AMAC Airport Leadership Collective Fireside Chat
The AMAC ALC Fireside Chat series continues to support women in navigating their careers and providing recommendations for elevating their careers to senior-level opportunities within the aviation industry.
Moderator
Karen W. Ellis, Assistant General Manager – Customer Experience, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Karen W. Ellis serves as the Assistant General Manager – Chief Customer Experience Officer for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. She has returned to the World’s Busiest Airport, the Most Efficient Airport, and the 2024 Best Airport in North America* where her aviation career began. Karen has 25 years of aviation experience in leadership and customer service by serving with the following airports: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, San Antonio Airport System, and the Houston Airport System.
Karen earned a Master of Science degree in Human Resources Management from Troy University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Jacksonville State University. In conjunction with her educational background, Karen is a certified Customer Care Manager by the Customer Service Institute, certified Customer Service Manager by the Customer Service Institute of America, and a certified Customer Experience Manager by Airport Council International ACI. Through Toastmasters International, Karen has achieved the status of Competent Toastmaster, Advance Toastmaster Bronze, and Competent Leader.
Karen currently serves as an At-Large Board Member and Event Planning Chair for the Airport Minority Advisory Council AMAC, a member of the Marketing, Communications, and Customer Experience Steering Committee with Airport Council International ACI.
Under Karen’s leadership, the San Antonio International Airport SAT was in the top three airports in North America for Customer Experience for four consecutive years and return for a fifth year after the pandemic. She was the recipient of the 2020 ACI – Ted Bushelman Award, the 2023 Chairman’s Award and 2024 Charles “CJ’ Johnson Award from AMAC and the 2024 Hall of Fame recipient from SMART Airports.
*According to Airport Council International
Panel
Marlene Coleman, Director, Strategic Alliances, Areas USA
Marlene Coleman is the Director of Strategic Alliances for Areas USA, where she leads the company’s engagement with Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) partners, industry organizations, airport authorities, and municipal stakeholders. In this role, she focuses on building strategic partnerships that expand opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses while supporting inclusive growth within the airport concessions industry. An Accredited Airport Executive, Ms. Coleman, has more than 20 years of leadership experience in aviation, government operations, and concessions management. Her career has been defined by her commitment to developing equitable business opportunities, strengthening industry partnerships, and driving operational excellence in complex public-sector environments.
Before joining Areas USA, Ms. Coleman spent more than two decades with the City of Atlanta’s Department of Aviation, advancing through several leadership positions at the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. As Concessions Director, she managed a $1 billion concessions and rental car program, served as liaison to 53 concessionaires and 12 rental car companies, and led a 15-member professional staff responsible for ensuring concept quality, service excellence, and compliance across more than 338 concessions locations. She directed strategic planning, revenue management, RFP and bid development, concessions buildouts, lease administration, and program-wide service delivery.
Wendy Reiter, Managing Director, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
Wendy Reiter is the Managing Director of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). Reiter stepped into the role as SEA turns the page on a bold new chapter, focused on the vision for the future of the airport. She leads a division of 1,200 direct employees while managing the eleventh-busiest airport by passenger volume in the U.S. with connections to more than 130 destinations worldwide. As the Port of Seattle’s largest line of business, SEA supported nearly 175,000 regional jobs in 2023, worth $10.5 billion in wages and benefits and $33.3 billion in business output. In addition, hundreds of private businesses employ as many as 24,000 workers at the airport.
The Managing Director for SEA also plays an important role in the community by representing the Port in community dialogue, including as the chair for the SEA Stakeholder Advisory Round Table (StART) and as a representative on the Highline Forum.
Reiter previously served as the Director of Aviation Security and Emergency Preparedness for the Port of Seattle. She led the Fire Department, Emergency Preparedness, Security Strategy and Intelligence, and Credentialing Center, in addition to serving as liaison to on-site enforcement agencies. While in this role, Reiter became a national leader in cyber response and was part of a number of initiatives which enhanced the safety, health, and security of the airport. Reiter’s history with the Port also includes positions in Airport Operations.
Prior to her 24-year tenure with the Port of Seattle, Reiter was a sought-after station manager for Southwest Airlines and the Director of Customer Service for Northwest Airlines. She has been honored with numerous industry awards for her outstanding contributions to counterterrorism, aviation, leadership, and customer service.
Bianca Salas, Customer Experience Specialist, Indianapolis Airport Authority
Bianca Salas began her journey with the Indianapolis Airport Authority in 2017 as a part-time cashier and has steadily advanced into her current role as a Customer Experience Specialist within Commercial Enterprise. With a foundation in operations and guest engagement, she now leads customer-focused initiatives that enhance the experiences of millions of travelers each year.
Bianca holds an Associate of Science and a Technical Certificate in Early Childhood Education from Ivy Tech Community College. She is a graduate of the Axis Leadership Program and currently serves on its Steering Committee, supporting the development of emerging professionals in the City of Indianapolis. She previously co-chaired the IAA’s Next Gen Leaders Group, helping to cultivate leadership pathways within the organization.
In 2024, Bianca joined the inaugural cohort of Latinos in Aviation at the Airport Experience News (AXN) Conference. She was also invited to join the Airport Experience Conference Young Professionals Group in 2025, further expanding her engagement with national industry leaders.
Bianca was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Twenty in Their Twenties Class of 2025, recognizing her professional growth and community impact.
Recognized for her collaborative leadership style and commitment to inclusive service, Bianca brings both strategic perspective and heart to her work. She is passionate about creating spaces where operational excellence and cultural empathy intersect, strengthening both the traveler experience and the industry at large.
L’Tryce Slade, Managing Director, Slade Land Use Environmental & Transportation Planning, LLC
Slade Land Use Environmental and Transportation Planning, LLC (Slade), CEO L’Tryce Slade Thomas, has been an achiever since her teenage years in the small town of Ahoskie, NC, where she grew up. She remembers being recognized by her school and local newspapers as a young person destined to do great things. The desire to reach her potential led her to pursue two bachelor’s degrees at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, as well as master’s and law degrees in her early adulthood. Along the way, she had no idea that entrepreneurship would be where she would face some of her most significant challenges while achieving her highest achievements.
L’Tryce launched Slade in 2006 as a consulting firm based in Birmingham, Alabama, redefining what it means to be an Owner’s Representative. As a licensed general contractor, Slade can build, which enhances our ability to manage construction projects. We act solely as the Owner’s advocate —free from conflicts of interest — focusing entirely on transparency, schedule, fiscal stewardship, and protecting your budget.
Founded in 2006, Slade is a multi-disciplined general contracting firm specializing in construction management for public and private clients nationwide. Certified in environmental services, geotechnical testing, and urban planning, Slade brings unmatched insight and extensive industry experience. Our proven track record in providing owner’s representative services ensures that every project is managed with a focus on quality, accountability, and results.
