Prospect Airport Services, Inc. is pleased to announce President and CEO Vicki Strobel was honored as a Star Awards recipient by Delta Air Lines.   Delta celebrated its top diverse suppliers and supplier diversity advocates at the company’s 19th annual Star Awards recognition event on Feb. 28 at the Delta Flight Museum in Atlanta.

For 19 years, the Star Awards program has honored the contributions of Delta’s top small-business, minority-owned and women-owned suppliers, as well as internal Delta team members who champion supplier diversity.

Gil West, Delta’s Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, provided welcoming remarks, highlighting Delta and its partners’ advocacy of diversity and inclusion.

“The Star Awards event underscores our commitment to diversity and inclusion, which is core to our culture,” said West. “Our commitment is backed with actions and solid action plans to drive continuous improvement. This celebration is a wonderful opportunity to recognize our suppliers and the people who share this commitment.”

In receiving the award, Strobel noted the long relationship Prospect Airport Services has had with Delta Air Lines, extending back to the founding year of Prospect in 1966.

“I want to thank Delta for giving us 52 years of business, of being our first contract and allowing us to grow our business,” said Strobel. “We look forward to many, many more years.”

Pamela Prince-Eason, President and CEO of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), provided the keynote address. She announced that Delta will be honored with WBENC’s America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs) award. Delta will be recognized during the 2018 WBENC Summit and Salute, a gathering of more than 1,500 entrepreneurs and business leaders on March 20-22, 2018 in Dallas.

Star Awards honorees are nominated and selected by a review committee based on several categories including quality, value creation, innovation, customer service, cost savings and community involvement.

This year’s winners include:

• Woman-owned Business of the Year – Prospect Airport Services
• Small Business of the Year – Airway, Aerospace, Inc.
• Minority-owned Business of the Year – 1st Choice Aerospace
• Corporate Real Estate Business of the Year – MGM General Contracting, Inc.
• Catalyst of the Year – EyeMail, Inc.
• Delta Team of the Year – Supply Chain Management Analytics Team: Sibo Huang, Sina Hwang and Lei Lei
• TJP (Tiffany Jackson-Pugh) Advocate of the Year – Keith Taylor
• TJP (Tiffany Jackson-Pugh) Advocate of the Year – Ryan Marzullo
• Top Flight Award – Canicia Jackson
• Top Flight Award  – Brian Kruse

The Star Awards program and the company’s partnerships are built on Delta’s core values of honesty, integrity and respect.

“As a global airline, we are very grateful for the many suppliers that work so hard to assist us in delivering excellence in every area of our business,” said Karmetria Burton, General Manager — Supplier Diversity. “Our strategy is based on our shared values, collaboration and strategic partnerships.”

Tom Shortt, Vice President of Supply Chain Management, wrapped up the event.

“You are among the top suppliers in the world,” said Shortt. “Your innovation and dedication to excellence drive value for Delta’s customers, employees and shareholders.”

The Star Awards event has chronicled the growth and enhancement of Delta’s Supplier Diversity program, and is a reflection of Delta’s commitment to an inclusive culture.

Video from the event and photos courtesy of Delta Air Lines: