Eboni Wimbush Takes the Helm of AMAC as President & CEO
Eboni Wimbush, AMAC President and CEO
The Airport Minority Advisory Council selected Eboni Wimbush as its new president and CEO after a national search during the summer and fall of 2021. Wimbush assumed her new role in October 2021 and is prepared to lead the organization forward as the country comes out of the COVID-19 pandemic and looks forward to new opportunities from the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in November 2021.
In a formal statement, she said: “I am honored to be selected as AMAC’s next President & CEO at such a pivotal moment in history. The organization connects my early passion, interest and education in aviation along with my dedication to creating a positive, lasting impact for women and disadvantaged communities. I am ready to serve and prepared to lead and position AMAC for the future – working with the AMAC Board of Directors and National Office to be the voice at the table and to create opportunities and economic mobility for our members.”—Eboni Wimbush, President & CEO, AMAC
Wimbush most recently served as the Deputy Director of the Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success. She was responsible for advancing all the work across the agency including building and implementing the strategies and systems to operationalize the City’s $100 million eviction prevention program in response to the global pandemic as well as leading the agency’s contracting, Human Resources, grant compliance and equity strategy.
Previously, Wimbush served as Chief of Staff at Baltimore City Department of Transportation, where she was responsible for the Office of Communications, the Office of Legislative Affairs and External Affairs. Additionally, she served as a key advisor to the director in overseeing the day-to-day management, operations and performance activities of the agency’s 1,250 employees and $250 million budget.
Prior to joining Baltimore City and over a span of two decades, Wimbush had a distinguished private sector career with Fortune 500 companies including FedEx Corporation, Johnson Controls and Siemens where she held leadership roles and gained a depth and breadth of knowledge and experience in developing and building energy infrastructure projects and delivering outcomes.
“Eboni is no stranger to AMAC and brings a wealth of transportation and related leadership and management experience and education. I have been able to witness Eboni’s work over the last few years and am very excited to have her take the helm of AMAC. I am confident that she will bring exceptional leadership to the AMAC National Office and lead our efforts to execute AMAC’s mission. Furthermore, she will serve as a highlyrespectable and credible representative of AMAC throughout the membership and the industry.”—Ricky Smith, Chair, AMAC Board of Directors, and CEO, Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport.
A Conversation with AMAC’s Eboni Wimbush
You’ve been in place for about a month now, what’s been your biggest surprise of assuming leadership of AMAC?
The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) has such a rich history and legacy, and I had the honor and privilege to meet one of the founding members during my first business trip to Atlanta. He retold several early stories about the impetus for forming what we now know as AMAC. The sense of dedication and commitment to enhancing business opportunities for minorities and women was profound... Over the first 45 days, I’ve had a chance to meet numerous members. I’m humbled and surprised that the passion and deep commitment are still palpable today... Although the aviation industry came to a near standstill during the pandemic —having a devastating economic impact on members —the Board and committee members were hard at work developing strategic initiatives to position AMAC and its members to survive and re-emerge stronger for post-pandemic success.
What do DBEs and ACDBEs in the airport industry need to do to capitalize on the business opportunities from the new infrastructure bill?
The historic investment into our nation’s infrastructure – particularly airports – marks a monumental opportunity to fuel AMAC’s mission of advancing the full participation of minorities and women in employment and contracting opportunities throughout the aviation industry... AMAC is diligently working on behalf of our diverse members through our advocacy efforts, critical programming, and vast networking opportunities to position our members to receive economic equity throughout this transformation of America’s infrastructure that is to come from this generational investment... DBEs and ACDBEs will need to develop a strategy to capitalize on the projects that will flow down from the infrastructure bill, and it starts with strengthening their overall business infrastructure by investing in their people and processes so they can scale. Additionally, they should look to organizations like AMAC for training, resources and support.
From left: Ricky Smith, AMAC Board Chair and CEO, Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport; Karen Ellis, Chief Customer Experience Officer, San Antonio International Airport; Jamie Rhee, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation; Dawn Hunter, Director of Aviation Commercial Management, Seattle Tacoma International Airport; Tonja Pastorelle, President, Pastorelle Marketing; and Eboni Wimbush, AMAC President & CEO, attend a December 2021 stakeholders’ reception for the 2022 Airport Business Diversity Conference in Chicago.
What are your top three goals for AMAC as we enter 2022?
AMAC’s mission is more important than ever today. My top three goals as we enter 2022 include: -Realize our mission through advocacy by remaining the dominant voice on legislative and policy matters pertaining to diversity and inclusion in the aviation industry. -Lead our organization through transformation by launching some exciting new initiatives for our members including a Regional Chapters initiative and a few others that will be announced in 2022. -Leverage our strengths and guide our team through the development of critical programming to improve our value to our members. Plus … do what we are exceptional at … connecting over 1,000 businesses, aviation professionals, government officials and individuals from around the country to discuss a variety of subjects ranging from how to do business at airports to public policy issues impacting the entire aviation industry at our 37th Annual AMAC Business Diversity Conference in Chicago in June 2022.
What’s your leadership style and what can AMAC members expect from your leadership?
I’m a collaborative, action-oriented leader. Over the first 100 days, members can expect that I will focus on listening to their needs and unique challenges to effectively advocate on their behalf and to ensure AMAC programming is timely and relevant.
Who most inspires you in your career and why?
There have been many people throughout my career who have inspired me, in particular, two black women are top of mind... Early in my career, I was inspired by Joy Clarke Holmes, the first African American woman to become Regional Manager for Johnson Controls Energy Solutions division. Joy was a master business strategist and led one of the most successful regions in the country for JCI... More recently, I was inspired by Tisha Edwards, former Executive Director for Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of Children & Family Success. Tisha’s drive and commitment to excellence for the citizens of Baltimore City were unmatched... While both of these women were individually successful, what inspired me most was their intentional focus on setting the bar high and opening the door for women and minorities; so they did not sit at the top alone.
How do you plan to move AMAC and the airport industry forward under your leadership?
Redefining Aviation Opportunities is our upcoming conference theme. To best position our membership for the future, I will be focused on increased engagement, increased support and increased innovation —while embracing the inclusiveness of all underrepresented businesses.
What are you most passionate about as a leader?
To whom much is given, much will be required... I have been blessed with great opportunities and people who have invested in me throughout my career. This sparked a passion and desire to give back and support women and underrepresented communities... My desire to have a deep impact led me from a long, successful corporate career with FedEx Corporation, Johnson Controls and Siemens to serving the citizens of Baltimore City as a senior leader in government... AMAC’s vision to create economic equity, access and wealth for minorities and women in aviation connects my early passion for aviation and my deep desire to have a lasting impact. I wake up excited about the future of the organization. The vision is what fuels and drives me every day!
What is one thing people probably don’t know about you?
At 16 years old, I attended the Negro Airmen International Summer Flight Academy at Tuskegee University, received guidance from Chief Anderson (known to some as the Father of Black Aviation), and soloed a single-engine airplane.
What is the greatest area of need to increase equity and inclusion in the airport industry?
Access to capital remains one of the greatest areas of need to increase equity and inclusion in airport contracting opportunities.
What are some areas of opportunity for airport leaders and ACDBE/DBE firms to increase their participation in the industry?
Airports are typically the largest economic engine for a community, and airport development is closely linked to economic development in the surrounding area. With billions of dollars of infrastructure projects in development, the opportunities are countless and vast... AMAC will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to exchange ideas, share entrepreneurship best practices, and seek innovation in airport Diversity & Inclusion during our Economic Opportunity & Policy Forum in Washington, D.C. on March 21, 2022.
Bonus Question: Where is the coolest place you have been while traveling?
Rome, but more specifically an in-depth tour of the Colosseum. The engineering feat is mind-blowing!
