PHX Perspective

Aviation Department Honored with Two Awards

On Wednesday, June 9, two prestigious awards were bestowed on the city of Phoenix Aviation Department/Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and one of its employees, Johnnie Funderburg. They were presented at the Grand Canyon Minority Supplier Development Council’s (GCMSDC) 16th Annual Awards Luncheon held June 9 at the Wyndham Hotel in downtown Phoenix.

PHX Sky Harbor was named the 2009 Corporation of the Year. This award is given to an organization that has been a strong supporter of minority business through resources, in-kind contributions, outreach, training, and mentoring as well as by offering business opportunities.

Specifically, PHX Sky Harbor provides outreach by using websites, business meetings and forums to inform, educate, and broaden opportunities for small, minority and women-owned business enterprises, said Aviation Outreach Manager Johnnie Funderburg. PHX Sky Harbor also participates in many of GCMSDC’s events including business sessions, trade fairs, and networking meetings, and continues to build productive business relationships for potential partnerships with GCMSDC. Sky Harbor is also very proactive in reviewing and updating “best practices” by having roundtable events and embracing direct communication with small business enterprises on potential Airport opportunities.

Assistant Aviation Director Paul Blue accepted the 2009 Corporation of the Year Award on behalf of PHX Sky Harbor. (Pictured above right are Blue, Funderburg, and Robert Van Arlen, emcee.)

The second award, the 2009 Corporate Advocate of the Year Award given to a GCMSDC corporate individual for his or her efforts to identify and utilize minority suppliers to fulfill corporate purchasing goals, went to Funderburg. She was commended for her extraordinary contributions to the success of the GCMSDC.

Funderburg, who has been in her role as Aviation Department Outreach Manager since 2006, works to foster the inclusion of minority businesses in the construction, concessions, and goods and services industry. She has played a major role in the community and has developed respect from various local and national organizations. The hours that she has provided to the community have been endless. Funderburg is no stranger to receiving awards either. For the past three years, she has been named Board Member of the Year from the GCMSDC. She was also honored with the 2008 Corporate Advocate of the Year award. These are just a few examples of the recognition Funderburg has received from local and national organizations for her dedicated efforts.

“I can’t do this without the city of Phoenix leadership,” Funderburg said. “These are the departments that give me the great projects to go into the community. I’m really honored to be the person that they send out every day to do this. And, I would also like to thank all of my community advocacies. I could not do this without all of your support. Thank you all so much for doing this for me. I really appreciate it.”

Both awards that were given are unique, hand-made artwork designed by Damien Charette. Charette grew up on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana and is of Crow and Chippewa Native American descent.

Award winners pictured above from left to right: Johnnie Funderburg, Chester Yancy of Arizona State University, Dr. Joel Martin of Triad West, Inc., Matt Levesque of World Wide Technology, Inc., Vickie Wessel of Spirit Electronics, Inc., Millie Gonzalez-Scott - Scott Business Group, LLC, and Paul Blue of PHX Sky Harbor.

For more information on business opportunities at Sky Harbor, visit our business opportunities page.

First posted 6/15/2010