ACI-NA Announces Winners of the 2018 Inclusion Champion Awards
Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) on June 14, announced the recipients of the 2018 ACI-NA Inclusion Champion Awards during an awards gala dinner at the ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference in Portland, Oregon. The ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference brings together more than 600 commercial management, human resource, and finance executives from the North American airport industry. This year’s Inclusion Champion Award recipients are Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, Jacksonville Airport Authority, and AECOM.
“Because of the airport’s important role in the local community, it is essential that an airport places a special focus on fostering beneficial working relationships with disadvantaged businesses that reflect and support the community,” said Kevin M. Burke, ACI-NA President and CEO. “I applaud the recipients of this year’s Inclusion Champion Awards for their continued commitment to setting ambitious goals that strengthen the businesses that support airport operations in the areas of new business, workforce diversity, outreach, and advocacy.”
Large Hub Inclusion Champion: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport
Las Vegas McCarran International Airport constantly strives to maximize opportunities for minority and woman-owned businesses. With the unique business environment created by the number of casino hotels in Las Vegas, the airport has taken outreach to a new level. It organized or participated in 119 outreach events in 2017 that centered on advertising opportunities and providing technical assistance to small and minority or women-owned businesses. As a result, the airport has exceeded its goal with Federal Aviation Administration grants in three of the last five years by providing over $5.5 million in contracts/subcontracts to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises. The thoughtful structuring of both construction and concession contracts to ensure opportunities for small businesses with varying capabilities has resulted in a successful program that has received accolades and awards from Las Vegas Urban Chamber, Asian American Group, Western Regional Minority Development Council, Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, and other community groups.
Medium Hub Inclusion Champion: Jacksonville Airport Authority
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) emphasizes that they are “open for business to anyone open to doing business” with them. The airport led multiple efforts to uphold this mantra including partnering with public agencies and advocates for small and minority businesses to conduct workshops, trade shows, forums, and related events that are educational and offer networking opportunities. These efforts resulted in a more than $13 million impact of small business and minority participation for FY 2017. The airport authority also promotes diversity and inclusion in all of its recruiting and development efforts. Organizationally, JAA revised all Human Resources Policies and executed the roll out of the revised policies in a new employee handbook with training at every level of the organization.
Associate Inclusion Champion: AECOM
AECOM believes that small and diverse businesses bring innovation and expertise to the industry. AECOM continuously seeks to identify small and diverse business to support the company’s aviation work as well as sustain the growth of existing partnerships. Over the past five years, AECOM has provided nearly $4 billion to small and diverse business through subcontracting. The company’s strategic recruitment efforts, inclusionary hiring practices and organization cultural diversity education and training have fostered a focus on creating a diverse and inclusive workforce at all levels. Due to these efforts, AECOM has seen growth in overall minority hires in its aviation practice throughout the U.S.
