Airports Council Announces Winners of 2022 Inclusion Champion Awards

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, last night announced the recipients of the 2022 Inclusion Champion Awards during an awards gala dinner at the ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. This year’s Inclusion Champion Award recipients are San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Nashville International Airport (BNA), and Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.  The presentation of the 2022 Inclusion Champion Awards was sponsored by Cirium.

“So many different individuals, businesses, and organizations come together to help maintain and operate our airports — making them safe, efficient, and comfortable for everyone who passes through them,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke “This year’s winners truly understand how important inclusion and diversity are to providing the best possible experience for both employees and travelers and are models for how to support more practices like theirs in airports across North America.”

Large Hub Inclusion Champion: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)

San Francisco International Airport recognizes that securing a concession in a large hub can be challenging for small businesses and has implemented a host of initiatives to ensure small business participation, including creating a pop-up program with move-in ready fixtures to minimize start-up costs and providing opportunities that are limited to concessionaires that have never operated at SFO. In addition to promoting equitable access to SFO’s opportunities, the airport is focused on ensuring its small business partners can thrive and crafted a $20 million relief program to support businesses during the pandemic. SFO’s Racial Equity Action Plan (REAP) provides a robust blueprint for advancing racial equity in all aspects of the airport’s work over the next three years, including real-time dashboards to track progress and ensure accountability in diversifying leadership, expanding promotional pathways, and increasing overall representation in the workforce.

“Our Racial Equity Action Plan is driving one of the most fundamental shifts ever undertaken in the culture of SFO,” said Ivar C. Satero, airport director for the San Francisco International Airport. “These guiding principles infuse every corner of our workplace to ensure that we demonstrate the very best values of our region. We are grateful to be honored by Airports Council International – North America for our efforts.”

Medium Hub Inclusion Champion: Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Nashville International Airport’s (BNA) dynamic expansion and renovation program, known as BNA Vision, is a prime example of industry leadership in economic diversity and inclusion. BNA has prioritized the participation of small, minority, and women-owned business enterprises (SMWBE) in the transformative, $1.4 billion terminal renovation. To date, $217 million in contracts have been awarded to SMWBE-certified firms, and BNA is on track to exceed its $265 million goal by 2023. With employees from all over the world, BNA strives to be a diverse, equitable, and inclusive employer ensuring that everyone’s voice is represented and heard. The airport is a proud member and supporter of the Nashville LGBT Chamber, Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Latin American Chamber of Commerce, Nashville Black Chamber of Commerce, Airport Minority Advisory Council, and others.

“It’s such an honor to be recognized for the coveted Inclusion Champion Award,” said Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of Nashville International Airport. “We are committed to ensuring that small, minority, and women-owned businesses are successful at BNA. We remain steadfast in continuing to cultivate relationships with SMWBE-certified firms by supporting numerous minority chambers and councils within our community.”

Associate Inclusion Champion: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Jacobs Engineering Group Inc (Jacobs) has a track record of successful inclusion initiatives, having subcontracted $691 million to diverse businesses in Fiscal Year 2021. Jacobs has achieved significant diverse and small business participation in every project it has delivered at PIT, PHL, CMH, DCA, ORD, DFW, JFK, and LGA. Jacobs has also maintained an impressive level of diversity within the organization, with a 50 percent representation of women and minorities on its board of directors and 66 percent representation on its executive team. To enable diversity and equality globally, not only within Jacobs but with its clients, recruits, and the communities we serve, Jacobs has implemented eight employee networks with nearly 23,000 members — ACE (disability focus), Careers Network, Enlace (Latino focus), Harambee (Black focus), OneWorld (culturally diverse employees), Prism (LGBTQIA+), VetNet, and Women’s Network.

“At Jacobs we understand that ‘inclusion’ is a verb, not a noun. It means being transparent and taking action on our statements, commitments and initiatives that drives meaningful, measurable change both in our company and in the communities that we serve,” said Steve Pelham, Vice President, Aviation Americas at Jacobs.  “In aviation, we have been given the opportunity to contribute to the growth of diverse firms, airport communities and individuals who love aviation as much as we do, and we find it highly rewarding.”

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