A Humble Beginning, Now 40+ Years Strong
January 3, 2017
AMAC PAC Is Founded
The AMAC Political Action Committee (AMAC PAC) works to further AMAC’s direct advocacy and educational initiatives on Capitol Hill by making monetary contributions to federal candidates and political action committees and caucuses who understand and support equity in airport contracting and employment. The AMAC PAC is non-partisan and provides our members with the means for concerted political action.
January 3, 2017
December 8, 2015
AMAC Publishes a White Paper on Airport Rental Car Supplier Diversity
The objective of the A Winning Approach: Recommendations to Realize Greater ACDBE and DBE Goods and Services Supplier Opportunities and Participation Within the Car Rental Industry white paper was to provide recommendations that enhance the participation of certified minority and women-owned firms as goods or services suppliers in the car rental companies’ airport concessions operations.
December 8, 2015
June 8, 2014
First AMAC Foundation Celebrating Women in Aviation Program Is Hosted in Denver, CO
On June 8, 2014, the first AMAC Foundation Celebrating Women in Aviation program was held in Denver, CO at the 30th AMAC Airport Business Diversity Conference to foster, promote and applaud the success of women in aviation and aerospace-related businesses and career achievements. Photo (Left to Right): Rhonda Arnold; Audrey Simmons; Rhonda Fields; and Amber Gooding.
June 8, 2014
1998
First Official Golf Tournament Held
The first official golf tournament was held in 1998 at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, DC. This event now honors one of AMAC’s own tireless servants, Bill Walker. Mr. Walker’s affiliation with the AMAC Airport Business Diversity Conference began in Los Angeles, CA in 1988 while he was Vice President at Pacific State Airlines. Walker began planning the golf tournament shortly after and continued to organize until illness prevented him from doing so.
1998
October 1997
AMAC Foundation Is Founded
In October 1997, the AMAC Board of Directors formally established the AMAC Foundation, formerly known as the Airport Minority Advisory Council Educational & Scholarship Program, Inc. (AMACESP).
October 1997
Former AMAC Presidents
Gene Roth
2007–2010
Shelby Scales
2015–2016
Krystal Brumfield
2017–2019
First Board of Directors
Board Officers
- Chair: John Greer, Nashville Airport Authority (Nashville, TN)
- Vice Chair: Felker Ward, Jr., Concessions International (Atlanta, GA)
- Secretary: Geri Castillo (Denver, CO)
- Treasurer: Esterlene Lewis, Miami-Dade Aviation Department (Miami, FL)
Board Members
- Robert Crews (Linden, NJ)
- Thelma Duggins (Silver Spring, MD)
- Sue Ling Gin (Chicago, IL)
- Dave Miller, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta, GA)
- John Noble, St. Louis Lambert International Airport (St. Louis, MO)
- Reba Smallwood (Philadelphia, PA)
- Dianne Waters, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (Dallas, TX)
FAA Champions
- Clark Sharpe
- Leon Watkins
First Members
- Individual: Robert M. Blackwell, Detroit Commissioner
- Business: Geri Castillo
- Corporation: Host International, Inc.; Company Representative: Clarence Daniels, Jr.
- Airport: Memphis – Shelby County Airport Authority
Note Regarding Founders: Although it has been widely accepted that Leon Watkins and Clark Sharpe were among the AMAC Founders, this is untrue as they were federal employees and were forbidden to belong to trade associations. Leon initiated a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Seminar in response to the promulgation of 49 CFR Part 26 (construction) by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). This Seminar was held annually in different locations, starting in the mid-1980s in Miami, FL. Leon also allowed a group of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs) from across the U.S. to meet in his office to discuss and resolve a variety of challenges impacting their businesses. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) held and sponsored the joint seminar for several years. During this time, the AMAC Founders formalized and incorporated the Airport Minority Advisory Committee (AMAC) and joined forces with the FAA to hold the first AMAC/FAA MBE Conference. The FAA seminar continued apart from AMAC’s conference for several years and is now the Annual FAA National Civil Rights Training Conference for Airports, which is separate from the Annual AMAC Airport Business Conference