Record-Setting Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference

Taking place Jan. 29-Feb. 1 in San Antonio, TX, SDC2019 featured the highest attendance count on record, with nearly 3,000 participants, representation from all 50 U.S. states and more than 40 countries, and nearly 600 exhibit booths.

Conference sessions focused on timely topics, from the impact of new technologies on business aviation, to navigating the international operation and regulatory landscape, to growing the industry workforce, and more. Keynote speakers covered issues surrounding the intergenerational workplace, embracing change and how to provide exceptional customer service.

Show-goers celebrated the event’s uninterrupted success since its launch 30 years ago. SDC began in 1989 in Montvale, NJ, with about 70 attendees and a dozen or so exhibitors. Since then, it has added more educational programs, including Professional Development Program courses and two days of keynote speakers, as well as a humanitarian component of giving back to the local community. View a video about the history of SDC.

Paying-It-Forward

As has been a tradition at SDC, the conference included a charitable element and an educational initiative, both designed to give back to the local community.

The educational component, created by the SDC Advisory Council, included bringing a group of 22 students to San Antonio International Airport to talk with various tenants about the numerous career opportunities within business aviation, as well as hear from professionals in the industry about how their careers began.

Also, business attire and accessories were gathered throughout the week to donate to local organizations, with thousands of items collected to help the San Antonio community.

Read more about SDC’s Pay-It-Forward initiatives.

Scholarship and Award Recipients

SDC also is about recognizing current and future industry leaders, and the opening session on Jan. 29 included a recognition of award and scholarship recipients.

Longtime business aviation volunteer Kellie Rittenhouse, CAM received NBAA’s S&D Outstanding Achievement and Leadership Award. Rittenhouse is a certified aviation manager and holds an FAA dispatcher certification. She is director of aviation for Hangar Aviation Management, LLC. Learn more about Rittenhouse’s Schedulers & Dispatchers Outstanding Achievement and Leadership Award.

Monetary and training scholarships also were presented at the conference.

Learn more about the 2019 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Training Scholarship winners.

Learn more about the 2019 NBAA Schedulers & Dispatchers Scholarship winners.

The 2020 Schedulers & Dispatchers Conference is scheduled for March 10-13, 2020 in Charlotte, NC. Learn more about SDC2020.