A Humble Beginning, Now 37 Years Strong
1980
January 10
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) 1980 airport Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) program regulation (49 CFR Part 23) is created.
Nine forward-thinking individuals saw a need and an opportunity to evaluate how the regulation was being implemented by airport operators.
1983
January 10
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforces 49 CFR Part 23 and there is industry wide interest to comply.
January 11
A small group gathered in the Administrator’s conference room at FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
- The AMAC Divine Nine: Melvin McCray, Director of Maintenance, Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport; Charles Rogers, Deputy Director of Aviation, Philadelphia International Airport; James Rogers, Airport Manager, Little Rock Airport; C. W. “Bill” Jennings, Assistant Executive Director, Airport Operations, Orlando International Airport; Esterlene Lewis, Chief, Administrative Services, Miami International Airport; a representative of the Lawton, Oklahoma Airport Commission; Audrey Simmons, Program Specialist, FAA Headquarters Office of Civil Rights and Clark Sharpe, Civil Rights Officer, FAA Southern Region.
1984
January 5
The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) is founded.
May 3
The first FAA Minority Business Seminar is hosted in Miami, FL.
- Then Director of FAA Civil Rights (subsequently FAA Assistant Administrator for Civil Rights), Leon Watkins, fully supported these efforts, laying the foundation for the first FAA Minority Business Seminar that was held in Miami, Florida on May 3 and 4, 1984. Richard Judy, then Director of Aviation at Miami International Airport, approved a request by his staff to host the seminar.
- A six-person planning committee: Esterlene Lewis; C. W. “Bill” Jennings; Melvin McCray; Leon Watkins; Clement Monge and Clark Sharpe organized and executed the seminar within a four-month period to focus mainly on creating an understanding of Part 23 and the range of opportunities that it could present. The 74 seminar attendees, representing some of the largest airports in the country, were enthusiastic about the Part 23 regulation and prospects for enhancing business opportunities for minorities and women.
1997
October 1
The AMAC Foundation is founded.
The AMAC Board of Directors formally established the AMAC Foundation, formerly known as the Airport Minority Advisory Council Educational & Scholarship Program, Inc. (AMACESP) in October 1997.
2018
January 3
The AMAC PAC is founded.
The AMAC Political Action Committee (AMAC PAC) complements AMAC’s direct advocacy and educational initiatives with Members of Congress in support of equity in airport contracting and employment.
AMAC Founding Members
- Clara Axam, D.J. Miller & Associates (Atlanta, GA)
- Robert Crews, Benjamin Brooks, Inc. (East Brunswick, NJ)
- John Greer, Metro Nashville Airport Authority (Nashville, TN)
- Esterlene Lewis, Miami International Airport (Miami, FL)
- Melvin McCray (Atlanta)
- Dave Miller (Atlanta)
- John Noble (St. Louis)
- Felker Ward, Jr. (Atlanta)
- Regynald Washington
- Dianne Waters, Duty Free Shoppers (Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX)
1st Board of Directors
- Chair–John Greer, Metro Nashville Airport Authority (Nashville, TN)
- Vice Chair–Felker Ward, Jr.
- Secretary–Geri Castillo
- Treasurer–Esterlene Lewis, Miami International Airport (Miami, FL)
1st Board Members
- Robert Crews, Benjamin Brooks, Inc. (East Brunswick, NJ)
- Thelma Duggin, AV Consultants (Vienna, VA)
- Sue Ling Gin
- Dave Miller
- John Noble
- Reba Smallwood
- Dianne Waters
1st Members
- Airport–Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority
- Business–Geri Castillo
- Corporation–Host International, Inc.
- Individual–Robert M. Blackwell, Detroit Commissioner
Note: Although it has been widely accepted that Leon Watkins and Clark Sharpe were among the AMAC Founders, this is not true. Both Leon and Clark were federal employees and as such were forbidden to belong to trade associations. What Leon did was initiate a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) seminar in response to the promulgation of CFR Part 26 (construction) by DOT. That seminar was held annually in different locations, starting in the mid 80's (Miami). Leon also allowed a group of M/WBEs from across the country to meet in his office to discuss and resolve a variety of issues impacting their businesses. The joint seminar was held and sponsored by the FAA for several years. During this time the Founders formalized and incorporated the Airport Minority Advisory Committee and joined forces with the FAA to hold the first AMAC/FAA MBE Conference. Again, there is a widely accepted narrative among AMAC members that blends the FAA seminars with AMAC's conference as a lifelong partnership, but the fact is they are separate. The FAA seminar continued apart from AMAC's conference for several years and continues now as the Annual FAA National Civil Rights Training Conference for Airports, which separate from AMAC.