[cool-timeline layout=”default” skin=”default” based=”default” story-content=”full” show-posts=”10″ year-label=”show” year-navigation=”hide” navigation-position=”right” navigation-style=”style-1″ autoplay=”false” start-on=”0″ autoplay-speed=”3000″ compact-ele-pos=”main-date” animations=”none” timeline-title=”A Humble Beginning, Now 40+ Years Strong” order=”DESC” story-date=”show” date-format=”F j” icons=”dot” pagination=”off” filters=”no” line-filling=”false” read-more=”hide” content-length=”50″]

A Humble Beginning, Now 40+ Years Strong

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

December 9, 1988

NAMBAC Corp. Is Renamed to AMAC 

NAMBAC Corp. was renamed to the Airport Minority Advisory Council Corp.

December 9, 1988

November 8, 1988

Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) fka NAMBAC Corp. Is Founded

Concurrent with the FAA Minority Business Enterprise Compliance Conference held May 15–17, 1988 in Los Angeles, CA, a handful of individuals who were deeply concerned about the economic disparities and barriers preventing minorities and women from fair competition for airport business and jobs officially incorporated NAMBAC Corp. now known as the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) on November 8, 1988, in Miami, FL.  

November 8, 1988

1987

Congress Reauthorized and Amended the Statutory DBE Program

Congress reauthorized and amended the statutory DBE program. In the transportation legislation of that year, Congress, among other changes, added women to the groups presumed to be disadvantaged. Since 1987, DOT has established a single DBE goal, encompassing firms owned by women and minority group members.

1987

READ MORE OF AMAC'S HISTORY

Founding Members

  • John Greer, Nashville Airport Authority (Nashville, TN)
  • Esterlene Lewis, Miami-Dade Aviation Department (Miami, FL)
  • Robert Crews, Crews Hospitality (Linden, NJ)
  • Dave Miller, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta, GA)
  • Dianne Waters, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (Dallas, TX)
  • Clara Axam (Atlanta, GA)
  • Melvin McCray, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta, GA)
  • Felker Ward, Jr., Concessions International (Atlanta, GA)
  • Regynald Washington
  • John Noble, St. Louis Lambert International Airport (St. Louis, MO)


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)

 

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 Diversity Conference