Al Jazeeera and others. He is based in Orlando, Florida.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 12:30
  Opening Remarks

Peggy Croes is the Chief Commercial Officer, Curaçao Airport Partners N.V., operators of Curaçao International Airport. She has over 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the hospitality and aviation industry in the Caribbean region. Highlighted with key positions in different hotels and airports.

Ms. Croes’s dedication and passion for both hospitality and aviation have been acknowledged through various award nominations and recognitions. Ms. Croes has been a founding Member and President of the 1^st College Fair in Aruba, an active member and Board Member of HSMAI and a guest lecturer at the Aruba Hotel School in Marketing. Ms. Croes holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Houston – Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management and an MBA from The International Management Institute.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 15:00
  Session 2 – Winter Tourism: What are the new tourism flows to consider?

Barry L. Biffle became President of Frontier Airlines in July 2014, reporting to its CEO, David Siegel. Barry has over twenty years of aviation industry experience and has held numerous airline senior executive and management roles with specific experience in turn-around situations and development of ultra-low cost carriers (ULCC). Frontier’s operations, marketing and related information technology organizations will report to Barry.

For the past ten years, Barry has focused on pioneering the ULCC model’s development in North and South America. He most recently served as CEO of VivaColombia, the first ULCC in South America. Prior to that he served as Executive Vice President of Spirit Airlines where he played a key role in the financial turn-around and development of the company. Barry also held several management positions with US Airways and AMR where he began his airline career. He holds a Bachelor Degree from the University of Alabama.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 13:05
  Session 1 – Airline Spotlight - How will new routes be successful across different airline models?

Dave leads JetBlue’s Network Planning team, responsible for flight scheduling, network strategy, and network optimization.

Dave joined JetBlue in May 2009 and led both the Route Planning teams and Schedule Planning teams before his promotion to Vice President. During his 6 years with JetBlue, Dave has been a key contributor to the design and implementation of the carrier’s rapid growth in Boston, Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, the Caribbean, and Latin America. While Dave is very excited by JetBlue’s growth, he is most proud of the fact that JetBlue has won 10 consecutive JD Power Awards for highest customer satisfaction in North America.

Prior to joining JetBlue, Dave was a Project Leader in the Boston Consulting Group’s Travel & Tourism practice. He possesses Bachelor and Master Degrees in Systems Engineering from The University of Virginia as well as a MBA from Harvard Business School.

Dave, his wife Sabrina, and their two children live in Westchester, New York. They spend their weekends outdoors and traveling the JetBlue network.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 13:05
  Session 1 – Airline Spotlight - How will new routes be successful across different airline models?

Vijay Bathija is Vice President Commercial for Air Canada rouge since the launch of the new leisure airline.  He reports to Michael Friisdahl, President and CEO, Air Canada Leisure Group.

Vijay has nearly 19 years of experience in the airline industry. Prior to joining Air Canada rouge, Vijay was Senior Director of Network Planning at Air Canada since February 2007.  As senior Director, he held overall responsibility for Air Canada’s network.   

Before joining Air Canada, Vijay worked with Sabre Airline Solutions Consulting in Southlake Texas as Head of Planning Consulting Division.  In this role he worked with various airlines around the world on commercial turnaround, network and fleet strategy and alliances consulting projects. 

Prior to joining Sabre, Vijay worked at Canadian Airlines International in Calgary.  He joined Canadian Airlines in 1995 as Analyst in International Planning and rose to become Director of Route Planning before leaving in 2000.

Vijay has an MBA degree (Dean’s List) from Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada. He specialized in finance and marketing.

Vijay’s hobby is travelling.  He has travelled to over 80 cities around the world on business or pleasure.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 13:05
  Session 1 – Airline Spotlight - How will new routes be successful across different airline models?

With a Bachelor’s Degree in Meteorology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rafael Araujo began his career in aviation in 2000 as a pilot trainer and instructor.

In 2004, he joined the Civil Aviation Authority in Brazil in the Planning and Statistics Division and in 2007, he took the position of Scheduling Analyst for Varig Airlines.

In 2008, Varig and GOL merged as one airline and his career began at GOL. Firstly, as a team leader then Senior Analyst and into Scheduling Coordinator, leading to his current position as Manager of the Network Planning group for GOL,  a position he has held since 2013.

Today, as part of the planning group, besides the airlines’ general seasonality piece, Rafael works on network forecasting, competitive intelligence and general network strategies.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 13:05
  Session 1 – Airline Spotlight - How will new routes be successful across different airline models?

Ms. Scotton was born in Montreal, Canada and grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico where she learned to speak Spanish and completed high school.

Her university career included studying in Geneva, Switzerland and graduating from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelor of Arts in World Affairs and French. After finishing university, she travelled for the next two years with the international community service and performing organization ‘Up With People’.

She was bit by the aviation bug in 1993 in her first role in Customer Service at Edmonton International Airport and has never looked back. Her career in the airport management field has included Property Management, Operations, Human Resources, Air Service Development, Marketing and Commercial Development.  During her time in Edmonton, Ms. Scotton served as a member of the Edmonton Tourism Council and the Travel Alberta Strategic Tourism Council.  After 11 years at Edmonton International Airport, she joined her spouse in Victoria in 2004 and served as a consultant on air service and passenger development to small Canadian airports.

She commenced working with Vantage Airport Group (formerly YVR Airport Services), assigned to MBJ Airports Limited in October 2007 to assist with the operation and management of Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica.   As Chief Commercial Officer, she is responsible for aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenue generation at Sangster International Airport.  She also oversees one of the largest airport commercial programs in the Caribbean, contributing to almost 50% of the overall airport revenue and has realised 193% growth in 10 years.

Ms. Scotton is a past member of the Edmonton Tourism and Travel Alberta Advisory boards and currently serves on the Board of Directors for JamVac (Jamaica Vacations).  She also serves on the (Jamaica) Airports Enhancement Task Force, represents Jamaica on the Caribbean Tourism Organisation Aviation Task Force and most recently has been appointed a Councillor for the Jamaica Hotel Tourist Association. 

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 15:00
  Session 2 – Winter Tourism: What are the new tourism flows to consider?

Richard’s career in the hospitality industry began with Hilton nearly 30 years ago.  He’s worked for VISIT DENVER since 1993, most recently as the executive vice president of sales and marketing. Previously, Richard owned a publishing and consulting company representing more than 400 colleges and universities as conference sites. 

He was a chief consultant for studies conducted about the expansion of the Colorado Convention Center and the construction of Denver’s Hyatt Regency Convention Center Hotel. He also led a successful campaign to increase the lodging tax in Denver in order to competitively market the city.

Named Business Person of the Year by the Rocky Mountain News, Richard has been honored with the Colorado Hotel Sales & Marketing Association’s Hall of Fame Award, Governor’s Tourism Award and Meetings Industry Council of Colorado’s Leadership Award.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 15:00
  Session 2 – Winter Tourism: What are the new tourism flows to consider?

Tom Clark is the Chief Executive Officer of the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation and Executive Vice President of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He has over 30 years of economic development experience at the state, regional, county and city levels.

Mr. Clark’s recent accolades include the 2012 Denver Business Journal’s Power Book Award in the Economic Development and Government category and being named the 2012 Denver Post Business Person of the Year.

Mr. Clark’s career spans four decades from Director of Commercial and Industrial Development for the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs, through positions with the Fort Collins, Colorado Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Denver Corporation, the Boulder Chamber of Commerce, the Jefferson Economic Council, and the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. He holds bachelors degrees in speech and psychology from Minnesota State University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Illinois. Mr. Clark was the founder and first president of the Metro Denver Network, the Metro Denver region's first economic development program, for which he received the Arthur D. Little Award for Excellence in Economic Development. He was chosen as one of the nation's top economic development professionals by the Council on Urban Economic Development. In 2007 Clark was awarded the Business Person of the Year by the Colorado Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.

Participating Talks and Sessions

• Sunday, 1 February 2015 15:45
  The Denver Story