Catalyst Awards

Catalyst—A person or thing whose talk, enthusiasm or energy causes a change.

The AMAC Catalyst Awards honor AMAC members who have contributed outstandingly to further AMAC’s goals and mission. AMAC members are invited in advance to nominate individuals or organizations—award recipients are honored at the live event.

Voting Criteria

  • An AMAC membership is required and must be current as of Sunday, April 12, to submit a nomination and be eligible for nomination. Need to join or renew? Update your membership, join or renew online at: amac-org.com/membership.

  • Winners of the past two years are not eligible to be nominated.

Timeline

  • Nominations Due: Sunday, April 12

  • AMAC Catalyst Awards: Saturday, June 13

Award Categories

  • Airport Concessions Innovation Award
    • Honors an airport or corporation whose concessions program has shown commitment, creativity and originality in its efforts to engage DBEs and small businesses over two years.
  • Airport Design Innovation Award
    • Honors an airport, corporation or AEC (architecture, engineering or construction) firm that has demonstrated creativity and originality in its project design over the past two years.
  • Airport of the Year Award
    • Honors an airport for significant contributions toward engaging DBEs and small businesses within an airport (e.g., program implementation, new program initiatives to foster growth and development of disadvantaged/small businesses or encourage employment, research, litigation, etc.).
  • Chapter of the Year Award
    • Honors a Chapter demonstrating a strong commitment to AMAC’s mission and strategic goals. The evaluation examines how the Chapter has influenced community leadership, engaged management, strengthened fundraising and financial stability, built partnerships and supported growth.
  • Emerging Leaders Award
    • Honors an emerging professional (ages 19 – 40) in the aviation industry who is aspirational and energetic in their approach to their career. This nominee continues to grow professionally, make meaningful contributions to the industry and inspire others.
  • Hall of Fame Award
    • Honors a distinguished leader whose lasting contributions have shaped the aviation industry and advanced AMAC’s mission for more than five years. Throughout their career, this individual has championed fairness, opportunity and broad-based growth within the airport ecosystem. They have advanced policies and practices that expand access and elevate the presence and success of small businesses across the industry. Beyond operational and strategic achievements, this leader has invested deeply in mentoring emerging talent, strengthening partnerships and building a robust pipeline of future leaders to carry AMAC’s mission forward.
  • Local Small Business Champion
    • Honors an individual from the AMAC Airport Business Conference’s region who demonstrates leadership in promoting small business growth and economic development through partnership with the current AMAC Airport Business Conference’s host airport.
  • Small Business Partner Award
    • Honors a certified and/or designated small business that supports AMAC’s mission and goals and has significantly impacted its community and workforce.
  • Supplier Leadership Award
    • Honors an airport, organization or individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership, commitment and innovation in advancing aviation supplier engagement programs.

Past Winners

Airport Design and Innovation Award: Smita Shah, Founder & CEO, SPAAN Tech, Inc.

Airport Concessions Innovation Award: Nicholas Crews, Vice Chair, AMAC PAC Board of Directors; Managing Partner, Crews Hospitality

Advocate of the Year Award: Bridget Biagas, First Vice Chair, AMAC Board of Directors; Vice President, Business Development, Hudson by Avolta

Small Business Partner Award: Angela Booker, Principal, ISFAC, LLC

Local Small Business Champion Award: Wendy & Winston Burns, Westwin

Emerging Leaders Award: Lauryn Mangum Reed, Secretary, AMAC Board of Directors; Chair, AMAC Emerging Leaders Committee; Executive Vice President, TMG Hospitality USA

Supplier Leadership Award: Shelia Hudson, Central Region Director, AMAC Board of Directors; Chair, AMAC Supplier Diversity Committee; Principal & CEO, Hudson and Associates

Chapter of the Year Award: AMAC Los Angeles Chapter

Hall of Fame Award: Nikki Tinsley Harland, At-Large Director, AMAC Board of Directors; Chief Operating Officer, Paradies Lagardère

Airport Director of the Year William “Bill” Jennings Award: Jamie Rhee, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation

Airport of the Year Award: Denver International Airport

President & CEO Award: Bridget Biagas, First Vice Chair, AMAC Board of Directors; Vice President, Business Development, Hudson by Avolta

Charles “CJ” Johnson Award: Daniel Halpern, Member, AMAC PAC Board of Directors; President/CEO and Co-Founder, Jackmont Hospitality

Chairman’s Award: Sunshine White, Chair, AMAC Foundation Board of Directors; Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships, Delaware North

AMAC Catalyst Award: Raymond Christy​, Airport Planning DBE Manager – Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Coordinator,​ Salt Lake City Department of Airports​

AMAC Airport Design Innovation and Inclusion Award: Api Appulingam​, Chief Development Officer, City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation​

AMAC Airport Concessions Innovation and Inclusion Award: Paradies Lagardère at Charlotte Douglas International Airport

AMAC Advocate of the Year Award: Sunshine White, Senior Director, Strategic Partnerships, Delaware North

AMAC Small Business Partner Award: Apryl Stewart​, Founder & President, Skyview Concessions, Inc.​

AMAC Inclusive Leadership Award: Charlene Reynolds​, Airport Director, John Wayne Airport​

AMAC Local Small Business Champion Award: Semone Jeffries of Prince’s Hot Chicken

AMAC Emerging Leaders Award: Devon Ray​, Director, Strategic Alliances, HMSHost by Avolta​

AMAC Hall of Fame Award: Gregg Paradies​, President & CEO, Paradies Lagardère​

AMAC Airport of the Year Award: Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

AMAC President & CEO Award: Inez Lampley​, Founder, Fresher, LLC​

AMAC Charles “CJ” Johnson Award: Karen Ellis​, Chief Customer Experience Officer, San Antonio Airport System​

AMAC Chairman’s Award: Justina Mann, President & Managing Principal, Blue Ink Group

AMAC Chairman’s Award: Doug Kreulen​, President & CEO, Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority​

AMAC Airport Director of the Year – William “Bill” Jennings Award: Kevin Dolliole​, Director of Aviation,​ Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport​

AMAC Airport Design Innovation and Inclusion Award: Hudson Design & Construction Group​
AMAC Airport Concessions Innovation and Inclusion Award: Khalia Moore​, Senior Manager, Airport Dining & Retail,​ Seattle-Tacoma International Airport​
AMAC Advocate of the Year: Nick Crews​, CEO and Managing Partner, Crews ​
AMAC Small Business Partner Award: Kurt and Lachelle Mangum of TMG Hospitality USA​
AMAC Inclusive Leadership Award: Sarah Levy Imberman, Owner, Sarah’s Foods​
AMAC Local Small Business Champion Award: Chef Johnny Hernandez​, Founder/President, Grupo La Gloria and True Flavors Inc.​
AMAC Emerging Leaders Award: Anita Cobb​, Market Leader, Aviation Equity Strategies, Mead & Hunt ​
AMAC Hall of Fame Award: Ron Gomes​, Vice President, Strategic Alliances, HMSHost​
AMAC Airport of the Year Award: San Antonio Airport System​
AMAC President’s Award: Nancy West​, Chair, AMAC PAC Board of Directors​; Founder & Managing Member, Exstare Federal Services Group, LLC​
AMAC Charles “CJ” Johnson Award: Derryl Benton​, Executive Vice President of Business Development, HMSHost​
AMAC Chairman’s Award: Dwight Pullen Jr.​, At-Large Director, AMAC Board of Directors; Chair, AMAC Aviation Professional Development Committee; Senior Vice President, Global Aviation Americas Leader, AECOM​
AMAC Airport Director of the Year Award: Lance Lyttle​, Managing Director, Aviation, Port of Seattle​ (Seattle-Tacoma International Airport)​

AMAC Design Innovation and Inclusion Award: BOWA Construction
AMAC Airport Concessions Innovation Award: Hudson
AMAC Advocate of the Year Award: Tamela Lee​, Vice President, Business Diversity and Development; Dallas Fort Worth International Airport​
AMAC Small Business Partner Award: Greg “GP” Plummer​, Director, AMAC Foundation Board of Directors​; CEO & Managing Partner, Concord Collective​
AMAC Inclusive Leader Award: Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
AMAC Airport of the Year Award: O’Hare & Midway International Airports
AMAC President’s Award: Keiva Rodriques​, Deputy Chief Engineer, Division of Planning and Engineering,​ Maryland Aviation Administration ​
AMAC Chairman’s Award: Andrella Kenner​, Director, AMAC Foundation Board of Directors​; Founder & President, CI2 Aviation​
AMAC Local Small Business Champion Award: Dee M. Robinson​, CEO, Robinson Hill​
AMAC Leaper Award: Jose Cuevas​, Senior Manager, Commercial, JFK International Air Terminal ​
AMAC Hall of Fame Award: Corliss Stone-Littles​, Director, AMAC PAC Board of Directors​, Managing Member, Corliss Stone-Littles, LLC​
AMAC Charles “CJ” Johnson Award: John Clark​, Senior Vice President of Development, Airports and Airlines, SSP America​

AMAC Advocate of the Year Award – Courtney Thornton, Executive Vice President, Corporate Strategy & Business Development, Hudson Group
AMAC Airport of the Year Award – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
AMAC Airport Concessions Innovation and Inclusion Award – Jackmont Hospitality
AMAC Airport Design Innovation and Inclusion Award – Los Angeles World Airports
AMAC Chairman’s Award – Angela Gittens, (Retired) Former Director General, Airports Council International
AMAC Hall of Fame Award – Derryl Benton, Executive Vice President, Business Development, HMSHost
AMAC Inclusive Leadership Award – SP Plus Airport Services
AMAC Local Small Business Champion Award – William “Bill” Swift, Treasurer, AMAC Board of Directors / Owner, Business Traveler Services, Inc. and Swift Services, Inc.
AMAC Small Business Partner Award – CI2 Aviation

TO BE POSTED SOON!

Airport Design Innovation and Inclusion Award – Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
Small Business Partner – Newburns Management Group LLC
Airport Concessions Innovation and Inclusion Award – Orlando International Airport
AMAC Advocate of the Year Award – Lauryn Mangum, Stellar Partners Inc.
AMAC Airport of the Year – Tampa International Airport
AMAC Hall of Fame Award – Joe Lyons, DFS Group
AMAC Hall of Fame Award – Bettye Dixon, Concourse Concessions
AMAC Hall of Fame Award – Clarence Daniels, CMS Hospitality
AMAC Inclusive Leader Award – The Hudson Group
Local Small Business Champion Award – Michael Lawson
President’s Award – Brison Hardin, Concourse Concessions
Chairman’s Award – Ann McNeill, MCO Construction & Services, Inc.
AMAC Conference Founding Member Award – Leon Watkins, Posthumously Awarded
AMAC Conference Founding Member Award – Audrey Simmons, Retired
AMAC Conference Founding Member Award – Esterlene Lewis, Retired
AMAC Conference Founding Member Award – Clark Sharpe, Shellis Management Services

Airport Concessions Innovation and Inclusion Award – Fraport USA
Airport Design and Inclusion Award – Austin Commercial
Small Business Partner Award – Barbara Oliver, MBE Magazine
Advocate of the Year – Raymond Christy, Salt Lake City International Airport
Inclusive Leader Award – Stellar Partners
Airport of the Year Award – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Hall of Fame Award – Jon Mathiasen, Richmond International Airport
President’s Award – Jack Thomas, St. Louis County Government
Local Small Business Champion – Eddie Rye
Chairman’s Awards – Lance Lyttle and The Port of Seattle

Chairman’s Award—SSP America
President’s Award—Mamie Mallory, Federal Aviation Administration
Hall of Fame Award—Robin McCullum Diaz, Hudson Group
Airport AEC (Architectural, Engineering and Construction), Innovation and Inclusion Award—Frank Wengler, AECOM
Airport Top Flight Award—Indianapolis International Airport
Advocate of the Year Award—Bob Bouta, Avis Budget Group
Airport Concessions Award—Philadelphia International Airport
Small Business Award—VoltAir Consulting Engineers

Airport Architectural, Engineering, Construction (AEC) Innovation and Conclusion Award—Arthur Morton, Kimley Horn and Associates, Inc.
Airport Concessions and Inclusion Award—Tanya Allen, Hojeij Branded Foods/APU JV, LLC
Advocate of the Year Award—Janus C. Holder, EJE Travel Retailer
AMAC Strategic Partner Award—Eric Zwiercan, Philadelphia International Airport
Airport Top Flight Award—Cheryl Hawkins, Tampa International Airport
Hall of Fame Award—William Kirk, K & L Gates, LLP
President’s Award—Ajay Ravulapalli, MaMa Organic Herbs
Chairman’s Award—Courtney C. Thornton, The Hudson Group