On September 24, the Philadelphia Airport Concessions Academy concluded the last of five total modules of the third concession academy. Twenty-seven individuals representing twenty-three businesses participated in the process of learning how to become a concessionaire at PHL.
In the final module, participants received feedback on their mock proposals for the airport’s Request for Proposal (RFP) process from five judges, including PHL Chief Administrative Officer Delicsha Wilds, Business Enterprise Manager Cobi Duncan, MarketPlace PHL President and CEO Clarence LeJuene, MarketPlace PHL Vice President and General Manager Mel Hannah and MarketPlace PHL Marketing and Guest Experience Manager Dana Krawchuk.
“I benefitted from the entire academy,” said Sea Bar II Grill & Spirits owner Kalieb Bey. “The exercises were excellent from day one when I came into the academy. I immediately went back and changed things in my business. The modules made me pay attention to other things that I wasn’t doing and what improvements I could implement to make my business better. I would recommend it to other small businesses. It gave me valuable information and feedback about being prepared. It was 100 percent a valuable learning experience that I know will help me with all my future endeavors.”
The modules also included a behind the scenes tour of MarketPlace PHL’s warehousing and distribution system where participants observed how food enters the airport, the development process and how it’s sold to guests.
Participant Keishon Warren, owner of BKLYN blend, believes he benefited from the educational content and interacting with like-minded businesses. “Our mission is to serve communities nutrition with kindness,” said Warren. “We specialize in going into communities that are underserved, or considered food deserts, and we offer access to nutrition. The academy was a great experience for me. Before joining the academy, as a small business operator, I did not think I had the ability to operate in an airport environment. Seeing it firsthand, with the guide and the tour of the airport operations gave me insight on how I can run a successful business in the airport.”
Warren will be opening two locations of BKLYN blend in John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Terminal 6 & Terminal 8. He hopes to expand his business to PHL one day.
Another participant, Cesily Cannon, owner of Cesily’s Love Meals, believes she benefitted the most from the judge’s feedback. “I would personally like to thank Cobi and Clarence for their input in the program —it has been amazing. The blunt feedback is what I needed to improve my business and all the information that I learned today will help me expand my business. Studying never stops for me.”
The Philadelphia Airport Concessions Academy also provided participants with information about airport revenue, leasing terms and conditions, financing options, and PHL’s warehousing and distribution system. Participants learned about capital from the Temple Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC).
"The Philadelphia Airport Concessions Academy levels the playing field for small businesses and provides them with invaluable information,” stated Donna Jackson Stephans, Vice President responsible for small business development and engagement. We hope to see them in our airport one day, providing their services to the millions of guests that visit PHL each year."
