Sunshine White, senior director of strategic partnerships for Delaware North’s Travel division, was honored with the “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Trailblazer” Award on April 4 at the 2024 Airport Experience Awards and Gala in Dallas.
The Airport Experience Awards and Conference, hosted by Airport Experience News (AXN), is one of the most significant industry events of the year, and it recognizes excellence in airport concessions throughout North America. The DE&I Trailblazer Award honors individuals who advocate for and champion DE&I initiatives within their organization and the broader travel hospitality industry.
White cultivates and manages foodservice and retail partnerships that advance Delaware North’s Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) program, which provides opportunities to encourage the participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in airport concessions.
Since joining Delaware North in 2022, White advanced and strengthened numerous ACDBE partnerships at U.S. airports, including Desiree Nazario-Bucobo (Sweet Mango Hospitality), Mikaila Ulmer (Me & the Bees Lemonade), Tabatha Carr (Good Girl Chocolate) and Edgar Chase (Chase Hospitality), to name a few.
White also serves as chair of the foundation board of directors for the Airport Minority Council, the only national nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing the full participation of minorities and women in the aviation and space industries. She is a founding member of Delaware North’s global DE&I Advisory Council, which brings together leaders from across the enterprise to envision and drive DE&I-focused actions internally and within the communities that Delaware North serves.
Delaware North Travel and corporate team members attended the Airport Experience News (AXN) conference held April 1-5 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Dallas. Delaware North hosted the Opening Night Kickoff Party, which featured live music from Ray Benson, a bourbon tasting from our partner Garrison Brothers and a photo opportunity with the 2023 World Series Trophy, which was awarded to the Texas Rangers, Delaware North’s MLB partner, at Globe Life Field in nearby Arlington, Texas.
Pictured are team members who support the Travel division during the opening night reception, from left to right: April Bivens, vice president of business development; Chris Chila, regional vice president; Sanela DeCourcy, director of finance; Brian Lynch, senior manager of brands and concept development; Kate DelGobbo, business development analyst; Sunshine White, senior director of strategic partnerships; Scott Socha, group president of Parks & Resorts, Australia and Travel; Jason Rickoff, vice president of business development; and Terry Mahlum, regional director of operations.