AMAC Legends & Leapers: January 2024
AMAC Legends & Leapers is a virtual conversation series featuring an aviation industry legend and leaper.
Legend
Ms. Denise Bailey joined the Airport in December 2022 and leads the Philadelphia International Airport and Northeast Philadelphia Airport’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Airport Concessions DBE (ACDBE), Small Business, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Title VI responsibilities. Ultimately, she is responsible for the airport’s compliance with Federal Aviation Administration’s requirements in these areas and for driving business diversity, capacity-building efforts, and accessibility.
Prior to her current role, Ms. Bailey managed the Government Consulting Department of Milligan Consulting, LLC; a minority-owned firm based in Philadelphia. Under her 30 years of leadership, the firm provided consulting services to Federal, state, and local governments in the areas of Diversity, Transportation Grant Compliance, and Economic Development. She led a team of professionals that provided services to the aviation, transit, and highway industry. Prior to her role at Milligan Consulting, Ms. Bailey served in the Construction Management Department at Urban Engineers, Inc. In addition to leading transportation oversight and development projects, Ms. Bailey has been a sought-after trainer and speaker on transportation compliance topics. Ms. Bailey earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. It was while attending Drexel, that she gained her first experience in aviation during her cooperative education assignments with the Engineering Department at PHL.
Ms. Bailey’s memberships include Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC), Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), and Women’s Transportation Seminar. Her previous appointments include President of the Philadelphia Chapter of Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS), and as the Finance and Investment Chair of the Fairmount Park Conservancy. Ms. Bailey also services on the airport’s Department of Aviation’s Racial Equity Advisory Council (REAC).
Leaper
Devon Ray is Director of Strategic Alliances for airport concessionaire Avolta. She uses her vast sourcing experience to identify new ACDBE partners and vendors, ensure program compliance with FAA guidelines and develop community initiatives. Under the leadership of Shelby Scales, VP of Strategic Alliances, she manages a portfolio of over 250 ACDBE partners representing over $600 million in annual sales.
Before joining Strategic Alliances, she was a part of the HMSHost Supply Chain team where she centralized all procurement contracts, created the supplier diversity program, reduced supplier risk exposure by over 95%, and developed and implemented many efficiency initiatives resulting in over $4 million in cost savings within her first 2 years.
Prior to HMSHost, Devon held positions in supply chain and procurement with companies across various industries including Reynolds Consumer Products, MeadWestvaco, Owens & Minor, Lowe’s, Avon Products, and Caterpillar Logistics. She focuses on creating sustainable operations, sourcing diverse suppliers and driving savings through more efficient operational practices.
Devon graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Transportation & Logistics from North Carolina A&T State University and holds an M.B.A. in Supply Chain Management and Innovation/Entrepreneurship from Penn State University. She attended both Universities on full academic scholarships.
She is also a Project Management Professional (PMP), ISO 9001.2008 Lead Auditor, Six Sigma Green Belt, Certified in Transportation and Logistics and ServSafe Certified.
Moderators
Lauryn Mangum Reed
Secretary, AMAC Board of Directors
Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee
Executive Vice President, TMG Hospitality USA
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 D. Smith
Chair, AMAC Board of Directors
CEO, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
RICKY DORELL SMITH was appointed Executive Director/CEO of the Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) on July 10, 2015. Mr. 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.
photo of Maryland Aviation Administration Executive Director Ricky Smith
Mr. Smith, a 32-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 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 Youth Initiative to introduce Baltimore City youth to aviation and transportation careers. To date, over 100 youths have participated in this program.
Before 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. Before 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 graduated from 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, the American Association of Airport Executives, the Washington Board of Trade, the BWI Business Partnership, the 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, and the Morgan State University School of Communications Board of Advisors.
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).
