DATE: March 30, 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: Jasmine Jones
PHONE: 954-357-6400
EMAIL: jasjones@broward.org

Broward County, FL - Keep Calm and Register Today! Registration is now open for the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) 2015 Airport Business Diversity Conference to be held in Broward County from June 12 - 16, 2015 at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach Resort and Spa. Sanctioned as one of the County's Broward100 centennial celebration events, the conference is themed "Business Beyond the Beach: ELEVATING Global Opportunity" and will emphasize AMAC's focus on developing international markets while highlighting Broward County's unique, strategic geographic position as a "Gateway to the Americas" and a hub of South Florida. Regular conference registration fees for non-AMAC members are $150 for students; $750 for minority, women and disadvantaged business owners; and $950 for representatives of corporations, airports, government agencies and associations. Discounted Early Bird registration rates apply to conference attendees who register on or before April 17th. To learn more and to register online, visit amac-org.com. 

Held annually over the past 30 years in various cities, AMAC's Airport Business Diversity Conference provides a platform for airports, corporations, entrepreneurs and the federal government an opportunity to participate in engaging and relevant educational and networking events.  Proceeds support the organization's program initiatives and provide scholarships, career awareness and leadership development opportunities for students in the airport industry through the AMAC Education and Scholarship Program. 

Confirmed speakers during the five-day conference include Richard Biter, Assistant Secretary, Intermodal Systems Development, Florida Department of Transportation; U.S. Representative James E. Clyburn; Angela Gittens, Director General, Airports Council International; U.S. Representative Alcee Hastings, entrepreneur Jamail Larkins, President and CEO, Ascension Aviation; and Marc H. Morial, President and CEO, National Urban League. 

Conference attendees can participate in three educational paths: Track A - Airport Operations, Track B - Airport opportunities or Track C - Federal Programs. Topics for conference sessions include Creating a Successful Performance-Based Contract; Reaching for the Skies: Doing Business with Airlines; 11 Steps to Exporting - A Roadmap to Your Exporting Success!; Supply Chain and Logistics (Air Cargo, Sea Ports, Rail); and CASE STUDY - FLL Expansion: Shift for Success…Lessons Learned. Two concurrent guided mobile tours at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades are offered for a limited amount of conference attendees.
Conference events include various keynote luncheons; the AMAC Policy Update general session; Project LIFT (Leaders Inspiring Future Talent) for local high school and college students; Airport Director's Forum: The Era of Expanding Runways and Global Gateway Airports featuring leaders from domestic and international airports; and the AMAC BIZCOM, a business financing competition for budding and seasoned AMAC members to present their best concepts and products to a panel of potential investors.  Attendees will also enjoy the exhibit hall featuring various vendors, silent auction, business matchmaking sessions and special events including the Women in Aviation Breakfast and the AMAC Awards Luncheon.

For more information on the upcoming conference, contact Jasmine Jones, AMAC Local Planning Committee Chairperson and Broward County Office of Economic and Small Business Development Community Relations and Outreach Manager, by phone at 954-357-8076, by email or visit Broward.org/EconDev. The 2015 Airport Business Diversity Conference is sponsored by the Broward County Aviation Department and the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) with support by the Office of Economic and Small Business Development. 

Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC)
The Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) serves as the nation's only non-profit trade organization dedicated to promoting the full participation of Minority/Women/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise/Small Business Enterprises (M/W/DBE/SBE) in airport contracting and employment opportunities.  AMAC assists airports and their business partners in achieving diversity goals that are mandated by federal regulations and in doing so help airport management become closer to the community in which it serves. For information about the Airport Minority Advisory Council, visit www.amac-org.com or call 703-414-2622.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the preferred domestic airport in South Florida, ranks 21st in the U.S. in terms of total passenger traffic. With over 600 flights a day, FLL offers non-stop service to 100 U.S. cities and international destinations to Canada, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, Mexico, Latin American, and Europe.  In 2014, FLL served 24.6 million travelers. Strategically located in the heart of the South Florida region, FLL is one of the primary economic engines in Broward County. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is a service of the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. For more information, visit FLL.net.

Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau
From the seagrass to the sawgrass, Greater Fort Lauderdale boasts more than 34,000 lodging accommodations at a variety of hotels, luxury spa resorts, and Superior Small Lodgings reflecting a "beach chic" vibe. Visitors enjoy 23 miles of Blue Wave certified beaches, discover 300+ miles of inland waterways that run from the Intracoastal Waterway to the Everglades, dine at thousands of restaurants and eateries, get immersed in a thriving arts and culture scene and indulge in top shopping. For more info, contact the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 22-SUNNY or visit Sunny.org.

The Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau can also be followed on Twitter at www.twitter.com/visitlauderdale or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/visitlauderdale or follow our pins at www.pinterest.com/visitlauderdale or join us on Foursquare at www.foursquare.com/visitlauderdale To have Greater Fort Lauderdale in the palm of your hand, download the free iPhone applications, Defrost Your Swimsuit and 'Fork' Lauderdale, and Mild to Wild the LGBT mobile site at www.sunny.org/apps.

The Office of Economic and Small Business Development
The mission of the Office of Economic and Small Business Development is to enhance Broward County's economy and contribute to an improved quality of life for all residents. Areas of focus include value-added job creation, business expansion and retention, small business growth, business development, international trade development, export readiness and entrepreneurial training and development. Services are delivered by the agency and through partnerships with state, local and private sector organizations. The Office of Economic and Small Business Development promotes equal access to Broward County procurement opportunities for small business enterprises in local and federal small business programs, and helps position small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs to take advantage of opportunities, and grow their businesses beyond Broward. Call 954-357-6155 for more information or visit Broward.org/EconDev.