As of March 13, 2024—Schedule Subject to Change

DAY 1 | Wednesday, March 13, 2024

8:00 am–4:30 pm

Location: U.S. Capitol

Capitol Hill Day

Members Only. Prep Webinar Required. Limited Space. First Come, First Served.

3:00 pm–5:00 pm

Location: Washington Marriott at Metro Center 

AMAC Board Meeting

DAY 2 | Thursday, March 14, 2024

Location: Washington Marriott at Metro Center

7:00 am–2:15 pm

Registration Desks Open

7:30 am–8:30 am

Networking Breakfast

8:30 am–8:45 am

Opening Remarks

  • Ricky Smith, Chair, AMAC Board of Directors/CEO, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
  • Eboni Wimbush, President & CEO, AMAC

8:45 am–9:00 am

Keynote Address

  • Eric Morrissette, Acting Under Secretary, U.S. Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)

9:05 am–10:05 am

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Panel

The panel will acknowledge the challenges facing DEI and supplier diversity, discuss the federal-level efforts to implement President Biden’s Executive Order Further Advancing Racial Equity & Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, address the evolving landscape of diversity and inclusion, plus share how to leverage agency programs and administrative initiatives.

 

Moderator:

  • Nigel Stephens, Principal, Phoenix Strategies 

 

Panel:

  • Diedra Henry-Spires, Senior Advisor, U.S. Small Business Administration
  • Ines Hernandez, Counsel for Equity, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • Irene Marion, Director, Departmental Office of Civil Rights Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation 

10:05 am–10:25 am

Networking Break

10:25 am–10:45 am

Congressional Updates

  • Brian Bell, Democratic Staff Director, House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation, U.S. House of Representatives

10:45 am–11:30 am

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Updates

Moderator:

  • Denise Bailey, Vice President, Aviation, Business Diversity & Accessibility Philadelphia International Airport

Panel:

  • John Benison, Assistant Administrator, Office of Civil Rights, FAA
  • Laurence Wildgoose, Assistant Administrator, Policy, International Affairs & Environment, FAA

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Destination Opportunity: How Airports Sustain Commitment to their Values, Stakeholders & Economic Progress Panel

Today, more than ever, airports must navigate challenges, leverage opportunities, and work with diverse partners to arrive at the shared destination of economic progress.  While airports serve an increasingly diverse traveling public and drive regional and national economic impact through jobs, contract opportunities, and modernizing infrastructure to meet cargo and passenger market demands, the political and legal climate is changing rapidly. Airports have recognized that strategies previously relied upon to drive supplier diversity and broaden economic impact—such as setting disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned business contract participation goals—may soon be curtailed or eliminated.

 

Moderator:

  • Amber Meshak, Director, Business, Jobs & Social Responsibility, Los Angeles World Airports
 
Panel: 
  • Balram B. Bheodari, Aviation General Manager, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport  
  • Ricky Smith, Chair, AMAC Board of Directors/CEO, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport  

12:30 pm–1:00 pm

Networking Break

1:00 pm–2:00 pm

Airport Opportunities Forum & Luncheon

Airport representatives will present upcoming procurement opportunities over the next 12–18 months.

 

  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  • Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International (BWI)
  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
  • Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)
  • Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
  • Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ)
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)

2:30 pm–3:00 pm

Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP) Signing Ceremony

AMAC, BWI and EIP leadership will sign the EIP Pledge.  EIP’s mission is to build generational wealth and reduce the racial wealth gap by improving public infrastructure contracting practices to create more prime, joint venture and equity contracting opportunities for Historically Underutilized Businesses (HUBs).

 

  • Phil Washington, CEO, Denver International Airport/Co-Founder, EIP
  • John Porcari, Former Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation/Co-Founder, EIP
  • Ricky Smith, Chair, AMAC Board of Directors/CEO, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
  • Eboni Wimbush, President & CEO, AMAC

3:00 pm–3:15 pm

Networking Break

3:15 pm–5:00 pm

Airport Information & Business Matchmaking Session

Attendees will be able to engage with airport representatives for information on upcoming procurement opportunities, plus business attendees can participate in a Business Matchmaking session.

 

  • Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS)
  • Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International (BWI)
  • Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW)
  • Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
  • Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
  • Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA)
  • Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
  • Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ)

3:00 pm–5:00 pm

EIP Board Meeting

5:00 pm–7:00 pm

Circle of Influence Reception

Sponsored by HNTB

DAY 3 | Friday, March 15, 2024

Location: Washington Marriott at Metro Center

7:00 am–8:00 am

Networking Breakfast

8:15 am–9:15 am

Breaking Down Barriers: Solutions for Leveling the Playing Field for Minority-Owned Businesses in Airport Contracting Panel

A critical part of the aviation ecosystem is minority- and women-owned businesses that support infrastructure growth, accelerate local economic development and increase American global competitiveness. However, they face significant barriers in competing for, executing, and operating contracts related to navigating the intricate procurement process, financial constraints to accessing capital, and less growth capital. The panel will discuss challenges, best practices and solutions to ensure minority and women-owned businesses have an equitable opportunity to participate, compete and thrive in airport contracting and build generational wealth.  

 

Moderator:  

  • Marlene Coleman, Director, Strategic Alliances, Areas 

 

Panel:

  • John Clark, Senior Vice President, Development, Airports and Airlines, SSP America

  • Pilar Guzman, CEO, Half Moon Empanadas

  • Nick Jean-Baptiste, Co-Managing Partner, Jacmel Partners

  • Yvette N. Stevens, Vice President, Economic Inclusion & Community Affairs, Gilbane Building Company

9:15 am–9:30 am

Keynote Address

  • Alejandra Castillo, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Economic Development Administration

9:45 am–9:55 am

Remarks

  • Bradley Mims, Director, Office of Small Business & Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Transportation 

9:55 am–10:55 am

Access to Capital Panel

Minority and women-owned businesses are the engines of the economy, yet they face historical barriers related to access to capital, including limited access to the capital funding market and investment capital. Operating in the airport environment adds additional challenges with increasing CapEx costs due to airport operational and security requirements. Concessionaires face unique challenges due to their inability to collateralize airport assets or lease agreements. This panel will discuss solutions to provide small businesses with equity investment and long-term loans.

Moderator:

  • Tosin Kasali, At-Large Director, AMAC Board of Directors/Vice President, Business Development, HMSHost by Avolta

 

Panel:

  • Samuel Boyd, Director, Access to Capital Initiative, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Transportation
  • Carlton Byrd, Managing Director, Investor & External Relations, American Triple
  • Charles Gurley Jr., Senior Vice President, Director, Commercial Lending, Liberty Bank & Trust Co
  • Tony Thomas, Managing Director, Harbor Bankshares Capital Corporation  

10:55 am–11:30 am

AMAC Legislative Priorities & Call to Action

AMAC Government Affairs Committee Chairs will share AMAC’s Strategy Call to Action. 

 

  • Farad Ali, Chair, AMAC Government Affairs Committee/President & CEO, Asociar
  • Franklin Lee, Partner, Tydings & Rosenberg LLP
  • Gonzalo de la Melena Jr., Vice Chair, AMAC Government Affairs Committee/Founder & CEO, Emerging Airport Ventures
  • Nigel Stephens, Principal, Phoenix Strategies

11:30 am

Forum Concludes