This year marks a powerful milestone for the Shellis team as we proudly attend the 40th Anniversary Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. More than just a conference, this event serves as a living tribute to the visionaries who broke barriers and built the foundation for minority and women-owned businesses to thrive in the aviation industry.

For Shellis, this occasion is deeply personal.

Our founders, Clark and Geraldine Sharpe, started Shellis in 2001 as a family business grounded in integrity, excellence, and empowerment. But long before Shellis was envisioned, Clark Sharpe was already making history. As a founding member of AMAC and a key figure in the early days of airport civil rights compliance, Clark helped spark a national conversation on how to create equitable opportunities in the airport business.

In fact, it was in 1983, in a small conference room at FAA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., that Clark joined eight other pioneers to envision what would become the first FAA Minority Business Seminar—the precursor to what we now know as the AMAC Conference. These leaders saw the potential impact of the 49 CFR Part 23 regulation issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation in 1980 and responded with bold action. They understood that policy without implementation was a missed opportunity, especially at a time when the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program had just been signed into law.

With Clark Sharpe serving as the FAA Southern Region Civil Rights Officer and an integral member of the planning committee, the first seminar was held in Miami, Florida in May 1984. It drew together 74 attendees—many representing the nation’s largest airports—to unpack the new regulation and explore what it meant for minority and women entrepreneurs in aviation. It was a moment that catalyzed decades of growth, dialogue, and transformation.

Fast forward to today, the 2025 AMAC Conference continues to be a dynamic space for education, networking, and advocacy, attracting thousands of participants from across the country. This year’s celebration not only honors 40 years of progress but also reflects on the vision and sacrifice of trailblazers like Clark Sharpe, whose leadership helped create a pathway for businesses like Shellis to flourish.

Attending the conference is a full-circle moment for our team—especially as we consider the ongoing importance of our mission. At Shellis, we remain committed to the core values that inspired Clark and Geraldine Sharpe to start this business: family, community, opportunity, and legacy.

This anniversary is not just a reflection of how far we’ve come, but a recommitment to the journey ahead.

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to AMAC for four decades of transformational impact, and we thank all the conference organizers, attendees, and industry partners who continue to make this gathering a meaningful and vital part of aviation progress.

Here’s to the next 40 years—and beyond.

About Shellis:
Founded in 2001 by Clark and Geraldine Sharpe, Shellis is a family-owned business operating in the airport retail and services industry. With a commitment to excellence and opportunity, Shellis continues to promote economic empowerment in aviation.