AMAC Legends & Leapers: November 2022
The AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee exposes rising young professionals to the aviation industry through AMAC by focusing on direct engagement, increasing AMAC membership involvement and educating emerging professionals on growth opportunities.
Legend
Brandon Fair
Managing Director, Corporate Real Estate at United Airlines
Brandon Fair is Managing Director, Corporate Real Estate at United Airlines and has more than fifteen years of leadership experience in commercial development and aviation. In this role, he oversees Planning and Development worldwide, focusing on long-term planning and execution to support United’s global growth strategy. He also leads the Corporate Real Estate DE&I strategy focused on the engagement and growth of minority businesses.
Before United, Brandon worked for KBR Building Group, an international engineering and building company specializing in engineering, aviation, and large-scale manufacturing development. During his time with KBR, he developed strategic projects for several large companies, including The Boeing Company, General Dynamics, Michelin Tire and American Honda Motor Company.
Brandon chairs the 2022 American Heart Association’s Hard Hats with Heart campaign, which supports health and wellness within the construction and development industry. Last year Brandon became a 2022 Chicago Urban League fellow and was a 2023 candidate to become a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow. He also serves on the Board of Managers of the Aviate flight training Academy.
Brandon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University and a Master of Science in Construction Management from Western Carolina University. Brandon and his wife Mari live in Chicago and have three children.
Leaper
Thiané Carter
Director, Small Business Programs, Raleigh Durham International Airport
Thiané D. Carter has been the administrator of small business programs for the Raleigh-Durham International Airport Authority (RDU) since 2011. As the Director of Small Business Programs, she oversees the management, implementation and compliance of RDU’s Minority and Women-Owned Small Business (MWSB) and Federal Disadvantaged and Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE/ACDBE) Programs as well as its Title VI program. She is also actively involved in RDU’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Ms. Carter has served as the Chairperson of the Scholarship Committee for the Airport Minority Advisory Council. She is the Chair of the Business Diversity Committee of the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA).
She is a graduate of both the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, earning a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master of Public Administration, respectively. Before joining the Authority, she spent more than a decade as a consultant to U.S. Department of Transportation recipients (i.e., airports, transit systems and state transportation departments) on DBE/ACDBE Program development and administration.
Moderators
Lauryn Mangum Reed
Secretary, AMAC Board of Directors
Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee
Vice President, Business Development, Servy
Lauryn Mangum Reed’s industry experience started in 2012 when her family opened a café in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (The Refuge Coffee Food and Wine) as a subtenant of HMSHost. She played an integral role in the framework, opening, operations and staff training and became the Director of Sales and Marketing.
In 2017, Mangum Reed joined Stellar Partners as Business Development Coordinator and was later named Director of Innovation and Business Development. Lauryn supported the department in many facets, from coordinating RFPs to working closely with ACDBE partners, with a strong emphasis on innovation, technology and strategy.
Lauryn recently transitioned from retail concessions to the Vice President of Business Development for the global, omnichannel enterprise, self-service hospitality Servy (Grab) platform. Through the suite of contactless order and pay solutions, Servy enables partners to drive operational efficiencies and enhance the guest experience while improving profitability. Lauryn is responsible for business development and strategic partnership activities for the Servy (Grab) Airport Marketplace with airport authorities, developers and restaurant and retail partners throughout the Americas.
Although considered an emerging leader, Lauryn’s industry involvement is vast. Mangum Reed serves as the Co-Chair for AMAC’s Emerging Leaders Committee, Secretary of the AMAC Board of Directors and Member of the ACI-NA Business Diversity Steering Committee.
Lauryn has an affinity for people, representation and diversity in her day-to-day life, the aviation industry is no exception. Lauryn graduated from Arizona State University and became a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. As a new mom and wife, Lauryn strongly advocates for work/life balance and empowering 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).
