The City of Monroe has the prestigious honor to serve as the distinguished host city for the Southeast Council of Air Shows (SECAS) 2024 Education and Resource Summit on February 29 – March 2, showcasing the City’s exceptional appeal as a destination for aviation professionals and enthusiasts.

The three-day summit will take place across three of Monroe’s premier venues including the Dowd Center Theatre, the Monroe Science Center Honoring Dr. Christine Mann Darden, and the Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport.

“The City of Monroe proudly hosts one of the most attended air shows in the Southeast every Veterans Day weekend, and we’re so grateful for the opportunity to showcase our many attractions, businesses, and historic Downtown to even more people during this dynamic Summit,” said Pete Hovanec, Monroe’s Communications and Tourism Director.

The Dowd Center Theatre’s 560-seat theatre and multi-purpose event lobby will gracefully host the Summit’s nearly 100 registered attendees for a welcome social on February 29. The organization is also hosting a specialized evening event that will incentivize attendees to visit Downtown businesses.

The Monroe Science Center’s exhibit hall and private room will host all-day education sessions covering topics like adding economic value to an air show, the customer experience, flight line layout and more, on March 1. The Monroe Science Center will be closed to the public on February 29 and March 1 to facilitate this portion of the Summit.

The Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport’s expansive runway, taxiway, and terminal will host an in-depth discussion and live aircraft Marshalling demonstration on the final day of the SECAS Summit on March 2. The Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport is proudly owned and operated by the City of Monroe.

"We are excited to host our fifth annual SECAS Summit in the City of Monroe,” said SECAS President Natasha Avey. “The opportunity to host this group of aviation industry professionals at these wonderful facilities is a perfect fit, and will hopefully help us grow the organization even further. We look forward to a successful Summit, and further potential partnership with the City of Monroe for future events." 

SECAS is a member organization of the International Council of Air Shows. Its mission is to promote the safe and professional production of air shows in the Southeast and throughout the air show community. For more information on SECAS, visit newsecas.org.