Walter Vinson is the assistant general manager of business diversity and government affairs at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. He has a vision of improving facilities at the airport.
Vinson was present at the Atlanta Business League’s Congress on the State of Black Business and was on the panel discussing economic equity and the effect it has on infrastructure around Atlanta.
Vinson spoke with rolling out about infrastructure and a project that’s currently being built at Hartsfield-Jackson.
What do you want the community to know about infrastructure?
Infrastructure means jobs; jobs mean a boost in the economy, job creativity, and turning that dollar around in your communities. So when infrastructure comes to town, it brings everything else and it really catches everybody in all facets, every business, infrastructure, and inclusion, because if you’re working, you need to eat, and when you’re eating you need somewhere to stay. It capitalizes all in one.
What is your role and how does it play a part in infrastructure?
In my role at the airport, I’m the assistant general manager of business diversity and government affairs. In business diversity, it’s my job to promote business opportunities for minority and female-owned businesses. For government affairs, I’m monitoring our state and federal legislative lobbying program on behalf of the airport.
As far as how infrastructure plays into this, we received a generous amount from President Biden’s infrastructure law to help improve facilities at the airport. In particular, we’re currently building and constructing our Concourse D widening project, which we’re very proud of and very excited about. Once it becomes fully online, it’s going to be one of the key success stories at the airport, so we’re looking forward to it.
What is one thing you want people to take away from the Congress on the State of Black Business?
One thing that I stressed is the power of networking. With all of these businesses, you have to network, you have to get to know each other, and people have to know about your business so you can network with larger companies and possibly one day collaborate on projects at the airport. Networking is key.
