Court Grants Intervention to Minority and Women-Owned Business Groups Defending Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program
AMAC continues its role as part of a coalition vigorously defending the constitutionality of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE), ensuring its continued role in advancing economic opportunity and fairness in federally funded contracting. As of May 21, 2025, in a critical win for equity in public contracting, the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Kentucky granted a coalition of minority—and women-owned businesses and trade organizations the right to intervene to defend the … Read More
Recap: 2025 AMAC Economic Opportunity & Policy Forum
We recently hosted the AMAC Economic Opportunity & Policy Forum from March 26–28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Thank you to our members, sponsors and partners for making this event successful! Day 2: Wednesday, March 26, 2025 AMAC members gathered at the forum’s host hotel for an energizing Capitol Hill prep session led by Nigel Stephens, Principal of Phoenix Strategies, alongside AMAC Government Affairs Chairs Farad Ali, Executive Chairman of Asociar, and Gonzalo de la Melena Jr., Founder and CEO … Read More
AMAC Kicks Off the 2025 Economic Opportunity & Policy Forum in Washington, DC to Advance Opportunities in Aviation
WASHINGTON, DC (March 26, 2025) — The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) alongside Baltimore Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) is proud to host the 2025 AMAC Economic Opportunity & Policy Forum, taking place March 24–26, 2025, at the Washington Marriott at Metro Center. This annual event brings together key aviation industry leaders, government officials, policymakers and business professionals for a powerful exchange of ideas, strategies and partnerships aimed at advancing opportunities for small businesses across the aviation sector. The … Read More
Ricky Smith AMAC Board of Directors Chair Appointed to General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
WASHINGTON, DC (February 27, 2025) — The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) congratulates Ricky Smith, AMAC Board of Directors Chair, on his appointment to General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Read the full press release. “Congratulations to AMAC’s esteemed Board Chair Ricky Smith on this well-deserved recognition! Your leadership and commitment to excellence continue to set the standard in the aviation industry. Your dedication to innovation, expanding opportunities for small businesses and facilitating partnerships is truly inspiring. I look … Read More
Coalition Seeks to Defend Lifeline for Transportation Businesses Owned by Women and People of Color
AMAC, as part of a coalition, moves to intervene in the Mid-America Milling Company v. the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) case to vigorously defend the constitutionality of the DBE program, ensuring its continued role in advancing economic opportunity and fairness in federally funded contracting. Press Release: https://democracyforward.org/updates/coalition-seeks-to-defend-lifeline-for-transportation-businesses-owned-by-women-and-people-of-color
Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Condemns Trump Administration Executive Orders Dismantling DEI Programs and Opposes Rollback of Equity Efforts
Washington, DC (January 22, 2025) — The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) strongly condemns the recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump: “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity” and “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” These actions represent a significant step backward in the fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across federal agencies, contractors, and the private sector. These executive orders mandate the elimination of DEI programs, the closure of equity-focused offices, and the … Read More
2024 AMAC Board of Directors Appointments
WASHINGTON, DC (November 18, 2024) — The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) is pleased to announce recent appointments to the 2024 AMAC Board of Directors. At-Large Directors Karen Ellis, Airport Assistant General Manager – Chief Customer Experience Officer, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Chair, AMAC Event Planning Committee Nikki T. Harland, Chief Operating Officer, Paradies Lagardère Justina Mann, President & Managing Principal, Blue Ink Group Chair, AMAC Chapters Development Committee Gonzalo de la Melena Jr., Founder & CEO, Emerging Airport Ventures … Read More
AMAC Forward: Preparing for Incoming Administration Changes
The stakes are higher than ever before. AMAC’s existence is more critical as we relentlessly pursue our mission of advancing the full participation of minorities and women in employment and contracting opportunities throughout the aviation and aerospace industries. With the 2024 Presidential Election results, we anticipate the landscape of aviation and aerospace to continue to evolve, and we are more committed to ensuring that individuals and companies from diverse backgrounds have equal access to opportunities for advancement, growth, and success. As a … Read More
AMAC, ATL and MBDA Announce Historic Partnership to Support Minority Business Growth
ATLANTA, GA (November 2, 2024) — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is pleased to announce a landmark partnership between the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU was signed Tuesday, Oct. 22 at the Georgia World Congress Center during the National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week. This partnership signifies a collaborative commitment to empower minority-owned businesses within the aviation industry and … Read More