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Arizona Airports AssociationBoard of Directors
The Board of Directors consists of the President, 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice President, Administrative Director, Immediate Past-President, four (4) Executive Directors, two (2) Associate Directors, and a Corporate Director. The Board of Directors shall establish policy for the Association. The Board shall monitor the activities of the President and advise him/her in the performance of his/her duties. The Board of Directors is empowered to make any decision and to take any action on behalf of AzAA, which appears too urgent to await a meeting of the general membership. The Board shall act as the contracting authority for those matters concerning the operation, development and growth of the Association and the well being of the membership.
To view the current AzAA Board of Directors Operating Procedures & Guidelines document, please click here.
 PresidentMatthew Smith, C.M. | Matt Smith was born and raised in Norwich, NY, home of Lt. Warren E. Eaton Airport (OIC). After attending Hobart College he moved to Busan, South Korea. In 2001, he moved back to the USA to attend Arizona State University where he received an MS in Aviation Management. After working for several years as a guest professor in the College of Maritime Science at the Korea Maritime and Ocean University, he returned to the ADOT Aeronautics Group in 2016. In 2018 was promoted to Airport Manager at the Grand Canyon National Park Airport, which is owned and operated by ADOT.In his spare time Matt volunteers with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was most recently the Division Commander for Arizona. Matt’s primary interests at work are capital improvements and hosting barbecue luncheons for employees and guests. |
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First Vice PresidentJeff Webbe, C.M., ACE | After serving 20 years on the Phoenix Police Department, Jeff launched a second career in Aviation Management. His experience includes 10 years as a supervisor, two years overseeing operations of the Phoenix Police Department’s Air Support Unit, two years as an entrepreneur, and most recently, he has spent the last few years managing the Buckeye Municipal Airport.Jeff recently received his Airport Certified Employee (ACE Operations) Certification, is a Certified Member (CM) in the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and is in the third and final phase in achieving his Accredited Airport Executive (AAE) designation. Jeff is also a pilot, holds a Commercial Pilot Certificate, and is a Certified Flight Instructor-Instrument (CFII). Jeff holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocational Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. |
Second Vice PresidentSarah Demory, A.A.E., ACEAssistant Aviation Director Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 2485 E. Buckeye Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85034 (602) 273-2165 | Sarah Demory, A.A.E., ACE is the Assistant Aviation Director for the City of Phoenix Aviation Department leading the Airport Operations, Aviation Facilities and Services, Public Safety and Security programs as well as the teams at Phoenix Goodyear and Deer Valley Airports. Previously, she was the Airport Deputy Director for Operations and Security at the Boise, Idaho Airport leading the Airport Operations, Airfield Maintenance, Custodial and Technology teams. Prior to her role in Boise, Demory held numerous progressively responsible positions in Airport Operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Sarah also has experience working at Omaha's Eppley Airfield as well as Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport.Demory has a commercial pilot license with instrument and multi-engine ratings and is an Accredited Airport Executive (A.A.E.) with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE). She is also an AAAE Certified Member (C.M.), Certified Airport Security Coordinator, and Airport Certified Employee (ACE) – Operations. Sarah has a master of science in aviation as well as a bachelor of business administration in aviation management from the University of North Dakota. |
| Scott is currently the Deputy Director of the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. He has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota with a double major in Airport Administration and Business Management along with 30 plus years of aviation experience. His experience includes general aviation, commercial service, state aeronautics as well as FAA.Prior to his current position with Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Scott spent more than four years with the FAA in North Dakota as a program manager/community planner. Scott received his pilot’s license over 25 years ago and is a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives. Scott was also previously certified as an Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighter with first responder training. |
Past President
 Executive DirectorChris Andres | Chris is the Airport Planning Administrator for the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD). He has worked for CHD since 2015. Prior to CHD, Chris worked at the City of Phoenix for 15 years in the Aviation, Downtown Development, and Economic Development departments. He also serves as a board advisor to a local cybersecurity firm and has a semi-useful master’s degree from Arizona State University. |
| Zenia M. Cornejo is the Airport Administration Supervisor at Falcon Field Airport in Mesa, Arizona. Ms. Cornejo is responsible for the negotiation of lease agreements, ensuring that leases are properly executed, monitoring leases for compliance, and following up with tenants who are non-compliant. In addition, she assists tenants with the City planning and building permit process by reviewing and commenting on plans from the Airport’s perspective and ensuring that plans meet the Airport Planned Area Development Design Standards.Ms. Cornejo is also responsible for ensuring tenant compliance with storage agreements and following-up with tenants who are non-compliant. Ms. Cornejo coordinates and manages various facets of special events and functions. She is also responsible for the supervision of administrative staff and for the smooth management of the Airport administration workflow. Ms. Cornejo also assists the Airport Director with special projects as assigned. Overall, Ms. Cornejo has 22 years of municipal government experience, previously serving the City of Scottsdale in the Planning and Development Department and the Police Department. Ms. Cornejo received both her Bachelor’s degree in Communication and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Arizona State University. Ms. Cornejo currently resides in Chandler, Arizona. |
Executive Director
| David Reffner has been the Airport Manager at the KCGZ – Casa Grande Municipal since June 2018. His primary duties include planning and directing the daily operations of a busy general aviation airport; developing short and long term planning and goals for the Airport; promoting airport development through marketing and development of airport policies and procedures. He also works on ACIP preparation and presentation and grant/project management. He coordinates with FAA, ADOT and other agencies on Airport and Air Transportation matters and has been affiliated with AzAA since 2015.Prior to working as an Airport Manager, David was the Airport Operations Technician for the KCGZ – Casa Grande Municipal from August 2012 to June 2018. He worked on the management of airport lease agreements and was the acting FBO operations. David is ACE Fuel Safety Supervisor Certified and NATA Safety 1st Professional Line Service Technician. David is also a Reserve Firefighter II/EMT/SRT and has been since September 2013. He provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the citizens of Rural Pinal County. He is Firefighter 1 & 2 certified and is a certified Arizona DHS Emergency Medical Technician. David currently attends Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is in the Aviation Business Administration Program. He previously attended the Central Arizona College from 2013 to 2014 in the Emergency Medical Services Program. He also holds a Business major and Fire Science minor from Northland Pioneer College. |
Executive Director
| I started my career in the U.S. Air Force; I won’t say how long ago…next I secured a job as an Airport Maintenance Mechanic at my hometown airport, Hudson Valley Regional. After a few years of full time work and full time studies, I advanced into airport management as Director of Airport Operations and later as the Airport’s Director. I’ve lead teams on a myriad of improvement projects. After 33 years, I departed New York for an Operations Manager position at the Sedona Airport. Shortly after arriving I was made Sedona’s Interim Airport Manager and subsequently, the Airport Manager. I have served state aviation organizations in the past. I have gone through the Chairs of the New York Airport Manager’s Association representing the Port Authority of NYNJ, the Capital District Transportation Authority, and the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority as well as numerous other Airports in the state. As NYAMA President, I lead a team that worked, successfully, to establish a state aviation grant program.I’ve advanced a number of projects during my career touching on almost every aspect of airport operation. Some of the more interesting projects have been: regrading and recapping of an abandoned landfill/Superfund site; over 330 acres of tree obstruction removal, including EAs and Supplemental EAs, endangered species habitat and land set-asides; relocation of a congregation/historic church and chapel from Part 77 intrusion (this included SHPO coordination, dismantling and rebuilding on a new foundation); and establishing a new turf runway for taildragger practice. In Sedona, my first action was to develop a Water Master Plan to address needs identified in the Airport’s Master Plan. Next, improve drainage features adjacent to the runway. Third, replacement of an aging fuel storage facility. I’m also on the Board of Directors for the Sedona Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau. I’m a big believer in staff development and have educated staff on offerings through AAAE. I’m honored to be considered for any position with AZAA! Thank you for your consideration! |
Executive Director
Joel is a Senior Aviation Engineer for RS&H. He has over 15 years’ experience in design, construction, and program management of airfield projects, ranging from small utility projects to Large Hub runway reconstruction. His work is now focused on planting an office in Arizona for RS&H with a primary focus on airfield design and construction. Prior to coming to Arizona he spent 10 years working overseas on various airfield projects across the Middle East and North Africa. He got started in aviation when he joined the team building the New Indianapolis International Airport and has never looked back.Joel is a graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and a minor in Political Science. He is a registered professional engineer in Arizona. Joel grew up in Kansas, met his wife in Indiana, and all three of his children were born in the Middle East. He and his family are thrilled to now call Arizona home. |
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| Located in Kimley-Horn’s Phoenix office, Brandon has 7 years of aviation design and construction administration experience. He has worked on airside and landside improvement projects across Arizona, including runway/taxiway geometric and drainage design, asphalt and PCCP visual pavement distress inspection, pavement section design, utility coordination, pavement markings design and inspection, pavement rehabilitation recommendations, security fencing and project phasing.Brandon is originally from Las Vegas and has lived in Arizona since he began pursuing his undergraduate degree. Brandon obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering and is a registered professional engineer in Arizona. |
Associate Director
| Jeffrey E. Flemming, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, has over 33 years of experience. He has been with ADM Group, Inc. for 2 years and counting. Mr. Flemming is well rounded in all aspects of project design, construction, project manage¬ment, and customer service. He possesses ex-emplary listening skills and is able to interpret the clients’ needs into project requirements.Some notable work experience for Jeffrey is working for SkyBridge Arizona; Mesa Hangars; Chicago Rockford International Airport; AAR Corp; Rock Valley Community College; City of Rockford and The Village of Rockton. Professional Registrations American Institute of Architects LEED Accredited Professional NCARB Certification No. 66675 Arizona License No. 66788 Illinois License No. 001-013482 Michigan License No. 039868 Wyoming License No. C-1903 Texas License No. 28973 Jeffrey also holds a Bachelor of Architecture and Distinction in Design from University of Illinois. |
Corporate Director
| Desirae is the Administrative Director for the Arizona Airports Association through the association management firm of KCA. Desirae is an Arizona native and a graduate of Arizona State University with degrees in Supply Chain Management and Business - Tourism as well as certificates in Special Event Management and Meeting Planning. Her background in logistics and events helps to ensure every detail is covered and meetings run smoothly! |
Administrative Director