A Message from 
Throughout 2020, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), the City of Los Angeles department that owns and operates Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), continued to make significant progress on its $14.3 billion Capital Improvement Program. This transformational work will modernize LAX, dramatically improve the regional transportation network and create dynamic business and job opportunities for Angelenos, including African American businesses from local communities.
“Los Angeles World Airports is transforming LAX into the airport for the future, and we’re doing it in partnership with local, African American-owned businesses,” said Karim Webb, Board of Airport Commissioner, Los Angeles World Airports. “We are committed to ensuring that our local community is involved in and benefits from all that we do, which in turn ensures that LAWA benefits from the amazing talent we have within our own community.”
This ongoing transformation is moving full-steam ahead, shaping a new skyline at LAX. All of this progress would not have been possible if not for the deep-rooted expertise of local, African American business owners who are collaborating with LAWA, as part of the construction of a 2.25-mile Automated People Mover (APM) train system, a Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility, renovated terminals and smart parking facilities.
This emerging skyline is one that owner of PDA Consulting Group, Pamela Penn, will be especially proud of when LAX’s Automated People Mover train is completed. Ms. Penn is a key member of LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS), the developer of that project. She serves as the Workforce Development Coordinator, connecting people to construction career opportunities and leading LINXS’ Local Hire Education and Opportunities Center.
With all of these projects, compliance is crucial to ensure that specific policy standards are followed, which is where Angela Reddock-Wright’s expertise comes in to play. She is fully engaged in LAX’s modernization with her firm, the Reddock Law Group, specializing in employment and labor law for transportation and infrastructure projects. Ms. Reddock-Wright also serves as the Compliance Manager for the modernization program at LAX, ensuring that businesses working at LAWA keep their commitments to local, small and disadvantaged businesses and local workers.
Another key player helping to build LAX infrastructure is Omoné Livingston, a civil and environmental engineer and the founder and CEO of O2EPCM, Inc. Her firm provides professional engineering, design, construction management and planning staff who are integrated into key projects at LAX. Ms. Livingston and her firm take enormous pride in being part of LAX’s strategy to reduce traffic and implement cutting-edge environmental protection practices.
Darryl Daniels, architect, planner and owner of Jacobsen Daniels, brings immense aviation expertise to modernize LAX. Mr. Daniels and his team have worked on key projects at LAX, such as planning for the Automated People Mover train system and Consolidated Rent-A-Car facility, as well as developing improved airport parking options. Before the Intermodal Transportation Facility-West, a new 4,300 stall parking structure near LAX, could be designed, Mr. Daniel’s firm analyzed where to locate the facility to provide the best guest experience to LAX travelers.
Another company doing business with LAX is Merriwether & Williams, which is one of a few minority women-owned insurance brokerage firms in the country. CEO Ingrid Merriwether and her team support minority-, small-, woman- and disabled-veteran-owned contractors to bid and complete construction or service contracts. Ms. Merriwether is proud to work with airports such as LAX who are committed to equity and inclusion in contracting.
The city of Los Angeles should stand proud and grateful that, together, with local business partners like these highlighted here, LAX will soon be the envy of airports across the nation and the world. There’s much to look forward to that will bring a brighter future in 2021 and beyond.
If you have expertise in aviation, construction, engineering or any other industry leading similar projects and would like to work on future projects, or if you are looking for a new career opportunity, LAWA welcomes you to explore those possibilities. Contact [email protected] to connect with someone who can help guide you. Those interested in jobs at LAX can visit www.jobsatlax.org.
