MAC selects Alyssa Carlson for assistant director, concessions and business development

The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has selected Alyssa Carlson for the position of assistant director, concessions and business development. In this role, Carlson will be responsible for the design, development, management and operation of terminal concession programs and non-aeronautical development at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP), the 18th busiest airport by passengers in the United States.  

Carlson comes to the MAC with more than a decade of real estate development, marketing and hospitality management experience. She was previously the director of strategic planning for global real estate brokerage Engel & Völkers for the Minneapolis market. Prior to that position, Carlson started her own company, Navi Operations Management, offering operations and marketing management consulting services to real estate firms and developers. Prior to that, she was director of operations for a Denver, Colorado-based multidiscipline marketing and video production firm, Fortem Media.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Alyssa to the MAC to manage MSP’s award-winning concessions program and further develop new concepts and experiences for passengers,” said Isabella Rhawie, MAC vice president and commercial revenue officer. “She brings a unique marketing and real estate portfolio to our team that she can leverage to advance our efforts to bring new tastes, flavors and product offerings to the airport, while advancing tenant and leasing initiatives that continue to drive revenue growth.”

MSP’s concessions program consists of approximately 120 food and beverage, retail, news and convenience, banking, and other service units that serve more than 37 million passengers annually. Earlier this year, the MAC approved six new food, beverage and retail venues as part of the $263 million Terminal 2 North Expansion project that will be completed by early 2027. The concessions program was recently recognized by Airports Council International-North America in its 2025 Excellence in Airport Concessions Awards for best new non-terminal revenue innovation concept for MSP’s Strategic Partnership Program.

Carlson holds a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism management from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She serves on the executive committee for the Minneapolis Renaissance Coalition, the board of directors for Open Book, and is the director of community engagement for The Dot Twin Cities, a professional development and networking organization for women.