WCPSS Recruits at Minority and Women Business Expo
January 29, 2008 - With the Wake County Public School System growing by thousands of students every year, there are several
opportunities for area businesses to get involved with future building and renovation projects. WCPSS Facility Design and Construction is committed to promoting the participation of minority, women-owned, and small businesses through the establishment of the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program.
“WCPSS recognizes that small and minority-owned businesses are the heart of American job growth. The participation in outreach and advocacy events by sharing contracting opportunities helps to diversify the pool of contractors that are likely to bid projects,” said Tammie Hall, Minority Business Enterprise Manager.
One way the school system has worked to attract more MBE firms is by partnering with the City of Raleigh to host the 10th Annual Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) Expo. This joint venture informs business owners of upcoming bidding opportunities and provides them with direct access to procurement officers, department managers, construction managers, and project managers. This year’s expo, which was recently held at Southeast Raleigh High School on January 16, was a huge success and attracted more than 300 small business owners.
"The continued teamwork with the City of Raleigh in helping small businesses return value to WCPSS ten-fold through good bids, good relationships and informed taxpayers," said Assistant Superintendent of Facilities Mike Burriss.
WCPSS had representatives from many of the departments within Auxiliary Services including: Custodial Services, Transportation, Facilities Design and Construction, and Maintenance and Operations. The Finance and Administration department also had several purchasing agents available to discuss the procurement of goods and services.
“This was a successful way for us to tell our story which is that we want and encourage minority and women-owned businesses to do business with us,” said Hall.
In addition, departments from the City of Raleigh and all Construction Manager-at-Risk firms that currently manage approximately 200 million in new and renovation construction projects for WCPSS were in attendance. Those firms included: Clancy and Theys Construction, Barnhill Contracting, D.H. Griffin, Skanska, Balfour Beatty, New Atlantic Contracting, and Gilbane Building Company.
“The Expo was an excellent method of sharing information with the contracting community.” said Hall. “For example we asked all Construction Manager-at-Risk firms to be present to discuss small trade packages that are bidding in the future. In the planning stage of a project, these firms submit an MBE plan which is approved by WCPSS,” explained Hall.
Bullock Building, one of the fastest growing minority-owned businesses in the state, has worked with WCPSS on construction projects since 2006 after the school system established the CM-at-Risk Program. “The MWBE Expo is good way to open up your eyes to upcoming projects. It gives minority businesses the chance to communicate and network with firms,” said Mark Bullock, owner of Bullock Building Company, Inc. Bullock says it’s important for large organizations like WCPSS to provide opportunities that empower smaller contractors and allow them to have voice.
The goal of the MBE Program is to provide awareness and involvement to MWBE firms about construction contracting opportunities available within the department. In 2007, WCPSS executed construction contracts totaling $286,757,386 of which $57,471,864—roughly 20 percent—were awarded to Minority Business Enterprise firms. The ability to increase participation helps to ensure that the citizens of Wake County are getting the best product at the most competitive price. The current bond program for WCPSS is $1,056,000,000 for the renovation of existing schools and construction of new schools. For additional information regarding WCPSS, Facilities Design and Construction, Minority Business Program, please contact Tammie Hall at 919-856-8179 or thall@wcpss.net.