Airport Experience® News - Conference Issue 2024

SPEAKERS & MODERATORS

TAMELA LEE Tamela Lee is vice president of business diversity and development at Dallas Fort/Worth International Airport (DFW) In her role, Lee promotes minority and women owned business enterprises by providing access to contracting opportunities in construction, goods and services, concessions, and commercial development She has implemented the current business diversity programs as well as the Small Business Enterprise Concessions Program at DFW Lee is also the Title VI coordinator for the airport

PAT MURRAY Pat Murray is SSP America’s deputy chief executive officer, charged with developing and growing the company’s portfolio across North America Murray oversees a division

responsible for business development, design and construction, brands and concepts, industry relations and strategic partnerships Murray has been an instrumental force in realizing SSP America’s vision of delivering a ‘taste of place’ to North American airports, driven by SSP’s strong alliance of award-winning local brands, impassioned culinary professionals and leading restaurateurs

ASHYE MARCUS Ashye Marcus is a senior business development and strategy leader at Amazon, focused on scaling Amazon’s frictionless retail solution, Just Walk Out She is passionate about harnessing disruptive shifts in technology and

MUKESH (MOOKIE) PATEL Mookie Patel is an experienced aviation professional with 30 years of combined airport, airline and consulting experience He most recently was with Austin-Bergstrom

consumer preferences to drive commercial outcomes through innovation Her experience spans both startups and large corporations, most notably AWS, Nike, and Lehman Brothers

International Airport (AUS) as the airport chief revenue and finance officer Prior experience includes leadership roles at Denver International Airport (DEN) and San Antonio International Airport (SAT) As an airline consultant he managed capital program budget management for projects at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

RODERICK MCOWAN Roderick McOwan serves as chief development officer for Marshall Retail Group and In Motion, both divisions of WH Smith North America He has more than 35 years of experience in directing and leading the expansion and

SAMMY PATEL As vice president of commercial for Vantage Airport Group and chief executive officer of Midway Partnership, Sammy Patel is responsible for Vantage’s commercial strategy and

growth of non-traditional retail, food, beverage and brand concepts across international and North American airports During his tenure, the companies have expanded from three stores at Las Vegas’ Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) to more than 300 stores across 48 airports and 36 casinos/ resorts in 2024

operations globally His responsibilities include developing the company’s growth and revenue initiatives, forming new business partnerships, providing global functional support, and the strategic direction of Midway Partnership Most recently, Patel led Vantage’s commercial planning efforts to develop a new $4 2 billion Terminal 6 at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK)

GONZALO DE LA MELENA JR. Gonzalo de la Melena Jr is the founder and CEO of Emerging Airport Ventures, LLC, an ACDBE-certified concessions operating company with 23 food, beverage and retail operations at five airports: Phoenix Sky Harbor

LAURYN MANGUM REED Lauryn Mangum Reed is executive vice president for TMG Hospitality USA, composed of LAM Holdings, TMG Services, PMCS, and TMG Development Among other things, the

International (PHX), Mesa Gateway (AZA), Salt Lake City International (SLC), Denver International (DEN) and San Diego International (SAN) airports He has served as CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC) and operator of the Minority Business Center Prior to entering airport concessions in 2012, de la Melena held various management roles at The Dial Corporation

company operates food and beverage and retail operations within airports Reed is also the owner of Lauryn Ashley Management and Consulting, a boutique company that lends its expertise to individuals and small businesses for development, consulting, RFP creation and proposal assistance She is the Airport Minority Advisory Board (AMAC) trade board secretary, AMAC’s Emerging Leaders committee chair, and an Airport Council International North America (ACI-NA) business diversity steering committee member

KHALIA MOORE Khalia Moore is the senior manager, airport dining and retail for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) Under her oversight, the airport dining and retail department has launched a variety of strategic initiatives, including

workshops for prospective bidders, establishing a food incubator program and restructuring many RFP requirements Before joining the Port of Seattle, Moore worked for Westfield Airport, co-creating the program, The Network, which focused on developing better relationships with ACDBE partners, addressing concerns within the contracts and partner relationships, and establishing mentorship opportunities for new ACDBEs

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AX NEWS MARCH 2024