Pillar One: Empowering Our People
CEEA programs have begun to introduce small businesses to work at DEN, and to instruct employees on career progression. In December 2023, DEN broke ground on a 38,000-square foot home for CEEA occupying Level 4 of the airport’s Hotel and Transit Center. “The location provides easy access to RTD’s A Line commuter rail to downtown Denver making the location accessible from across the metro area,” said Washington. CEEA’s facility will provide several spaces for group gatherings including a “Hall of Equity” that will accommodate 300 people for dynamic training and educational purposes. Other adjacent lecture halls and training rooms will be able to host another 300 people. A pre-function lobby will feature a small café for networking and small-group meetings. Wherever Washington has served he has used his position as leverage to improve the organization’s equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. In addition to establishing CEEA, DEN became a “First Mover” organization with the Equity in Infrastructure Project (EIP) – a nonprofit organization founded by
Washington explained that pillar one, Empowering Our People, acknowledged that DEN’s success relied on its people and partners. “To ensure a strong workforce, the airport must provide opportunities for employees to develop and grow so it can retain talent and knowledge,” he said. “We also needed to prepare future employees by providing training and opportunities,” explained Washington. “We want Denver to become the place for aviation talent.” Washington also emphasized the need to create more opportunities for minority, women-owned and veteran-owned businesses to do business at DEN and grow to become prime contractors or full concession owners. To help DEN accomplish pillar one, Washington introduced plans for the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation (CEEA) – a first-of-its- kind institution located at DEN and providing training, business development and research into innovations that benefit the entire air travel industry.
39 The Acumen
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