Association of California AirportsACA
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Where California aviation gathers.

September 28 to October 1, 2026 · South Lake Tahoe, CA
South Lake Tahoe

Join us in South Lake Tahoe for the 2026 Association of California Airports Annual Conference, bringing together aviation leaders from across the state.

Register nowView rates
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South Lake Tahoe, California
Registration

Registration rates

Lock in early-bird pricing through August 7, 2026. Standard rates apply after the cutoff. The Airport Leasing Workshop is a pre-conference add-on available to all attendees.

Best value
Early-bird registration
$350

Full conference registration at the early-bird rate. Take advantage before standard pricing takes effect.

Through August 7, 2026
Standard registration
$400

After August 7, standard registration rates will apply.

After August 7, 2026
Pre-conference
Airport Leasing Workshop
$75

A focused pre-conference workshop on airport leasing. Open to all conference attendees.

Monday, September 28, 2026
Register by August 7
Schedule

Conference schedule

As of September 25, 2026. Schedule subject to change. View full agenda →

Monday, September 28, 2026

City of South Lake Tahoe City Hall, 1901 Lisa Maloff Way, South Lake Tahoe, CA

8:00 AM to 11:30 AM

ACA Board Member Retreat

11:30 AM

Lunch provided for Board Members and Leasing Workshop Attendees

12:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Airport Business Management Workshop: The Essentials

Presenters: Curt Castagna, CM, President/CEO, Ascension Group Partners; Paula Jordan-Foster, AAE, Business Practice Leader, Pape-Dawson Company; Margaret Martin, Partner, Thompson Burton, LLC; Robert Trimborn, CM, Senior Consultant, AMCG.

6:00 PM

ACA Board Member Retreat Working Dinner

By invitation.

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Open Registration

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

11:45 AM

Shuttle departs Station House Inn for Valhalla Tahoe

Station House Inn, 901 Park Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA

12:45 PM

Opening Remarks

Presented by Linnea Edmeier, CAL FIRE.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

1:15 PM to 2:00 PM

Session 1: FAA Panel: Western-Pacific Regional Airports Division

Panelists: Faviola Garcia, Acting Director, Airports Division; Michael Price, Manager, Airports Compliance Division; Amy Choi, Manager, San Francisco ADO; Cathryn Cason, Manager, Los Angeles ADO; and Matthew Robertson, Lead Planner.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

2:00 PM to 2:45 PM

Session 2: Caltrans Division of Aeronautics Update: How to Prepare for a Caltrans Airport Inspection

Presented by Tarek Tabshouri, Division Chief, Caltrans Division of Aeronautics, and Christopher Brooks, Aviation Safety Officer, Caltrans Division of Aeronautics.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

2:45 PM to 3:00 PM

Break and Networking Time

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Session 3: Reducing Litigation Risk and Enhancing Customer Experience

Presented by Erica Ledesma, Property Manager, City of Livermore.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

3:00 PM to 4:30 PM

Airport Meetings with FAA ADO Staff

20-minute meetings per airport, with no more than 10 airport staff participating.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

4:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Session 4: Unleaded Fuel Industry Update

Presented by George Braly, GAMI; Chris D'Acosta, Swift Fuels; and Mark Walls, VP Racing Fuels.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

5:15 PM

Shuttle departs Valhalla Tahoe

Returns attendees to Station House Inn.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

6:00 PM

Welcome Reception

Toulouse, next to Station House Inn, 901 Park Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA.

Toulouse, 901 Park Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

7:15 AM

Shuttle departs Station House Inn for Valhalla Tahoe

Station House Inn, 901 Park Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA

7:45 AM

Continental Breakfast

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

8:30 AM to 9:30 AM

General Membership Meeting

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

9:30 AM to 9:45 AM

Break and Networking Time

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

9:45 AM to 10:45 AM

Session 5: Airport Rates and Fee Studies

Presented by Ryan Leick, Ascension Group Partners / Utah Valley University.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Open Registration

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

Airport Meetings with FAA ADO Staff

20-minute meetings per airport, with no more than 10 airport staff participating.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

10:45 AM to 11:45 AM

Session 6: State of the General Aviation Industry

Presented by Niki Britton, AOPA; Phil Derner, NBAA; and Curt Castagna, NATA.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

11:45 AM to 12:45 PM

Lunch Provided

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

12:45 PM to 1:45 PM

Session 7: FAA Compliance: Current Trends in CA and the NAS

Presented by Michael Price, Manager, Airports Compliance Division.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

1:45 PM to 2:45 PM

Session 8: How to Be a Good Neighbor: Case Study with Lessons Learned

Presented by Matt Liknaitzky, Sling Pilot Academy.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

2:45 PM to 3:00 PM

Break and Networking Time

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

3:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Session 9: Building the AAM Workforce: Partnerships That Make It Possible

Presented by Vincent Schaefer, Director of Business Development, and Juliet Jordan, Head of Commercial Regulatory, Poseidon Aerospace.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

4:10 PM

Shuttle departs Valhalla Tahoe

Returns attendees to Station House Inn after the final session.

Valhalla Tahoe, 1 Valhalla Road, South Lake Tahoe, CA

4:25 PM

Shuttle arrives at Station House Inn

Station House Inn, 901 Park Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA

4:45 PM

Cruise shuttle departs Station House Inn for Zephyr Cove

Station House Inn, 901 Park Avenue, South Lake Tahoe, CA

6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Evening Dinner Cruise aboard the M.S Dixie II

Sponsored by Egis, formerly Lochner. Boards at Zephyr Cove. Details pending.

Zephyr Cove

Thursday, October 1, 2026

City of South Lake Tahoe City Hall, 1901 Lisa Maloff Way, South Lake Tahoe, CA

7:45 AM

Light Breakfast

8:15 AM to 8:30 AM

Opening Remarks by ACA President

8:45 AM to 11:30 AM

Session 10: Roundtable/Town Hall

Recognizing California aviation leadership

2026 Michael A. Shutt Award nominations

The Michael A. Shutt Award recognizes an individual or organization whose leadership, innovation, and dedication have significantly advanced the growth, development, and safety of California airports.

Submit a nomination by August 28, 2026

Anyone may nominate an individual or organization. Eligible nominees include airport sponsors, consultants, funding agencies, aviation organizations, and other professionals whose work has positively impacted California aviation.

The ACA Awards Subcommittee will evaluate nominations for demonstrated leadership, innovative problem solving, community partnership, industry knowledge, and work that advances California aviation. The recipient will be recognized during the 2026 Annual Conference.

Where to stay

Host hotel

ACA has secured a 20% discount on guest rooms at Station House Inn through September 6, 2026, subject to availability. Use the booking link to receive the discounted rate.

Station House Inn exterior with fire pit, South Lake Tahoe
Guest room at Station House Inn, South Lake Tahoe
Station House Inn

Unreserved rooms in the ACA room block are released after September 6, 2026, and the discounted rate may no longer be available.

Cancellation policy: Reservations may be cancelled up to 14 days before arrival. Cancellations within 14 days of arrival are non-refundable.

Visit Station House Inn →
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

When and where is the 2026 Annual Conference?

The conference runs Monday, September 28 through Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Valhalla Tahoe in South Lake Tahoe, California. It is a new venue for this year.

When does registration open?

Registration is open now. Early-bird pricing of $350 is available through August 7, 2026; after that, standard registration rates apply.

How much does it cost to attend?

Early-bird registration is $350 per attendee through August 7, 2026. Standard registration is $400 per attendee after August 7.

What is the Airport Leasing Workshop?

A focused pre-conference workshop on airport leasing, held Monday, September 28, 2026. It's a $75 add-on, open to all conference attendees, and can be selected at registration.

Who attends the ACA Annual Conference?

Aviation leaders from across California, including airport managers, staff, commissioners, consultants, and industry partners, gather for the conversations shaping the future of California aviation.

Where can I stay in South Lake Tahoe?

ACA has secured a 20% discount at Station House Inn for conference attendees. Rooms in the ACA block release after September 6, 2026, after which the discount may no longer be available.

South Lake Tahoe · 2026

Be part of the conversations shaping the future of aviation.

Early-bird pricing of $350 runs through August 7, 2026. Standard rates take over after the cutoff.

Register nowView rates
© 2026 Association of California Airports · 2026 Annual Conference
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