Indianapolis Airport Trail Blazer in Engineering Named Minority Achiever Award Recipient

April 28, 2017

Shannetta Griffin P.E., senior director of planning and development with the Indianapolis Airport Authority, has been named the Center for Leadership Development Minority Achiever Award recipient in the category of business and industry.

Griffin, a civil engineer, is the first African American woman to graduate from the University of Toledo’s College of Civil Engineering. Today she oversees the implementation of capital-improvement projects at the Indianapolis International Airport (IND).

The CLD awards program honors individuals who have made significant strides to better organizations and communities via their actions throughout their careers. Beyond Griffin’s contributions in the workplace, she continues to mentor students interested in STEM careers.

Griffin was also recognized in 2016 with the Outstanding Civil Engineer Award from the University of Toledo and by the Airport Minority Advisory Council Foundation for her outstanding leadership as a legacy aviation leader.

“Shannetta is all about high standards and excellence,” said Mario Rodriguez, executive director of IAA. “She genuinely cares about people, and applies her professional experience with her dedicated leadership to inspire her employees, motivate businesses and give back to the industry that helped to shape her.”

In addition to serving on multiple city and state transportation-planning committees, and serving as a keynote speaker for a long list of engineering professional associations throughout the United States, Griffin mentors the world’s airports on what it means to provide diverse business opportunities.

“The airport applies the management of structural elements of a cityscape, including buildings, roads, runways and bridges with the opportunity to touch millions of people’s lives,” said Griffin upon being nominated for the CLD award. “In doing all of this, we can connect people and places to the things we love the most.”