Message from the President

Dear Members and Friends:

I invite you and your team to attend our upcoming Business Opportunity Summit: Business by the Bay on April 26 - 28, 2019 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. 

Business by the Bay offers a unique opportunity for airports and minority and women business owners to network and explore opportunities for collaboration. Workshops and events will bring together nationally recognized experts in aviation, hospitality, transportation, business and finance.

Keynote speakers include Gerry Fernandez, Founder and President of the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), and Troy Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Beverages Florida. Workshop topics include technology trends, federal regulations, best practices in airport construction and concessions redevelopment, and tactics for increasing your minority contracting. Signature events include a golf tournament at TPC Tampa Bay - one of Florida's most celebrated courses, business matchmaking, a jazz brunch with a bird's eye view of Tampa Bay and the TPA runways, and a waterfront salsa and soul reception.

For more information, to register or sponsor, please visit the event website www.amac-org.com/businesssummit.


Sincerely,

Krystal J. Brumfield 
President & CEO
Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC)
EVENTS
AMAC Academy Webinar: Building Airports 101

April 11, 2019 | Online Webinar
Building Airports 101 online webinar will provide an overview of the business of airports from an Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) perspective. Join experts from SKANSA and our strategic partners Airport Consultants Council (ACC) and Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Federal Procurement Center for this insightful discussion!

AMAC Business Opportunity Summit

April 26 - 28, 2019 | Tampa, FL
The AMAC Business Opportunity Summit: Business by the Bay hosted by Tampa International Airport provides aviation leaders and entities the opportunity to cultivate new relationships and expand hyper-locally through the Southeast region.

35th Annual AMAC Airport Business Diversity Conference

August 20-23, 2019 | Los Angeles, CA
AMAC's Annual Airport Business Diversity Conference continues to unite over 1,000 aviation professionals for a highly acclaimed industry event - serving as a hub for education, advocacy and networking opportunities that promote diversity and inclusion in the aviation and aerospace industries.

FOUNDATION FOCUS
2019 AMAC Foundation Scholarships Are Now Available

The AMAC Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the 2019 - 2020 academic year. Each year students interested in pursuing aviation related careers who plan to attend or are currently enrolled in an accredited college or university seeking a major in one of our accepted disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Scholar Spotlight: McKinzie Jackson

"Receiving this scholarship shows me that the community behind me believes in me, and that I have the drive and the potential for success. Recognizing the belief my support system has in me, pushes me to overcome the many obstacles that confront me. I would not be where I am today without all my support system."

MEMBERSHIP CORNER
Catalyst Awards Nomination Period Open Until May 16

The AMAC Catalyst Awards honors individuals and corporations who have made outstanding positive contributions to furthering the goals of AMAC. All AMAC members are invited to nominate individuals or organizations in one or more of the categories listed below. Winners will be honored each year at the AMAC Airport Business Diversity Conference.

O'Hare Builds Central Deicing Facility to Improve Ground Flow

A new aircraft deicing facility is helping carriers cycle gates more quickly by moving the crucial pre-flight process away from the terminal to the west side of the airport. As a result, passengers should spend less time waiting on the tarmac and in hold rooms.

HMSHost Recognized as a Leader in Marketing and Social Media Innovation

Global restaurateur HMSHost was recognized as a leader in marketing and digital innovation after receiving top honors by The Moodies, as well as the Adrian Awards. Among the awards, HMSHost's Eat Well. Travel Further., Food Fight for Veterans and Channel Your Inner Chef campaigns and experiences were recognized.

LAWA and URW Outline Midfield Satellite Concourse Concession Opportunities

Los Angeles World Airports and its development partners, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield Airports, have announced the Competitive Evaluation Process for concessions for the new Midfield Satellite Concourse at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

INDUSTRY UPDATES
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Civil Rights is seeking public input on potential guidance, modifications or revisions regarding the Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program (i.e., 49 C.F.R. part 23) that would clarify and enhance the overall implementation of the program. After hosting its first listening session on Subparts A and B, the FAA has scheduled its second listening session, which will focus on Subpart C of 49 C.F.R. part 23, on Thursday April 4, 2019 from 1:00 PM- 3:00 PM (EDT). 

NOTE: This session is strictly for the purpose of addressing areas of subpart C and its application in 49 C.F.R. part 23 (the Regulation) only. Comments are limited to no more than 3 minutes. To ensure that input is received and considered, the FAA requests that participants electronically submit feedback or additional points for discussion no later than 5 PM on Monday, April 1, 2019 to 9-AWA-ACR-ACDBE-review23@faa.gov.   

Alexis Higgins Is New Tulsa International Airport CEO

Tulsa International Airport Deputy Airport Director, Alexis Higgins has been confirmed as the new CEO. She became interim CEO last December following Mark VanLoh's departure to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. She had also been considered after Jeff Mulder left in October 2016. 

New SITA Report Finds Mobile Baggage Notification Boosts Passenger Satisfaction

SITA's 2019 Passenger IT Insights concludes that passengers want more mobile services in relation to their baggage, noting that 26% of travelers used their mobile device to track their bags last year.

US Aviation Agency to Overhaul Oversight After Boeing Crashes

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will significantly change its oversight approach to air safety by July, a U.S. transport department official said on Tuesday, following two fatal Boeing MAX 737 plane crashes.