Evolving Procurement
Strategy at
America's Largest Airport System
Karim Webb × Los Angeles World Airports
FOCUS AREA
Procurement Strategy & Economic Development
INSTITUTION
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
TENURE
6 Years through February 2025
OUTCOME
$2B+ in Diverse Prime Contracts
The Institution
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) operates LAX and Van Nuys Airport — one of the world’s busiest airport systems and a central driver of the Los Angeles regional economy, supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in annual economic activity.
The Opportunity
A multi-billion dollar capital program creating one of the largest public contracting opportunities in California — and a once-in-a-generation chance to structurally shift who participates in, and benefits from, that investment.
The Strategy
Karim Webb brought a systems-level lens to procurement. The work centered on a fundamental reframe: procurement not as a compliance function, but as a strategic lever for inclusive economic development.
IMPACT NUMEBRS
$2B+
Prime Contracts to Diverse Companies
6
Years of Board Leadership
2
Mayoral Appointments
01 · Pipeline Expansion
Identifying and developing diverse-owned firms capable of competing at the prime contractor level — not just as subcontractors.
02 · Process Restructuring
Redesigning contracting workflows to reduce structural barriers — scope bundling, bonding requirements, and evaluation criteria.
03 · Accountability by Design
Embedding outcome-tracking mechanisms into the procurement framework so equity goals were measured against results, not intentions — creating accountability that outlasted any single administration.
DOCUMENTED OUTCOMES
- Structural redesign of LAWA's prime contract procurement strategy
- $2B+ in prime contracts to diverse-owned firms
- Expanded pipeline of diverse companies at prime level
- Reduced barriers in bonding, scoping & evaluation
- Accountability mechanisms embedded in reporting
- Precedent set for public infrastructure equity
THE PARITY THESIS
Upward mobility isn’t a byproduct. It’s the deliverable. Karim Webb’s tenure at LAWA demonstrates what it looks like when that philosophy is backed by institutional authority and a six-year commitment to execution.
Six Years of
Board Leadership
YEAR 1-2
Initial Appointment
Appointed by Mayor Garcetti. Began mapping the procurement landscape and identifying structural gaps in diverse firm participation.
YEAR 3-4
Strategy Development
Developed and advanced the evolving procurement framework — engaging commissioners, staff, and industry stakeholders.
YEAR 5-6
Elevated to President
Appointed Board President by Mayor Bass. Accelerated implementation and embedded accountability into institutional practice.
YEAR 5-6
Tenure Conclusion
Concluded board service having overseen more than $2B in prime contracts allocated to diverse companies.
Impact &
Outcomes
The headline number — more than $2 billion in prime contracts allocated across diverse companies — is the outcome of sustained strategic leadership, not a single initiative. Diverse firms that win prime contracts build bonding capacity, balance sheet strength, and workforce infrastructure that enables them to compete again — and to compete larger.
"Growth and equity reinforce each other. A procurement system that expands access doesn't dilute performance — it deepens the talent pool, increases competition, and produces better outcomes."
Engage Parity Solutions
Procurement strategy redesign · Diverse firm pipeline development · Public-private partnership structuring · Economic development strategy with measurable equity outcomes