February is Black History Month. To celebrate we introduce our readers to African American leaders within our airport community.

Mary Morgan

Mary Morgan is President of Morgan Group Ventures, Inc. She has over 25 years of experience in supporting airport infrastructure and traveler needs. Ms. Morgan entered the airport arena initially as a consultant for the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority which sparked an interest in airport concessions. After five years of management consulting to MWAA, Ms. Morgan decided she wanted to focus solely on concessions and obtained her first retail location, Pen & Prose Boutique. Following five years of retail operations, Ms. Morgan entered a partnership with HMSHost where she has jointly bid, won and operates food and beverage and news and gift locations in National and Dulles Airports. 

Stephen Baldi

Stephen Baldi is President of Baldi Management Group (BMG), a minority owned concessions company which operates Potbelly, Dunkin Donuts, and Smashburger. Dulles International and Reagan National Airports are home for BMG, and the traveling public of the Washington, D.C. metro area are their top priority — providing exceptional guest experiences one smile at a time. It is somewhat of a homecoming for Mr. Baldi who left his position as General Manager of Westfield Concessions Management at Reagan National in 2008 with a vow to return, which he did in 2015. 

Lucian Dillingham

Lucian Dillingham is a retired Air Force veteran who has been in the food service industry for over 60 years. He has owned and operated airport food service locations throughout the nation for 22 years. Mr. Dillingham oversaw and operated Officer Clubs for the Air Force throughout Europe and was the first African American to obtain the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in his field. Today, Mr. Dillingham’s company, MBC Concessions, owns and operates locations inside four airports, including Dulles International and Reagan National Airports. In Washington D.C., Mr. Dillingham is a partner with Concessions International, a prominent African American owned airport concessions company led by Donata Russell-Ross. Together, through their partnership, MBC Concessions and Concessions International operate Be Right Burger (IAD, Concourse C), American Tap Room (DCA, Concourse C), and Taylor Gourmet (DCA, B/C Connector).  

Robert Benjamin Crews

Robert Benjamin Crews is a pioneer in the airport industry. He is the President and CEO of several airport concessions management companies including Crews. Crews began its relationship with Washington airports in 1982, when they opened News Emporium newsstands, Benjamin Books and the Eight Gate Café at Dulles and Reagan Airports, becoming one of the first minority airport prime concessionaires. In 2015, Crews returned to D.C., opening six locations in Dulles: The Washington Informer, Capitol City Ink newsstands and specialty electronics store, iTravel 2. The Crews partnership with the Washington Informer — one of the oldest continuous published African American newspapers — is unique because a portion of sales are donated to the papers foundation to support their philanthropic efforts. Crews then expanded operations into Reagan National with Lickety Split, a high end “grab and go” outlet, Sip, Munch & More, a full-service bar with food, iTravel 2, and Cava Mezze Grill, a Mediterranean quick service concept.