AMAC Legends & Leapers: August 2026
AMAC Legends & Leapers is a virtual conversation series featuring an aviation industry legend and leaper.
Legend
Frederic Estes is President of Estes Enterprises, Inc., a Minnesota-based family business that operates a network of airport retail stores at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and Tampa International Airport (TPA). As the son of founders Fred and Earline Estes, he has led the company since 1987, guiding its growth from a small retail operation into a respected airport concessions business serving millions of travelers each year.
Founded in 1973 as a single Hallmark store, Estes Enterprises successfully transitioned into airport retail during the 1980s and today operates 15 stores offering travel essentials, electronics, snacks, reading materials, and convenience items. Under Frederic’s leadership, the company has built a reputation for exceptional customer service and a welcoming shopping experience that reflects Minnesota hospitality.
Beyond his business accomplishments, Frederic is deeply committed to community engagement and economic development. He serves on several boards and advisory councils, including the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce, the MEDA MBE Advisory Council, and the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development Advisory Board. He also supports educational opportunities through initiatives such as the Fred & Earline Estes Scholarship at the University of Minnesota.
Recognized for his dedication to both entrepreneurship and community service, Frederic has helped position Estes Enterprises as a longstanding and valued presence in the airport retail industry. His leadership reflects a commitment to innovation, family business values, and creating opportunities that strengthen the communities the company serves.
Leaper
As CEO and Owner of Geathers Enterprises, Inc., Rachel Geathers has spent more than three decades building a family-owned retail business into one of Charlotte Douglas International Airport’s most recognized and top-performing concession operations.
Before taking the helm of her family’s airport retail business, Rachel built an impressive career in the private sector with Coca-Cola North America and Ogilvy & Mather, NYC. Her work centered on developing award-winning brand advertising campaigns for some of the world’s most recognizable brands, including Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite, and Kool-Aid. That experience helped shape the entrepreneurial, creative, and strategic approach she brings to business and community leadership today.
A lifelong believer in the power of relationships, innovation, and giving back, Rachel is equally passionate about investing in her family and her community. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she is a proud mother of two and remains actively engaged in initiatives that strengthen the Charlotte community.
Rachel is a founding charter Member of the AMAC Charlotte Chapter and proudly serves as the Chapter’s first Secretary. She is passionate about creating opportunities, building meaningful connections, and helping others turn ideas into action.
Known as an innovator, entrepreneur, and fearless community builder, Rachel brings a unique combination of business experience, creativity, and servant leadership to every room she enters—and she is excited to continue building, connecting, and making an impact through AMAC.
Moderators
Lauryn Mangum Reed is the Executive Vice President for TMG Hospitality USA, the Phoenix-based parent company, comprised of LAM Holdings, TMG Services, PMCS, and TMG Development; Award-winning Food and Beverage and Retail operations within airports, real estate and land development Lauryn is also the owner of Lauryn Ashley Management and Consulting, a boutique company that lends its expertise to individuals and small businesses for development, consulting, RFP creation and proposal assistance.
Over the last decade, Lauryn’s aviation industry experience has spanned from ACDBE (small business) start-up and operations to business development, strategic planning, innovation, and technology for multi-million- and billion-dollar international organizations. She is the Airport Minority Advisory Board (AMAC) Trade Board Secretary, AMAC’s Emerging Leaders Committee Chair, and Airport Council International North America (ACI-NA) Business Diversity Steering Committee member. She volunteers with the Salvation Army Metro Phoenix on its board initiatives.
Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Lauryn left for warmer winters. She earned her BS in Business with a Minor in Communications from Arizona State University, where she became a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. As a wife and mom of two little ones, daughter Londyn and son Legend, Lauryn has an affinity for people, representation, and diversity in her day-to-day life. She strongly advocates for work/life synergy and empowers women to pursue their full potential.
Ricky Dorell Smith, as the Airport General Manager of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—the world’s busiest and most efficient airport—Ricky Smith leads one of the most critical aviation and economic hubs globally. He is responsible for the overall governance, strategic direction, and operational oversight of an airport that serves more than 108 million passengers annually, facilitates over 2,700 daily aircraft operations, and generates more than $750 million in annual operating revenue, reinforcing ATL’s status as an economic powerhouse.
Mr. Ricky Smith most recently served as Executive Director and CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA), where he was responsible for the management and operations of Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Martin State Airport, and regional aviation activities throughout the State of Maryland.
Smith has over 30 years of aviation management experience, working in Baltimore and Cleveland. Since returning to BWI Marshall in 2015, Smith led the airport to five consecutive record-setting years for passengers, including restoring BWI Marshall as the busiest airport in the Washington/Baltimore region and the Best Airport in North America for Customer Service according to Airport Council International.
He established a culture of performance, customer service, safety, and innovation, leading the airports to receive several other national and regional awards for customer service, capital development, and marketing, including Emmy Awards in 2018 and 2019. In 2017, the LaunchPad program was launched to provide minority-owned micro-businesses with the opportunity to participate in BWI Marshall’s thriving food and retail program without barriers to entry. In 2015, he launched the BWI Marshall Youth Initiative, aimed at introducing Baltimore City youth to careers in aviation and transportation. To date, over 100 youths have participated in this program.
He has been recognized as the ‘Best State Executive for Minority Business Enterprise’ by the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association (2022), ‘Leon C. Watkins Guardian Award’ recipient by Airports Council International/North America (2020), ‘Man of the Year’ by Women Transportation Seminar (2019), ‘Leadership in Excellence’ by Leadership Anne Arundel (2019), ‘Power 10 CEO’ by the Baltimore Business Journal (2018), ‘People Who Move America’ by the Boys Scouts of America (2018), ‘Thomas G. Newsome Founder’s Leadership Award’ by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (2018), ‘Influential Marylander’ by The Daily Record (2017), the Maryland Washington Minority Companies Association ‘Black History Hero’ award (2017), ‘Most Influential CEO in Northeast Ohio’ by Crain’s Magazine (2014, 2013), ‘National Executive of the Year’ by the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (2010), and ‘Congressional Achievement Award’ from Congressman Elijah Cummings (2006).
