It’s been about a year since Gideon Toal Management Services (GTMS) shared how a local Fort Worth company had grown into an leading expert in the airport lounge industry. Although the company has experienced new success in expanding into other locations on a national level, the latest local venture is a unique collaboration that will benefit the issue of homelessness in the metroplex.
Fort Worth based Gideon Toal Management Services, LLC (GTMS), known for its expertise in the airport lounge and concession management space and R.S. Harris LLC operating in Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) were recently awarded a concession opportunity at DFW International Airport. The unique aspect to this partnership is that it is a collaboration of for profit and nonprofit entities to establish a social entrepreneurship business model.
Both companies have the designation of being Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) businesses and are minority owned. The nonprofit entities involved include the Bridge Homeless Recovery Center of Dallas and Upsire – an enterprise under the umbrella of the Presbyterian Night Shelter in Fort Worth. The new concession will bear the Bridge’s name as The Bridge News & Convenience offering travel essentials such as fresh grab and go food items, electronics, health and beauty products, beverages and other travel items like pillows, blankets, luggage locks. Upspire will provide the manpower.
According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, social entrepreneurship is a for-profit business model that strives to make a positive impact on either social or environmental issues by partnering with nonprofits.
This particular collaboration will collectively address the issue of homelessness. In this country, homelessness continues to be a major social issue of concern. According to statistics from World Population Review.com, Texas ranks # 4 in homelessness in the country.
An added value to this collaboration is to seek small minority owned businesses as part of the mix that would not normally have access to doing business with the airport concessions market. Rounding out the group in the small business category is Black Coffee – an Eastside coffee shop.
Since opening in 2008, The Bridge has evolved into an internationally recognized model for homelessness recovery and has countless examples of accelerating and transforming the lives of people experiencing homelessness. The Bridge is the only program in Dallas open to all homeless adults, providing a safe harbor 24 hours each day. A licensing fee of The Bridge brand will help infuse funds into the homeless recovery support network in Dallas area to help get people back on their feet.
UpSpire services have had a huge positive impact on the homeless community through its professional services contracting programs that enable its clients who have experienced homelessness to transition permanently into the general workforce. The program provides gainful employment, case management support, and job skill development to aid clients during their tenure. For its part, UpSpire will provide the staffing for the retail operation.
RS Harris, LLC - boasts a stellar professional career with experience in all channels of retail management, sales, merchandising, planning, and marketing. With more than 25 years’ experience, he has served in a variety of capacities including Stadium Retail Operations Manager, overseeing 26 locations for the NFL champion team Washington Redskins and as Director of Retail Operations for 13 years with HMSHost.
Mr. Harris has built strong relationships with executives and business partners at DFW. He is a certified ACDBE and is currently a joint venture partner operating The NewStand travel essentials and Wired travel electronics at Newark Liberty Airport (EWR) in New Jersey, and travel essentials w/café, Travel+Leisure/Great American Bagel Bakery and iPorte travel electronics at DFW, demonstrating proven ability as both owner and operator airport concessions.
Black Coffee – recognized as Fort Worth’s “Best of 2020” for drip coffee is a minority owned business operating the only coffee shop located in the East Fort Worth area. It epitomizes the concept of a small minority owned business that has been successful in establishing a brand, creating a loyal following and surviving a pandemic. Black Coffee will provide product in the form of the drip coffee station.
This team collaboration is unique in that they will focus solely on working within the airport concessions industry not just in the DFW area but domestic airports in general. GTMS President and CEO, Dr. Alvin Brown said. “We are pleased to be awarded this opportunity at DFW. For this first partnership to be here at home will be a driver of economic development in the North Texas area. We plan to use this model for future opportunities with other airports throughout the country to address and have an impact on some of the more pressing social issues.”
In the future, Brown wants to reach out to a select group of nonprofits that deal with social issues and good fit minority owned businesses that would otherwise not be able to establish a footprint at airports.
GTMS operates airport lounges at 13 locations in 10 domestic U.S. airports including Dallas Fort Worth International, Orlando International, Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International and Las Vegas International and has earned eight prestigious aviation awards for exceptional customer service since 2014.
