
AMAC Legends & Leapers: July 2024
AMAC Legends & Leapers is a virtual conversation series featuring an aviation industry legend and leaper.
Legend
EJ Odom, President of Nashville-based EJO Ventures, for 20 years has provided Airport IT design, consulting, and systems integration services; is now engaged in 18 US airports; has DBE/ACDBE certification in 47 states; and is a JV-ACDBE partner with Paradies Lagardère of 7 concessions in the Nashville International Airport.
Leaper
Kris Koch (Coke) is an airport industry expert and accomplished designer. He currently serves as the Design Project Manager for the BWI Marshall Concourse A/B Connector program, the largest capital project in the history of BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. Kris is Manager of Aviation Services for Jacobs, a Fortune 500 company ranked by ENR in 2024 as the #1 Design Firm. Kris is a Professional Engineer with over 20 years of experience in aviation planning, design, program management, construction administration support, strategic partnerships, and external relations with a proven record on airport improvement programs. Prior to the BWI Marshall Concourse A/B Connector, Kris completed design and construction of nearly 50 aviation projects associated with vital airport infrastructure. His portfolio of delivered programs totals nearly $2 billion for general aviation, medium and large hub airports in the Mid-Atlantic, New England, Midwest, and Puerto Rico.
Mr. Koch earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Kris’s community involvement includes contribution to the MathCounts Foundation, mentoring middle school students to provide extracurricular mathematics education, enrichment, and competition. In 2017, he was recognized as one of Airport Business’s “Top 40 Under 40” in partnership with the Airports Consultants Council. Kris served as an industry reviewer for the FAA’s Airport Design Advisory Circular and member of the Airport Consultants Council’s Engineering Committee. As part of the O’Hare Modernization Program, he collaborated on the Sustainable Design Manual developed by the Chicago Department of Aviation. Kris also serves as the Vice President of Public Relations for the AMAC Baltimore-Washington Chapter.
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).
