Press Releases

News Release - Baton Rouge, LA – For Immediate Release, April 27, 2017

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) today announced the recipients of the 2017 ACI-NA Inclusion Champion Awards during an awards gala dinner at the ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference in Palm Springs, CA. The ACI-NA Business of Airports Conference brings together more than 500 commercial management, human resource, and finance executives from the North American airport industry. This year’s Inclusion Champion Award recipients are Vancouver Airport Authority (Large Hub), St. Louis Lambert International Airport (Medium Hub), Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (Small Hub), and Turner Construction Company (Associate Inclusion).

“Each year, the Inclusion Champion Awards celebrate exceptional achievement in promoting and sustaining diversity throughout the airport industry,” said Kevin M. Burke, ACI-NA President and CEO. “Airports are committed to ambitious goals that serve their local communities and strengthen the businesses that support airport operations. I applaud our airport and associate members for their continued commitment to promoting diversity.”

Ralph Hennessy, Baton Rouge Metro Airport Interim Director of Aviation, said, “We have worked hard for many years to expand our Small & Disadvantaged Business Programs, and it is rewarding to be recognized by ACI-NA with the top award among Small Hub Airports.”

Small Hub Inclusion Champion: Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport

Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR) is committed to diversity of new business, workforce inclusion, and professional development. Small businesses are an integral aspect of BTR’s long-term vision. BTR fosters the involvement and growth of small businesses through targeted solicitation programs aimed at meeting the airport’s inclusionary goals. BTR also actively seeks to enhance a more level playing field for minority and small businesses to compete both at the airport and in the broader community, supporting small and minority-owned businesses through formal support and outreach events. Finally, with a staff that is comprised of 52% female and minority employees, BTR continually works to cultivate a staff as diverse as the passengers and community it serves.

About ACI-NA

Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) represents local, regional, and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Approximately 380 aviation-related businesses are also members of ACI-NA, providing goods and services to airports. Collectively, U.S. airports employ more than 1.3 million people and account for $1.2 trillion in economic activity—or seven percent of the total U.S. workforce and eight percent of GDP. Canadian airports support 405,000 jobs and contribute C$35 billion to Canada’s GDP. Learn more at www.aci-na.org.

About BTR

The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport is the second largest airport in Louisiana based on passenger volume, with over 750,000 annual passengers. It is served by the major network airlines with hub flights that provide access to destinations worldwide. While the airport is a major economic generator for the Baton Rouge area, it is administered as an Enterprise Fund, generating its own revenues for operations as opposed to receiving local tax funds.

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