September 8, 2023
Over 300 attendees met on June 20, 2023 at the SEA Airport for Diversity in Contracting’s biggest event of the year - Aviation Industry Day. Attendees included WMBE and small businesses, Prime Businesses, and Port of Seattle decision-makers and staff. The event program highlighted five upcoming projects, totaling over $1 Billion, in which WMBE participation will be crucial.
The projects included:
- Sound Insulation Program - Phase 2 Construction
- Airfield Pavement, Infrastructure, and Utility Improvements
- Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion
- Main Terminal Improvement Project
- SEA Duty-Free Tenant Driven Project
Below are high-level details on each project.
For more detailed information, 2023 Industry Day Presentation (PDF)
| Project Name | Construction | A & E | Cost Estimate | Anticipated Aspirational Goal | Advertise Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sound Insulation Phase 2 | X | N/A | $10m - $15m | 7% DBE | Q1 2024 |
| Airfield Projects (4 Contracts) | X | N/A | $1.5m - $55m | 8% DBE TBD WMBE |
Q4 2023 – Q1 2024 |
| Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion | X | X | $150M+ | TBD | Design – Nov 2023 Construction – Q2 2024 |
| Main Terminal Improvement Project | X | X | $800M - $1B | TBD | Design – Q1 2024 PM/CM – Q2 2024 GCCM – Q2 2024 |
| SEA Duty Free* Tenant Driven Project | X | X | TBD | 14% WMBE Design and Engineering 15% WMBE Construction |
Q3 2023 Port RFP for Duty Free operator |
Two hours of robust networking followed the presentation, in which small and WMBE firms met with primes in the construction and architecture and engineering (A&E) fields to begin conversations that will hopefully lead to firms teaming up for these Port opportunities and beyond. Thank you to the following primes that participated:
- AECOM
- Centennial Contractors Enterprises
- EC Electric
- Gensler
- Hensel Phelps
- Jacobs
- MJ Takisaki Inc
- Osborne Construction
- Parsons
- PCL Construction
- Rolluda Architects
- RS&H
- Synder
- Turner
- TYLin
- Walsh Group
- WSP
Since the event, we have received very positive feedback from participants:
“Wow, this event is great, and the networking is the best part. How did you get so many primes in one place? This is very unusual, great work everyone.” - Henry Yates, Yates Consulting
“I was hesitant to come to this event. There are so many agencies doing events. I like to make the right decision to go where I will meet the right type of Primes for my business. But a member from the Diversity in Contracting staff told me I would be sorry if I missed this event, she was most definitely right, I was able to meet Primes from our local area and ones from across the east coast.” - Ato Apiafi, Ato Apiafi Architects
“One of [the] things we are most grateful for, is the Industry Day Networking Session SEA creates to immediately engage with current DBE partners, meet new firms in the Diversity Equity and Inclusion WMBE/DBE community, develop teaming relationships with new WMBE/DBE partners and support WMBE community organizations like AMAC and Tabor 100 as well. In very real terms, SEA Industry Day events give ALL of us, the very real opportunity, as a Community, to meet and do business together. And that’s pretty fantastic!” - Steven Ziegler, Parsons Corporation
Thank you to all the businesses that participated in the event and helped make it such a success! Aviation Industry Day is an annual event. Whether you were able to make it this year or not, we do hope to see you in 2024. Please be sure to lookout for 2024 Aviation Industry Day and other Diversity in Contracting events on our events pageso you never miss a beat.
