Inaugural NBAA Emerging Leaders Conference Hailed as a Success

The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Emerging Leaders Conference (ELC2020) – the first-ever conference designed by and specifically for young business aviation professionals – attracted 120 attendees, and provided an opportunity for networking, education and enhancing leadership skills.

The Feb. 27 event overlapped with NBAA’s longtime Leadership Conference, offering new and veteran industry professionals a chance to interact and learn from each other. The event kicked off with a joint session where attendees of both conferences heard from speaker Mark Fernandes about humanizing business with millennials in the mix.

NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen reinforced the need to engage with elected officials in support of business aviation. His opening address culminated with a call-to-action as attendees used their smartphones to express support of H.R. 5118 and S. 3303, the Promoting Service in Transportation Act.

Throughout the daylong event, a talented roster of panelists shared, and occasionally debated, best practices on topics ranging from management to teleworking, personal branding to social media and business ethics. Speakers included Kate Fraser, safety lead at Joby Aviation, Elaine Karabatsos, director of maintenance, aviation, Encompass Health and Alex Banayan, motivational speaker and author of bestseller, The Third Door.

On Feb. 28, ELC2020 attendees had the opportunity to give back to the local Orlando community at the Covenant House, an organization that provides shelter and services to homeless and at-risk youth. Events such as these, dubbed “Helpy Hour,” are a staple of NBAA’s Young Professionals (YoPro) program.

ELC2020 represented the culmination of six years of effort – beginning with the Young Professionals Council – conceptualized in 2014 by NBAA Senior Manager, Registration Sierra Grimes. With strong support from NBAA, the council has over the years organized receptions, hosted community service events and even met with the ICAO secretary general.