AMAC Emerging Leaders Cocktails & Conversations
Aviation 101 Thinktank: How Young Professionals Break Into a Multi-Billion Dollar Industry
Aviation is arguably one of the only industries where no matter your background, discipline, education, career or area of expertise, there is an opportunity for you to create a space for yourself. Join AMAC’s Emerging Leaders and young professionals from across the country as we discuss different perspectives and careers within the aviation industry!
Grab a cocktail/mocktail and join the conversation to discuss:
- What are the steps to begin your aviation career?
- How do you discover opportunities in your area?
- Best practices for creating growth opportunities for entrepreneurs, architects, sustainability experts, designers and more.
Conversation Leaders:
Airport
Jose Cuevas
Vice Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee
Senior Manager, Commercial, JFK International Air Terminal
Jose oversees the contractual retail and services relationships, ACDBE, LBE and other commercial DEI-related efforts. He supports the commercial redevelopment at Terminal 4, JFK International Airport’s largest and busiest terminal. Jose is a commercial operation professional with over 15 years of experience in commercial development/operations, operational readiness and transition, and guest service development and execution in the hospitality, retail and travel industries. Jose is passionate about aviation, commercial operations and service excellence. Previously, Jose worked as a Commercial Operations Manager for LaGuardia Gateway Partners, the developer and operator of LaGuardia Airport Terminal B, where he supported the delivery of a new world-class commercial program and led various operational and transition efforts, development and innovation-related initiatives and the day-to-day commercial operations. Before his time at Terminal B, Jose led the opening of luxury boutiques at JFK Terminal 8, and handled the sales and logistics operations of various departments at flagship stores for Macy’s and Target and more. Jose started his career in commercial operations with American Airlines, where he held various operational roles in ramp control, airport administration and in-flight services. Jose holds a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Management from York College/CUNY and a master’s degree in Urban Affairs from Queens College/CUNY. Jose was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and is fluent in Spanish.
Architecture
Julius Cousin III
Detroit Office Lead/Project Manager, Infra-Eng.Inc
Julius began his engineering career by interning during his summers while in college. His first internship began in the summer of 2007 with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) in District 1 (Shaumburg, IL), where his passion for engineering grew. He returned as an intern the following two summers, and in the summer of his senior year, he interned with Infrastructure Engineering, Inc. (IEI).
In December 2010, Julius graduated from Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and began his career as a Civil Engineer with IDOT in District 4 (Peoria, IL). During his time with IDOT he learned all facets of the job, including inspection and roadway design, as well as performed local road reviews. This provided a great base for his transition IEI in 2012, where Julius dedicated his passion to engineering and grew from design engineer/inspector to Project Manager/Resident Engineer.
In September 2021, IEI opened its Detroit, Michigan office. IEI wanted a physical presence in the city to show its commitment to Michigan. Mr. Cousin volunteered to move from Chicago to Michigan, where he was excited to provide leadership and establish a local presence for IEI. Since the office has continued to grow through winning projects both as a Prime and Sub Design Consultant and hiring additional personnel, he is looking forward to growing IEI’s Aviation experience, which includes work with Indianapolis Airport Authority, Chicago Department of Aviation, O’Hare International Airport, Midway International Airport, and United Airlines to Michigan.
Concessions
Mori Russell
Southeast Regional Director, AMAC Board of Directors
Vice Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee
Business Development Manager, Concessions International
Mori Russell is an entrepreneur and leads Business Development at Concession International, an airport food and beverage company. Mori is a third-generation leader of her family business, Concessions International, which was started 40+ years ago by her grandfather. She is the owner of Olle Fit, a wellness company focused on mind, body, & spirit. Mori also owns a consulting firm, MCR Services LLC, where she provides development and community outreach work.
Mori graduated in 2015 with a Master of International Business from Florida International University. While in school, she founded and operated her first company, an accessory boutique, O’Amor, in Miami, Florida and online.
Aside from her daily business-oriented goals and operations, she leads Concessions International’s Corporate Social Responsibility Arm, CI Cares, serves as the Southeast Regional Director for the Airport Minority Advisory Council, and serves on the YMCA Metro Atlanta Ambassador Board. Mori shares her late grandfather, Herman Jerome Russell’s, passion for entrepreneurship and supporting impactful causes to communities.
Construction
Victor Harris
Business Development Manager, CMTS
Born in Denver, Colorado, Victor Harris’s journey into the aviation world began in his teens as a manager of five retail stores at Denver International Airport. After graduating with a degree in Architecture from the Howard University College of Architecture and Computer Science, Victor worked in commercial office space, retail, hospitality (hotels and resorts), residential, medical and higher education. After which, he returned home and worked as a Project Manager for tenant build-outs at DEN.
Always looking for ways to improve, Victor spent eight years in sales, management and training, gaining valuable experience that he has been able to use in his current role as the Business Development Manager for CMTS.
A student of growth and leadership, Victor has also been responsible for hiring, training and developing sales teams in multiple capacities. This love of equipping individuals and businesses with the tools to create success led Victor to return to CMTS.
A proud husband and father of two, Victor understands the legacy and responsibility being a member of the CMTS family brings. He is committed to continuing the vision of “improving lives and communities, one infrastructure project at a time” for CMTS clients and employees.
Product
Chris & Fay Breedlove
Founders, TERMINAL B
Chris & Fay Breedlove are the founders of TERMINAL B, a Black-owned luxury fragrance brand that merges scent and travel through airport-coded candles. Founded in 2020 in response to global travel restrictions, TERMINAL B pays homage to international travel via Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. Before launching TERMINAL B, Chris & Fay founded a successful executive search firm specializing in placing diverse attorneys at AM Law 100 firms around the country. Chris earned his B.S. in Marketing, Magna Cum Laude, from Hampton University and J.D. from Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC. Fay earned her B.A. from the University of Southern California and J.D. from Howard University School of Law in Washington, DC.
Technology
Lauryn Mangum Reed
Secretary, AMAC Board of Directors
Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee
Vice President, Business Development, Servy
Lauryn Mangum Reed’s industry experience started in 2012 when her family opened a café in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (The Refuge Coffee Food and Wine) as a subtenant of HMSHost. She played an integral role in the framework, opening, operations and staff training and became the Director of Sales and Marketing.
In 2017, Mangum Reed joined Stellar Partners as Business Development Coordinator and was later named Director of Innovation and Business Development. Lauryn supported the department in many facets, from coordinating RFPs to working closely with ACDBE partners, with a strong emphasis on innovation, technology and strategy.
Lauryn recently transitioned from retail concessions to the Vice President of Business Development for the global, omnichannel enterprise, self-service hospitality Servy (Grab) platform. Through the suite of contactless order and pay solutions, Servy enables partners to drive operational efficiencies and enhance the guest experience while improving profitability. Lauryn is responsible for business development and strategic partnership activities for the Servy (Grab) Airport Marketplace with airport authorities, developers and restaurant and retail partners throughout the Americas.
Although considered an emerging leader, Lauryn’s industry involvement is vast. Mangum Reed serves as the Co-Chair for AMAC’s Emerging Leaders Committee, Secretary of the AMAC Board of Directors and Member of the ACI-NA Business Diversity Steering Committee.
Lauryn has an affinity for people, representation and diversity in her day-to-day life, the aviation industry is no exception. Lauryn graduated from Arizona State University and became a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. As a new mom and wife, Lauryn strongly advocates for work/life balance and empowering women to do everything they desire!