AMAC Legends & Leapers: May 2024
AMAC Legends & Leapers is a virtual conversation series featuring an aviation industry legend and leaper.
Legend
Mukesh “Mookie” Patel, C.M., is the Director of Aviation for San José Mineta International Airport (SJC). In his role, he leads the Airport’s staff toward fulfilling SJC’s mission: To connect, serve and inspire; and its vision: To transform how Silicon Valley travels. He manages a San José City Department with an annual operating budget of $176 million, oversees a 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Program budgeted for $614 million, and leads more than 200 employees responsible for SJC’s safe and efficient operations.
Patel began his career in October 1993 as the Manager of Commercial Development at Kansas City International Airport, overseeing relations and compliance with airlines and concessions. In 1998, he joined AvAirPros as Business Consulting Practice Manager. In this capacity, he managed the capital program budget for major investments for Terminal 1 at John F. Kennedy International Airport and the International Terminal Building at San Francisco International Airport. In 2005, Patel transitioned from airport to airline administration, joining Alaska Airlines as the Airport Affairs Corporate Real Estate Manager. He managed a diverse portfolio of airport relationships nationwide that included SJC — deepening his expertise and understanding of SJC’s economic impact in the Bay Area. In 2015, Patel became Senior Vice President of Airline Affairs and Commercial Property at Denver International Airport, where he spearheaded stakeholder support for the 39-gate expansion project and administered the opening of the new Westin Hotel. From 2017 to 2020, he served as Chief Aviation Administration Officer and Assistant Director of Aviation at San Antonio International Airport, where he was responsible for enhancing community connections and contributing to the city’s economic growth.
Before his tenure at SJC, Patel was the Business and Finance Chief Officer at Austin Bergstrom International Airport. There, he increased non-airline revenues by nine percent over three years and facilitated investments supporting the airport’s multi-billion-dollar investment plan.
Patel holds a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Management from Oklahoma State University and a private pilot license. In 2022, he received the Dedicated Service Award from the American Association of Airport Executives and is a member of the Commercial Management Steering Committee of Airports Council International. He is a passionate leader
Leaper
IOC Design & Consulting (IOCDC) is an ACDBE/MBE/WBE certified business founded by Iva Chen that specializes in Restaurant Consulting and Airport Food & Beverage Concessions.
In addition to her work with IOCDC, Iva is the Director of Business Development and Marketing for Lady Luck Gourmet (LLG), started in 1999 as a successful single location owner operator ACDBE at SFO operating Personalities, Go Bistro, and most recently, Mama Go’s Filipino Cuisine (formerly Goldilocks). In 2018, LLG promoted Iva from Director of Finance to Business Development to expand the company offerings to include growing Mama Go’s brand in airports across the US, RFP proposal services from bid to build-out, full airport F&B operations management services, and everything in between.
Iva’s dream is to make Mama Go’s Filipino Cuisine the top airport restaurant choice for travelers and to help other brands expand into airports. Today, Mama Go’s is the highest-rated quick service restaurant at SFO with a solid 4.5 stars and over 220 reviews on Yelp, and has been featured in Food & Wine Magazine as a “standout dining option at SFO Airport “the Best Airport for Food in America, As Voted on by Our Readers,” byThe Points Guy as one of the “Top 10 airport restaurants in the world so good you won’t want to leave the terminal”, Matador Network as a judge on the Food Network’s hit show Chopped Maneet Chauhan’s “favorite airport restaurant”, Eater SF, and more. LLG’s former restaurant, Go Bistro in SFO’s old Terminal 1 was one of the top performing restaurants in the terminal for 13 years, grossing over $5M annually.
Iva practically grew up in the airport F&B world as she watched her father work his way up with HMS Host from manager trainee at LAX to Vice President of the western region and then Managing Director for Lady Luck Gourmet. One of her first jobs in high school was as a cashier at a snack bar at SFO. She was also an accounting intern at HMS Host and spent her summers working at SFO restaurants.
Before joining LLG, Iva started her career with the Big 4 public accounting firm Deloitte & Touche as an Auditor specializing in the manufacturing industry. After earning her CPA license, she joined the ranks in corporate finance at other Fortune 100 companies: CBS Paramount, Nestle USA and The Capital Group. In 2011, she left corporate America to join her family business, Lady Luck Gourmet. In 2015, she spent 8 months in China building a chain of pizza restaurants. Currently, she also does contract work for a boutique marketing agency with brands such as Taco Bell, Herbalife, and Hyundai on experiential marketing events and brand activations across the US.
Iva graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a business economics degree with an emphasis on accounting. During college, she attended US Army ROTC boot camp in Fort Knox, KY and graduated ranking 4th out of 250 cadets. She also graduated from the Riordan Fellows program at the UCLA Anderson School of Business, where she was awarded “Mentor of the Year.” In addition to being a licensed CPA, Iva holds a California real estate broker’s license and multiple insurance licenses and most recently passed the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines.
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).
