AMAC Legends & Leapers: November 2023
AMAC Legends & Leapers is a virtual conversation series featuring an aviation industry legend and leaper.
Legend
Corliss Stone-Littles is the Managing Member of Corliss Stone-Littles, LLC, which operates airport concessionaire brands, including Sunglass Hut, Johnston & Murphy, L’Occitane and Kiehl’s across fourteen major US airports. Corliss is also a Director on the AMAC Political Action Committee Board of Directors
Leaper
Marc B. Brooks is the CEO of Hyde Park Hospitality (HPH), a private management company specializing in food & facilities operations, airport concessions, management staffing, and customer excellence advisory services. Marc has the unique ability to recognize talent, as well as attract and develop diverse team members at all levels of the organization — from management to front-line employees. Under Marc’s leadership, HPH has grown over 900% since 2018, with over 900 employees across 16 states. HPH was recently named by Crain’s as one of the 50 fastest-growing companies in Chicago. Marc is a skilled leader with a successful track record at developing strategic partnerships and negotiating complex, multi-party contracts, often bringing together public and private alliances to provide opportunities in under-serviced markets and employment to people of color. Most notably, Marc has successfully helped secure complex, highly coveted contracts alongside Aramark, Meta and Diageo; partnered with Hilton Hotels to retain a 10-year F&B management contract at the Hilton Hotel at O’Hare Airport; Secured front of house service contracts with Airport Dimensions and Chase Sapphire to operate more than 13 of their airport lounges; and, led HPH in forming multiple joint ventures leading to airport concession wins in Denver, Dallas, New Jersey, Los Angeles and Chicago.
Marc is well respected for his ability to help guide organizations to grow organically and through acquisitions. As a 2nd generation entrepreneur and former owner of 50 restaurants and retail concepts, Marc’s expertise, which spans across market cycles, illustrates his ability to build businesses, and advise and fund organizations at various cycles of their evolution (early stage, growth, development/expansion and transition or sale). Over the years, Marc has conceptualized, founded, managed and sold 3 of his privately-held companies to Fortune 500 organizations; personally invested in 4 private equity funds; and advised, invested and/or raised capital for 3 early stage companies that have had successful IPOs [Green Thumb Industries (GTBIF); Wide-Open West (WOW); and, RLJ Lodging (RLJ)].
Marc, a lifelong resident of Chicago, is an avid golfer and contemporary art collector who enjoys traveling the world with his wife and 3 daughters.
Moderators
Lauryn Mangum Reed
Secretary, AMAC Board of Directors
Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee
Executive Vice President, TMG Hospitality USA
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 contactless order and pay solutions suite, 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 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. member. 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).
