On October 3, 2025, the City of Philadelphia Department of Aviation held its 13th Annual Business Opportunity Forum. Business owners, corporate leaders and local officials gathered at the Philadelphia Airport Marriott to focus on how local businesses can participate in major upcoming projects at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Northeast Philadelphia Airport (PNE).

The event theme was “Navigating Toward Success” and speakers from various City of Philadelphia departments and local officials including Philadelphia City Council President Kenyatta Johnson, Councilmember At-Large Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Pennsylvania State Representative Regina Young, and Delaware County Council Chair Dr. Monica Taylor were featured on the program.

“We are fortunate to have the support of many leaders from our city and our region who are here with us today,” said PHL’s Chief Executive Officer Atif Saeed. “As we prepare for the influx of visitors from around the globe over this year and next, our strategic plan is our guiding light as we continue to enhance enterprise-wide collaboration and prioritize key programs.”

The event’s agenda was designed to offer strategies, insights, and opportunities for business growth. Key sessions included:

Meet the Policy Makers

The “Meet the Policy Makers” session, moderated by Department of Aviation Vice President of Airport Procurement Deatrice Isaac, featured a fireside chat with City of Philadelphia Procurement Commissioner Ronald Hovey and City of Philadelphia Director of Business Impact and Supplier Diversity Nadir Jones. Together, they provided insights into how the City and the airports are working to expand access to contracting opportunities.

During this session, attendees learned about the structure and process of City procurement, including what the Procurement Department does and key procurement categories, how contract requirements vary depending on the contract type, and what the Local Business Purchasing Initiative is. Attendees were also guided through the process of obtaining Local Business Entity (LBE) certification and the benefits of becoming an LBE. In addition, they were introduced to the City’s Consolidated Contract Search Hub, a centralized platform for exploring City of Philadelphia contracting opportunities, and learned about the City’s new Procurement and Finance ERP system, which will replace multiple platforms to streamline operations and improve transparency and access.

Success in Business with the City

Lily Reynolds, Director of Federal Infrastructure Strategy at the City's Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, discussed the Geographic and Economic Hiring Preferences (GEHP) and the Infrastructure Solutions Team (IST), explaining GEHP requirements and highlighting the specific requirements businesses need to meet under this program.

Success in Concessions

Moderated by the Department of Aviation's Airport Concessions Business Enterprise Manager Cobi Duncan, the panel featured the airports' Assistant Director of Air Service Development and Cargo Services Nicole Maddox; Vice President of LeJeune & Associates and General Manager for MarketPlace PHL Melwood Hannah; and Antwain Bullock, founder of Sweet Treat Hut and also an Airport Concessions Academy graduate. The panelists discussed PHL’s and MarketPlace PHL’s concessions programs and shared insights into how these initiatives support business growth, as well as a case study on concessionaire Sweet Treat Hut’s strategy for success.

Success in Contracting

The Success in Contracting session was moderated by the Department of Aviation Contract & Planning Administrator Shawneese Brown and included speakers from various airport divisions who shared upcoming opportunities within their areas:

• Capital Development Opportunities – Jessica Noon, Sustainability Manager
• IT Opportunities – Camille Tomlin, Vice President of IT Systems & Infrastructure
• Strategy Opportunities – Leah Douglas, Director of Guest Experience
• Commercial Opportunities – Nicole Maddox, Assistant Director of Air Service Development and Cargo Services
• Operations Opportunities – Chris Dougherty, Vice President of Operations and Security
• Administrative Opportunities – Shane Doud, Director of Government Affairs

After the sessions, attendees participated in the Capital Development Group Spotlight, where the Captial Development team provided a closer look at upcoming projects at PHL. This was followed by the Department of Aviation networking tables and resource partners’ tables, where participants had a chance to connect directly with airport departments and the “Taste of Philly” networking reception where participants had an opportunity to continue making connections with contractors, and community and government organizations while sampling local favorites from Philadelphia vendors.