Airport Minority Advisory Council 2017 Annual Airport Business Diversity Conference
Photography by Vicky Pink - The Houston Airport System hosted the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) 2017 Annual Airport Business Diversity Conference, “The Magic of Flight” at the Marriott Marquis Houston on June 16 – 20, 2017. Houston Airport System's (HAS) Chief Municipal & Community Affairs Officer Rhonda Arnold, HAS's Director of Aviation Mario Diaz, and HAS's Deputy Assistant, Director of the Office of Business Opportunity Jason McLemore served as Conference Hosts. Arnold also served as Local Conference Chair. Indianapolis Airport Authority's Senior Director of Planning & Development Shannetta Griffin was the National Conference Chair. Title Sponsors included Avis Budget Group, Inc.'s (ABG) Executive Vice President & General Counsel Michael Tucker and ABG's Properties & Facilities Senior Vice President Bob Bouta. A highlight of the conference was the honoring of the trailblazers portrayed in the award-winning film Hidden Figures - Christine Mann Darden, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Dorothy Vaughan - at the Hidden Figures Jazz Brunch. The Airport Minority Advisory Council’s Annual Airport Business Diversity Conference continues to bring together businesses, aviation professionals, government officials and individuals from around the country to discuss a variety of subjects ranging from how to do business at airports to public policy issues impacting the entire aviation industry. This highly- acclaimed conference provides a balanced program that addresses the diverse needs and the variety of interest levels of the conference audience, presented by speakers of the highest quality who share AMAC’s goal of promoting diversity inclusion in airport contracting and employment. Featured speakers were Mayor Sylvester Turner, Farad Ali, Rhonda Arnold, Tony Arps, Heather Barry, Leslie Bensen, Elliot Black, Bob Bouta, Thella Bowens, Joanne Brooks, Samuel Brooks, Krystal Brumfield, Adrianna Clark, Tracey Lawrence Collins, Al Denson, Nicole Dial, Mario Diaz, Kent Dussom, Carolyn Ellison, Ron Evans, Bryant Francis, Esther Francis, Michael Freilich, Robin Gibson, Nicholas Giles, Curry Glassell, Jovan Goldstein, Dale Greig, Shannetta Griffin, Holli Harrington, Dr. Bernard Harris, Rosalie Hornbuckle, Pam Housley, Joe Jackson, Mel Jones, Deven Judd, Jonathan Klein, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Clarence A. LeJeune, Dolores Leyva, Janet Long, Gabriele Mack, Jonathan Martin, Jason McLemore, Leland Melvin, Dr. Steve Nakana, Jonathan Ocana, Marc Pentino, Dwight Pullen, Jr., Charlene Reynolds, Angela Berry Roberson, Gene Roth, Roger Schwandtner, Michael Stephens, Michael Tucker, Rory Verrett, Laurie Vignaud, Keely Thibodeaux, Reginald Thompson, Marques Warren, Harnetta Williams, H. Lamar Willis, Carlecia Wright, and Nancy Zbozny.
