The Los Angeles chapter of the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC LA) and partners Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW) hosted the second annual Aviation Excellence Summit and Awards, presenting panels by and honoring leaders committed to improving diversity and economic inclusion across the industry.
Winners included Atif Elkadi of Ontario International Airport (ONT), who received the Karen Bass Champion of Justice and Equity Award; Stacey Kodak of JCDecaux North America, Inc., who received the Antonio Villaraigosa Diverse Business Advocate Award; Everett Sands of Lendistry, who received the Tom Bradley Community Partnership Award; Veronica Manzo of Modern Times, Inc., who received the Bessie Coleman Emerging Leader Award; Lynn Capouya of Lynn Capouya, Inc., who received the Romana Acosta Bañuelos Entrepreneurial Leadership Award; Amy Benson of URW, Amber Meshack of LAWA and Martha Valenzuela of Modern Times, Inc. and AMAC LA, who all received AMAC LA Legacy Awards; as well as Darryl Daniels of Jacobsen | Daniels, who received the Paul R. Williams Lifetime Achievement Award.
“As we look to the future, it’s inspiring to witness the collective strength of Southern California’s business community,” said AMAC LA president Martha Valenzuela. “The Aviation Excellence Summit exemplifies our commitment to fostering an inclusive industry where diverse entrepreneurs, from concessions to architecture, engineering and construction, have the resources and support needed to succeed. Through collaboration, we’re paving the way for more dynamic and equitable growth across our region. Together, we are not only shaping airports but creating pathways for economic empowerment that reflect the vibrancy of our communities.”
“The impact the Airport Minority Advisory Council LA Chapter has made in Southern California is incredible and can be seen in the opportunities they’ve created that welcome new, small and local businesses to the airport,” added URW vice president of marketing Amy Benson. “On behalf of the URW Advance Network, we are proud to build upon our existing partnerships with AMAC LA, Los Angeles World Airports, and our concessions partners to create right-sized opportunities in the airport for diverse and local businesses. This is an exciting time to be a part of this industry.”
“AMAC LA’s Aviation Excellence Summit is an incredible opportunity to engage with dynamic leaders who are shaping the future of aviation in Southern California,” said LAWA chief airport administrative officer Marla Bleavins. “As we continue to navigate challenges and seize new opportunities, it is critical for us to embrace diverse voices and innovative solutions to help drive our industry forward. LAWA is proud to partner with AMAC LA and URW Airports to build a more resilient, sustainable and forward-thinking aviation ecosystem that reflects the diversity of Los Angeles and the communities we serve.”
