11 Sep 2025

AMAC Submits Letter for Record – House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure Holds Hearing on Expanding Opportunities for Small Business Contractors

On September 10, 2025, the House Small Business Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure held the hearing titled “Leveling the Playing Field: Fostering Opportunities for Small Business Contractors.”  On September 11, 2025, AMAC sent a letter to the committee, highlighting the importance of preserving the DBE program and its role in advancing three vital national interests: economic growth, equity and fairness, and innovation and resilience. The letter also expressed concern about recent policies that have created significant barriers, threatening the survival … Read More
8 Sep 2025

AMAC Submits Comments on RFI – Advancing a Surface Transportation Proposal That Focuses on America’s Most Fundamental Infrastructure Needs

On July 21, 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Office of the Secretary published a Request for Information (RFI): Advancing a Surface Transportation Proposal That Focuses on America’s Most Fundamental Infrastructure Needs to the Federal Register in preparation for the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. DOT invited public input on the next surface transportation authorizing legislation, with comments accepted through the RFI that closed September 8, 2025 (extended from August 20).   On September 8, 2025, AMAC submitted comments urging … Read More
14 Aug 2025

A Celebration of Legacy and Lift-Off: 40th Annual AMAC Airport Business Conference Recap

  The 40th Annual AMAC Airport Business Conference took off in New Orleans with energy and purpose, celebrating 40 years of promoting equity in the aviation industry. Hosted by the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, the conference combined history, innovation and lively cultural energy into an engaging, multi-day event. Themed “Honoring Our Past, Forging Our Future,” this milestone gathering brought together over 1,500 aviation professionals, businesses, policymakers and emerging leaders to celebrate achievements and plan a bold future. The … Read More
31 Jul 2025

Runway to Success: Taking Flight at the 40th Annual AMAC Airport Business Conference

On Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at the 40th Annual AMAC Airport Business Conference in New Orleans, the Runway to Success Final Supplier Pitch Competition lifted off before a standing-room-only audience—spotlighting innovative, scalable products from minority- and women-owned businesses seeking to enter the airport concessions and retail marketplace. 🛫 A Launchpad for Opportunity Modeled after the popular “Shark Tank” format, the pitch competition unfolded in two high-energy rounds: Ready for Takeoff 8 – Eight finalists emerged from regional competitions. Final Approach … Read More

2 Jul 2025

Results of the 2025 AMAC Board of Directors Elections

New Orleans, LA (July 2, 2025)—Check out the results of the 2025 AMAC Board of Directors Elections! Treasurer: William “Bill” Swift, Owner & President, Business Traveler Services, Inc. Secretary: Siobhan Higgins, Managing Director, Ten Thirty Media Northeast Regional Director: Indhira Figuereo Blaney, Senior Vice President, National Aviation / Market Leader, WSP USA Central Regional Director: Shelia Hudson, Principal & CEO, Hudson and Associates Northwest Regional Director: Jeannie Killebrew, President, Killebrew | Killebrew, Inc At-Large Director: Lauryn Mangum Reed, Executive Vice President, TMG Hospitality USA
25 Jun 2025

Minority and Women-Owned Business Groups Oppose Proposed Agreement that Threatens Landmark Remedial 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. “The DBE Program isn’t just a policy—it’s a pathway for diverse businesses to contribute meaningfully to infrastructure, innovation, and job creation,” said Eboni Wimbush, President & CEO of the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC). “This rushed and unfair consent order would … Read More
11 Jun 2025

AMAC Selects 8 Outstanding Small Businesses from the Inaugural Runway to Success Supplier Pitch Competitions Across the Country to Compete at the 40th Annual AMAC Airport Business Conference

Washington, DC (June 11, 2025) — The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) proudly announces the Round 1 winners of its newly launched Runway to Success program that recently hosted two supplier pitch competitions in Baton Rouge, LA and St. Louis, MO. These “Shark-Tank” tournament-style pitch competitions offered suppliers an opportunity to expand their business into the airport food and retail industry. “Each Runway to Success event offered participants invaluable opportunities for mentorship, exposure and funding as they presented their business models … Read More
23 May 2025

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
9 Apr 2025

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 1: 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 of … Read More

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Judges

Each Runway to Success Competition will feature a judging panel composed of industry executives and business owners with expertise across the airport, aviation and transportation sectors, including operations, procurement and supplier management.

The final pitch competition, held at the AMAC Airport Business Conference, will feature a VIP panel of leaders from the largest airport food and retail operators in North America who possess the authority to extend a business offer.

Suppliers

Supplier applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Suppliers of Goods and Services Positioned to Support Growth, Innovation or Customer Experience in the Aviation Industry

  • Suppliers Offering Strategic, Innovative or Scalable Solutions

  • Must Be Registered as a Legal Business Entity and in Good Standing

  • At Least 51% Minority- or Woman-Owned

  • Able to Clearly Articulate the Value of Their Product or Service in a Short Pitch Format

  • Must Be Available to Attend the Live Pitch Event

  • Must Not Currently Have or Be In the Process of Establishing an Agreement With Any Operators or Airport Concessionaires

APPLY

HOSTS

AMAC is accepting applications from partners to host one of the eight (8) first-round Runway to Success Supplier Pitch Competitions.

Hosting a first-round competition is critical to the overall Runway to Success Supplier Competition. Each host site serves as a gateway for local and regional entrepreneurs, small businesses and ACDBEs to access AMAC’s national platform and connect to contracting and partnership opportunities.

APPLY