SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), the trade association representing commercial service airports in the United States and Canada, today announced the recipients of the 2023 Inclusion Champion Awards. This year’s recipients are Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), San Antonio International Airport (SAT), and Turner Construction Company.
“Airports know that they can’t do it all on their own. It takes a strong, diverse, and inclusive mix of workers, partners, and businesses to provide a safe, comfortable, and efficient passenger experience,” said ACI-NA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “This year’s honorees understand that and have implemented numerous programs related to business operations, workforce development, and community outreach to ensure the best possible outcomes both for travelers and employees and provide new opportunities for many individuals and small businesses. We applaud each of our 2023 honorees for their commitment to building a stronger airport industry.”
Large Hub Inclusion Champion: Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
Los Angeles World Airports uses its contract language, procurement scoring, outreach, and contractor support programs all as inclusivity tools. This approach translates LAWA’s core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion into enforceable contracts, nearly all of which have requirements — not goals — to contract with small, local, disabled veterans’ and/or disadvantaged firms (XBEs). These values are also evident in LAWA’s workforce practices, through programs such as the Targeted Local Hire Program (TLH); the capital infrastructure program, which is cultivating the next generation of local craft workers; and the HireLAX apprenticeship readiness program. LAWA supplements these efforts through events like its Annual LAX Aviation Career Day, where local high school students can meet with representatives of almost three dozen aviation-related companies and agencies, and efforts like its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to continue LAX’s legacy as a Gold Standard airport while maximizing opportunities of diverse and small businesses.
Medium Hub Inclusion Champion: San Antonio International Airport (SAT)
San Antonio International Airport’s Business Opportunity & Diversity Development (BODD) team implements several sustainable practices to achieve its inclusivity goals — including outreach and engagement with subcontractors; the creation of an informative, practical manual that explains the requirements of working within a secure environment on airport property; and presentations on what to expect when working on an airfield. SAT also connects with local government leaders to share information on the airport experience and works with firms that may have language barriers to present the benefits of becoming certified as a Small, Minority, Women-owned Business Enterprise (S/M/WBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), or Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE). Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts are integral parts of SAT’s workforce culture. The recruiting team is committed to targeting a diverse pool of applicants such as military veterans, second-chance employment candidates, and those seeking entry-level positions. As part of SAT’s inclusionary hiring practices, diverse interview panel members are selected to further integrate alignment with SAT’s mission and vision. In 2021, this process resulted in the hiring or promotion of 114 employees, with more than 50 percent being minorities.
World Business Partner/Associate Inclusion Champion: Turner Construction Company
One of the focuses of Turner’s Community and Citizenship program is its commitment to sustainable practices that promote outreach and inclusion of diverse businesses and the growth and development of the staff and leaders that make up those businesses. The company is intentional in building relationships to grow underrepresented business enterprises’ capabilities and ensure they provide equitable opportunities for diverse businesses. Additionally, the Turner School of Construction Management (TSCM) provides diverse businesses’ staff the opportunity to learn from Turner employees and industry partners with in-classroom training over a period of several weeks. Turner also leverages resources to create opportunities for careers in construction and to diversify its own workplace and the industry. Turner
increased its own workforce from 44.8 percent diverse to 47.63 percent in 2022, and it plans to continue that trend. The company also utilizes several programs to help motivate young professionals to explore careers in the construction industry and provides individuals with skills that lead to gainful and sustainable employment.
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