Our AMAC Economic Opportunity and Policy Forum, which took place March 20–21, 2022, at the Washington Marriott Metro Center, in Washington, DC, was a success! AMAC thanks our gracious forum host, the Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, for their support. We also want to extend special thanks to the speakers and sponsors—the forum couldn't have occurred without you'll! The forum welcomed aviation industry leaders, government officials and business representatives to exchange ideas, share entrepreneurship best practices and seek innovation in diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the aviation and aerospace industries. View the forum photos.

In partnership with the Chicago Department of Aviation, we will present the 37th Annual AMAC Airport Business Diversity Conference: Redefining Aviation Opportunities Together from June 20–23, 2022 in Chicago, IL! #AMAC2022 registration is open! Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Secure your spot today and visit the event website for more information. AMAC members, don't forget to cast your votes for the AMAC Catalyst Awards by April 18, 2022!

For Women's History Month, we're hosting an all-women's panel for AMAC Legends & Leapers! Register to join us for a fun and insightful discussion on March 30, 2022 at 2pm ET. Andrella Kenner, AMAC Foundation Board Member; Founder & President of CI2 Aviation and Tonja Pastorelle, AMAC Midwest/Great Lakes Regional Director and President of Pastorelle Marketing Group are our featured aviation industry legends. Lauryn Mangum Reed, Secretary, AMAC Board of Directors; Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee; and Vice President of Business Development, Servy and Mori Russell, AMAC Southeast Regional Director; Vice Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee; and Business Development Manager, Concessions International are our industry leapers.

The AMAC Airport Leadership Collective (ALC) is kicking off a quarterly series of conversations to create engagement between current and former airport leaders and individuals navigating their careers, including discussion topics on leadership to problem-solving. We encourage you to join the first installment of our series with industry leaders Thella Bowens, Former CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Gladys D. Brown, Director, Yuma International Airport, Angela Gittens, Former Director General, Airports Council International – ACI World and Cynthia Guidry, Director, Long Beach Airport. Register to participate in the discussion on March 31, 2022 at 6:00 pm ET.

AMAC members, mark your calendars for the next AMAC Thirds Fridays Virtual Membership Meeting on April 21, 2022 at 12:00 pm ET!

If you missed last month's AMAC Legends & Leapers, watch the conversation between aviation industry legend Simeon Terry, Second Vice Chair, AMAC Board of Directors; Vice President of Diversity Affairs, Austin Commercial, and industry leaper Toyin Ogunfolaju, Infrastructure and Social-Economic Inclusion Leader, Jacobs, on the AMAC YouTube channel. Lauryn Mangum Reed, Secretary, AMAC Board of Directors; Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee; and Vice President of Business Development, Servy and Ricky Smith, Chair, AMAC Board of Directors; CEO, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport moderated the discussion.

Areas USA, Inc., a leading provider of food & beverage and retail services in the travel industry, announced the appointment of Pauline Armbrust as Vice President of Marketing and Communications. A creator of airport concession and industry publications, Armbrust is responsible for designing, implementing and managing the company's comprehensive communications and marketing strategy.

AECOM, the world’s trusted infrastructure consulting firm, announced Dwight H. Pullen, Jr., an aviation industry veteran, to lead its North American aviation practice. Mr. Pullen joined the industry’s leading global transportation design firm as a Senior Vice President. With more than 25 years’ experience driving strategic growth within the aviation infrastructure market, Mr. Pullen will leverage his focus on airport facilities’ development, airport operational excellence and client engagement to extend the growth of AECOM’s aviation business in the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Mr. Pullen has expertise in program management, alternative delivery and construction and has overseen multi-billion-dollar airport modernization programs from Atlanta, GA, to Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Fashion brand Vera Bradley has opened its first store at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminal 1. The store is owned and operated by Skyview Concessions Founder & CEO Apryl Stewart in collaboration with Los Angeles World Airport. Skyview Concessions is a 100% Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACBDE) operator. Vera Bradley is Stewart’s first independently owned and operated boutique. It currently employs seven staff members at the LAX location.

Florida Organics by Canviiy is a unique concept within Orlando International Airport (MCO) that offers a curated premium selection of Florida-made organic and natural health & beauty aids designed to create indulgent experiences of calm, healing and well-being. “Orlando International has a rich history of working with and helping small and minority-owned companies with unique and desirable products and services,” says Yovannie Rodriguez, Chief Administrative Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. “Small business is the backbone of our local economy, and by working with companies such as Florida Organics by Canviiy, we help not only our travelers but also the overall economic health of the community.”

This immersive botanical haven provides stress-melting products to revive and uplift the senses, offering the perfect destination for travelers to explore the benefits of nature’s ingenuity. Featured brands include Naples Soap Company, Key West Aloe, Stream2Sea, Nardo’s Natural, Healium Hair, Beloved Box and Canviiy. “We’re incredibly honored to partner with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. The opening of Florida Organics represents a new way of retailing that connects and serves the personal needs of travelers, as many are transitioning to healthier lifestyles and seeking to integrate natural and organic health & beauty aids to improve their quality of life. As an innovator in the aviation industry, Orlando International has a deep commitment to redefining the passenger experience continuously; therefore, we shared an aligned vision to introduce a unique, organic concept that taps into the modern consumer shift toward healthier lifestyles and personal well-being. The MCO Small Business & Concessions teams are nothing short of amazing; special thanks to George Morning, Tina Jackson and Teresa Smith for their phenomenal support, expertise and due diligence throughout the entire process.” said Canviiy Founder & CEO, Sherrel Sampson.

Minority-owned small business Concord Collective made history at Los Angeles International Airport—it is the first ACDBE business to take over the entire portfolio of a major food & beverage concession operator. Greg Plummer assembled a team of Black and minority partners to form Concord Collective, a 100% ACDBE business, which now employs 140 people. Los Angeles-based Concord Collective recently acquired SSP America’s LAX business and has eight dining locations under its ownership, a mix of national brands and its own bespoke brands.

Pinnacle West Capital Corp. announced Gonzalo A. de la Melena Jr., Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Phoenix-based Emerging Airport Ventures, has been elected to the company’s board of directors effective immediately. For nearly a decade, de la Melena served Arizona communities as President and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where he helped Latino-owned businesses find access to capital and resources to help them grow and prosper. He also was the Operator of the Minority Business Development Agency, the region’s leading advocate representing more than 200,000-plus minority business enterprises. In that capacity, he worked directly with national and regional economic development organizations and elected officials on supplier development, diversity, equity and inclusion.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) opened applications for airports to submit projects for the first $1 billion of the Airport Terminal Program funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The grant will fund safe, sustainable and accessible airport terminals, on-airport rail access projects and airport-owned airport traffic control towers, plus multimodal development. Apply by March 28, 2022.

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) issued solicitations for Polaris, the agency’s new small business-focused governmentwide acquisition contract (GWAC). Building on the success of 8(a) STARS III and VETS 2, this latest GWAC will include a greater focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence while furthering Administration efforts on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

The ACRP is hosting a free two-day event to expand participants’ understanding of the challenges posed by systemic racism in the aviation industry. Join this timely, proactive and insightful event from April 12–13, 2022, in Washington, DC.

GSA announced the new fiscal year (FY) 2022 goal for small disadvantaged business (SDB) contracting, GSA’s agency-wide prime contracting SDB goal for FY22 has been set at 21%, up from the government-wide statutory goal of 5% in FY21.

The U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce (USBC) ByBlack Platform is a national network of Black-owned businesses and Chambers of Commerce. Onboard your business on this free platform today!

Mark your calendars! The 13th Annual FAA National Civil Rights Training Conference for Airports returns virtually July 26–28, 2022.