AMAC Legends & Leapers: February 2025
AMAC Legends & Leapers is a virtual conversation series featuring an aviation industry legend and leaper.
Legend
Sherri Smith is the Manager of Teterboro Airport for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ). She joined the PANYN in 2020 as Manager of Airport Concessions & Strategic Customer Experience since 2020. She brought over a decade of transformative leadership experience to this new position. She has excelled in navigating regulations, driving business initiatives, and maximizing productivity. Sherri’s commitment to strategic diplomacy, staff motivation and the development of diverse enterprise.
Since joining the agency, Sherri was instrumental in opening the first airport COVID testing site, the reopening of 600+ concessions, and strengthening the Aviation Street Pricing Policy Procedures. She played an invaluable role in the launching of the “We Value You” program. Her structural changes to the management of the Aviation Concession Unit have resulted in the formation of a team with stronger moral convictions and a greater subject matter focus. She continues to emphasize compliance, security, and safety. Sherri was instrumental in the readiness of the brand-new Newark Liberty International Airport Terminal A by way of concessions and advertising including the launch of six local small businesses.
Sherri Smith was promoted to Manager of Teterboro Airport July of 2024. As the airport manager at Teterboro, she is responsible for ensuring alignment with the Port Authority mission to provide safe and efficient transportation facilities which includes compliance with federal, state and local regulatory requirements, governing airport operations, safety and security. These responsibilities require close coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and other regulating bodies as well as airport tenants. Additionally, Sherri works closely with the communities surrounding Teterboro Airport on issues of mutual interest.
Prior to joining the agency, Sherri was the Senior General Manager for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. She managed a diverse team across multiple airports with varied contract obligations. She was responsible for business and operational matters, led stakeholder tenant meetings, and implemented several transformative initiatives. She launched key collaborations such as job fairs, exhibits and small Business incubators with Rutgers University Business School Capstone Project.
Sherri earned her MBA in organizational leadership and is a candidate for several DBA programs. She is a sought-after coach and mentor by various organizations. She is the recipient of several awards of distinction and achievement. In 2016, she was awarded the SmartCEO Deal of Distinction for her business engagement efforts within the airport community. Her greatest achievement, however, is in accomplishing the balance of faith, family and occupational excellence. Sherri is happily married and has five children and expecting her first grandchild February 2025.
Leaper
Isela T. Toledo started her aviation journey at Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) as an intern and supported the Chief Information Office (CIO). In the CIO office, Isela quickly learned about the airport ecosystem and all it comprised and was allowed to know about concessions and upcoming renovation projects. Isela eventually joined the Concessions Team as Special Projects Coordinator and supported LAWA’s concession planning and strategy while administering RFIs, RFQs, RFPs, concession agreements, policies, board reports, commissioner requests and more. Isela also served as the Commercial Division’s Innovation Ambassador, supporting innovative opportunities, including launching the LAX Order Now program powered by Servy.
Isela was offered the position of Head of Airport Partnerships at Servy. She managed airport relationships and program launches and supported North American and Australian marketing initiatives while contributing to RFP responses and business development efforts. Through her network at Servy and AMAC, Isela discovered an opportunity with Hudson and joined as the Director of Strategic Alliances. She worked closely with more than 200 ACDBEs there, gaining firsthand experience with federal compliance regulations and JV monitoring. She also helped educate small business owners and entrepreneurs on how to enter the airport industry.
Today, Isela serves the Ontario International Airport (ONT) as Director of Business Opportunities, bringing awareness, education and support to small and local businesses regarding upcoming opportunities. As ONT’s first Director of Business Opportunities, Isela will help develop the department and support FAA compliance requirements while championing opportunities to be made available to small and local businesses.
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 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member. As a wife and mom of 2 littles, 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 do everything they desire.
Ricky Dorell Smith is responsible for the management and operations of Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI Marshall), Martin State Airport, and regional aviation activities throughout the State of Maryland.
Mr. Smith, a 34-year transportation professional, returned to Maryland after serving as Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Airport System, which includes Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and Burke Lakefront Airport. In addition, he was responsible for overseeing the development and management of the City’s lakefront properties.
Since returning to BWI Marshall, Mr. Smith has led the airport to five (5) 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. Establishing a culture of performance, customer service, safety, and innovation, the airports have received several other national and regional awards for customer service, capital development, and marketing including an Emmy Awards in 2018 and 2019. In 2017, the LaunchPad program was started to enable minority-owned micro-businesses the opportunity to participate in BWI Marshall’s thriving food and retail program without barriers to entry. In 2015, he launched the BWI Marshall Summer Youth Initiative aimed at introducing youth in Baltimore City to careers in aviation and transportation. To date, over 100 youths have participated in this program.
Prior to his service in Cleveland, Mr. Smith served as the Chief Operating Officer for the MAA, where he helped lead BWI Marshall Airport through a $2 billion expansion program, increased air service throughout the world, and the creation of a new food and retail program. Prior to returning to the MAA, after a two-year departure, Ricky served as the Deputy Administrator for the Maryland State Highway Administration. In addition, he served in the private sector for several years with International Business Machines, H&R Block Business Services, The May Company, and others.
Ricky holds an Accounting degree from Howard University and an Executive MBA from Loyola University in Maryland. He is a graduate of several leadership programs, including the Greater Baltimore Committee and Leadership Cleveland. He is active on several national and local boards and industry associations including the Airport Minority Advisory Council where he serves as Board Chair, American Association of Airport Executives, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) Board of Directors, the BWI Business Partnership, World Trade Center Institute, Greater Baltimore Urban League where he serves as Board Chair, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture where he serves as Vice Board Chair, Morgan State University School of Communications Board of Advisors and the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center Board of Directors.
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).
