Droneport Seminar @ the UAS Tech Forum


Salina, KS, August 21, 2019, 10am – 3pm


Discover how the UAS Cluster Initiative and the DronePort Network are working with communities to create jobs and economic opportunity in the UAS industry by attending this seminar, a co-located event on the first day of the UAS Tech Forum. Registration ($95) is required and includes a Networking Lunch. You can bundle and save $50 by attending the Droneport Seminar + the Tech Forum.

Who Should Attend?

  • Economic Development Officials
  • Elected/Appointed Municipal Officials
  • Airport Owner/Manager
  • Airport Authority Officials
  • Research Park/Innovation Center Director
  • First Responders/Emergency Services
  • Trade/Technical/College/University/High School Officials involved in UAS
  • UAS Company CEO/COO
  • Port Authority Directors
  • Investors

The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry is still small, but as the FAA finalizes the rules that will permit large scale flying of commercial drones, the volume of drone traffic will increase substantially and the demand for droneport facilities. Droneports are well suited for rural communities and industries, supporting drones that cover often large and sometimes remote areas accurately and efficiently. Ownership may be public, private, or a combination.

Agenda

10amWelcome & Introductions

Droneports: Unlocking the Economic Potential for Your Community

Why droneports? Why Now? As the industry matures, companies that service or operate fleets of drones in a region will benefit by having a facility to support their needs.

Sallie Traxler photo

Sallie Traxler, Co-Founder and Director, DronePort Network

Bringing together communities, thought leaders and companies to create jobs and economic prosperity in the emerging Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) industry. For more than 20 years Sallie has been a strategic mind behind organizations identifying and achieving their goals through thought partnership and innovation. Committed to creating the space for organizations to move from vision to implementation, she has led initiatives aimed at how organizations meet the needs of their customers and stakeholders. Sallie has led and consulted with national and international professional and trade associations to drive strategic growth by aligning industry, network and organizational resources to meet emerging needs.

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10:30amPanel: Exploring the Business Opportunity for Droneports

Hear about the market for drone-enabled service, the value of logistical centers, and the network as an accelerator from three investment professionals.

Robert G. Heard, Michael A. Tharp, CFA and Philip B. Heard, Principles, Cimarron Capital Partners

Cimarron Capital Partners have invested in venture capital and private equity funds throughout the U.S. in ways that have attracted substantial capital to entrepreneurs in fly-over states like Oklahoma, Arkansas and Iowa. They invest directly in technology companies, with a current focus on the commercial drone industry. And they invest in droneports, or UAS logistical centers, generally through public-private partnerships.

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11:00amCase Study: Skyway 36

Located three miles north of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma Skyway 36 is the nation’s first droneport operated by a Native American government. Learn what it takes to build support for such a project, including potential funding sources, tenants and partners as well as what you need to consider when developing an operating plan.

Paul Tutty photo

Paul Tutty, Program Manager, Skyway 36, an Innovation and Technology Project of the Osage Nation, Tulsa, OK

Paul served for more than a decade in army aviation in both groundcrew management and aircrew roles. He specialized in aviation technology and completed various overseas deployments. For the past ten years he has worked for the Osage Nation government, focused on improving the constituent experience through creative design. His current work at Skyway 36 is an example of combining business, technology, and human values to keep pushing the boundaries of innovative solutions.

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11:20pmOne Entrepreneurs Vision of How Droneports Support Commercial UAS Activity and Development

Understand what companies need to support the development of infrastructure for the growth and development of the industry. Imagining the possibility of “nests” for small service providers operating fixed and mobile systems for services in urban, suburban and rural areas.

Bronwyn Morgan photo

Bronwyn Morgan, Founder, XEO Air, Inc.

Bronwyn is a sUAS Part 107 certified pilot and teaches FAA Part 107 classes. She is the Founder of tech startup Xeo Air, a drone services platform for mission management that connects B2B clients in telecom, insurance, catastrophic response, oil and gas and civil infrastructure with a crew of vetted Part 107 pilots. In addition, she is Founder of Airversity Drone Pilot Training Academy, a training school for both Part 107 prep and drone flight. Morgan’s past includes being Head of Subkulture Innovation Lab, an innovation and advanced tech solutions firm. She is the Founder of Black Women In STEAM, an organization dedicated to galvanizing the efforts of women in STEAM.

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11:40pmAirspace Management in Droneport Development

Setting up a droneport can be a complex process, especially when complying with standards and regulations, managing FAA authorizations and providing responsible airspace management. Flying drones near controlled airspace or beyond visual line-of-sight requires unmanned aircraft operators to be able to detect-and-avoid other aircraft and to maintain well-clear distances. This session will help you begin to understand and address these challenges with the strategies, processes and technical solutions available to implement safe and compliant airspace management for your droneport.

Kraettli L. Epperson photo

Kraettli L. Epperson, CEO, Vigilant Aerospace Systems

Kraettli is the CEO and Co-Founder of Vigilant Aerospace Systems, which provides airspace management and autonomous collision avoidance software for unmanned aircraft based on a patent exclusively licensed from NASA. He has a 20-year career as a serial entrepreneur and investor in technology startups. He is an expert speaker at major UAS industry conferences, including InterDrone, XPONENTIAL, the UAS Summit & Expo, addressing topics such as unmanned aircraft detect-and-avoid, and UAS flight safety and airspace management systems for commercial operators, fleet managers, and unmanned airfields. He is a co-author of multiple industry research papers on autonomous systems and is an FAA certified Part 107 remote pilot.

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NoonNetworking Lunch

1:00pm Panel: Oklahoma Droneport Project

Learn how three economic development organizations across Oklahoma are collaborating with the DronePort Network to develop droneports in their communities. Understand how these projects align with local economic development initiatives and support entrepreneurs.

JaNae K. Barnard photo

JaNae K. Barnard, Executive Director, Major County Economic Development Corporation

JaNae is in her tenth year as executive director of MCEDC in Fairview, Oklahoma, and specializes in project development and management, site selection assistance, as well as grant writing for the city and non-profit entities.
Pat McCormick photo

Pat McCormick, Deputy Director, Central Oklahoma Economic Development District

With more than 31 years of economic development experience, Pat is responsible for compliance of contracts for economic and community development in a seven-county region. She has secured over $4M for economic development projects and implemented 11 major initiatives that will have a direct impact on economic growth. Previously with Shawnee Economic Development Foundation, Pat implemented the five-year plan and developed three industrial parks. She was responsible for recruitment of Vanguard Stimulation, the largest company to locate in Shawnee since the 1970’s with an investment of over $75M.

Tami McKeon, EDA Director, Grand Gateway Economic Development Association

With more than twenty years serving the Grand Gateway EDA seven county region with the Economic Development Administration through the US Department of Commerce and HUD Community Development Block Grant funding through the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, Tami serves as a facilitator amongst and between stakeholders to create public infrastructure to support job creation and business expansion throughout the area.

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1:45pmBuilding the Local and Regional Ecosystem to Support UAS Development

Understanding the incredible power of ecosystems to foster networks, create business opportunities and accelerate learning.

Amanda Radovic photo

Amanda Radovic, Program Manager, UAS Cluster Initiative

Amanda has worked with more than 1,000 start-ups, spin-outs, and research organizations commercializing emerging technologies through Development Capital Networks. She serves as the Program Manager for the Unmanned Aerial Systems Cluster (UASCI), CEO of WBT Innovation Marketplace (WBT) and the President of Innovate, Inc. She currently manages a Small Business Administration contract, part of the Regional Innovation Cluster Program, to provide services that support the unmanned aerial systems industry.

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2pmFacilitated Discussion – Building the Launch Pad for Droneport Development

This facilitated discussion will walk you through the key actions necessary to develop a droneport in your community. The Droneport Launch Pad Tool was developed by the DronePort Network in collaboration with thought leaders and stakeholders who are actively pursuing and developing droneports around the globe.

Jim Troxel photo

Jim Troxel, Executive Consultant, UAS Angel Network and Cowboy Technology Angels

Jim is an author and consultant to public service organizations and private companies worldwide. He is a founding partner of Development Capital Networks, LLC, and its affiliate, WBTangels, LLC. His current focus is managing and facilitating a network of angel funds in Oklahoma, North Dakota and Wyoming. He is a facilitation and training expert specializing in the fields of citizen and employee participation, strategic planning, change management, organizational learning and long-term systemic change. His career in community and organizational development and leadership training spans 40 years and a dozen countries. He has inspired in excess of 70,000 people in more than 1000 seminars and workshops.

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3pmConclude


Presented by the DronePort Network in collaboration with Unmanned Aerial Systems Cluster Initiative

The DronePort Network brings together communities and thought leaders interested in unlocking the potential to prosper and create jobs in the emerging UAS industry.

The Unmanned Aerial Systems Cluster Initiative (UASCI), is funded through a contract with the U.S. Small Business Administration to accelerate the growth of the Unmanned Aerial System industry in the U.S. by enabling established companies and emerging entrepreneurs to connect, work together, and gain access to national technology, global capital, advanced business models and global markets.


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