URW was proud to join the Airport Minority Advisory Council Los Angeles (AMAC LA) in celebrating the launch of its Los Angeles Chapter in partnership with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and URW Airports during the inaugural AMAC LA Business Diversity Event. The program focused on growing opportunities for minority businesses at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and included a ceremonial ribbon cutting.
The AMAC LA chapter is one of six chapters nationwide that AMAC recently launched. Local chapters were developed to position AMAC to grow its membership base, expand advocacy efforts, align with local interests, strengthen AMAC’s brand, and enhance its value proposition.
“We are thrilled to kick off our LA chapter with this dynamic event, which highlights the support we offer our members daily, from understanding the airport to connecting veteran operators with newcomers,” said Martha Valenzuela, President of AMAC LA. “We are proud to partner with LAWA and URW to introduce inclusive airport business opportunities. We are always looking to help our members take their business to the next level, and having a regional chapter here in LA is just one more way we are doing that.”
The event, which included experienced minority airport business owners, concessions operators, local minority business owners, and entrepreneurs, helped local minority business owners and entrepreneurs learn about airport concessions, how to get into LAX and how to advance their business journeys in the airport and across the industry.
“Los Angeles World Airports strives to create an equitable and inclusive airport, and we are committed to significantly increasing participation of small, local, and disadvantaged businesses at LAX,” said Karim Webb, President, Board of Airport Commissioners. “We are proud to partner with our new, local AMAC chapter to continue working with all minority-owned companies, whether concessionaires, construction and engineering firms or service providers, to have our airport truly reflect our diverse city.”
“On behalf of the URW Advance Network, we are honored to celebrate and support the launch of the Airport Minority Advisory Council LA Chapter,” said Dany Nasr, URW CEO of Airports. “We look forward to building our partnerships with AMAC, Los Angeles World Airports and our retail partners to create more inclusive and impactful airport business and career opportunities for the people and communities we serve. Together, we’re building momentum.”
URW also recognized by the AMAC LA chapter with an award in recognition of our commitment to advancing the full participation of people of color and historically marginalized individuals in employment and contracting opportunities.
Local entrepreneurs and business owners who attended the event learned about the wide range of business opportunities at LAX, how to become Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) certified and what to expect while operating in the airport environment. Minority and women-owned business owners shared stories of strategies for success and offered their support to prospective businesses. The program ended with a discussion about advancing DEI in the industry.
“Our vision for AMAC Chapters is to strengthen our engagement with local markets by interacting with more of our members and entrepreneurs and helping them find success,” said Eboni Wimbush, AMAC President & CEO. “It is so rewarding to see that come to fruition today with our key stakeholders. We want to build on this great momentum and power the next generation of minority business owners.”
AMAC LA, LAWA, and URW’s Advance Network offer a variety of support and resources. To learn more about AMAC LA and AMAC membership benefits and programs, visit www.amac-org.com. Contracting opportunities at LAX are available at the City of Los Angeles Regional Alliance Marketplace for Procurement (RAMP) website at wwwFor morepla.org. For more information on URW’s Advance Network and to join its Supplier Diversity Network, visit www.urwairports.com/community.
