Diversity Connection Newsletter Heading

January/2012

Message from the Director

 

Lo-Res Director Coleman

We are pleased to rollout our second e-newsletter from the North Texas Tollway Authority's Business Diversity Department. 

 

We're proud of the progress that has been made, but realize there are miles to go and we need to stay on course. We appreciate the support that the program has received and look forward to working with the entire North Texas region in the future. Through our newsletter, we hope that you will learn more about NTTA's outreach opportunities and initiatives.

 

Actively engaging the business community is of the utmost importance to the NTTA, as we seek to fulfill our mission to enhance mobility for all citizens of North Texas.

 

Staff is excited to announce that the Board of Directors approved the 2012 Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Industry Specific goals at the December, 2011 board meeting.

 

The approved goals are:

  • Construction Services 20%
  • Professional Services 15%
  • Goods and Consulting Services goals will be established on a contract-by- contract basis. 

If you have questions or comments, we would be delighted to hear from you. Call our Vendor Outreach Hotline at (972) 447-3333, or send us an email at [email protected].

 

Or you can always contact me directly.

 

The NTTA is open for business.

 

Anthony Coleman

Director of Business Diversity

Relationships and Opportunities Advancing Diversity (ROAD) Highights

 

ROAD PROGRAM PARTICIPANT EXTENDS REACH WITH NEW CONTACT

    

2010 ROAD Program participant Vendigm Construction Incorporated, has extended its relationship with Prairie Link Constructors (PLC) to work on the President George Bush Turnpike PGBT Western Extension (State Highway 161) project. Vendigm Construction Inc., is a Fort Worth based company who partnered with PLC in the NTTA's ROAD Program. As a result of this partnership, Vendigm developed the skill set to construct Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls and has constructed 55,000 square feet of walls. Because of the development of this acquired skill, Vendigm was recently awarded a $3 million dollar contract with PLC.

 

Anthony Burks, CEO and President of Vendigm Companies, is the enthusiastic visionary and driving force behind Vendigm Companies. "Vendigm Companies is a brand that encompasses many entrepreneurial endeavors," said Burks. "Our overall goal is to become a household name that demonstrates how innovative ideas can become profitable realities through dedication, hard work, and perseverance."

Burks further stated that, "the success we have had with PLC has thus far been based off of PLC willingness to work hand in hand with Vendigm and giving us equal opportunity in creating our future in the ROAD program process."

 

For more information on the NTTA's ROAD program,  Click Here  

ROAD CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM

 

25 Road program members and small business owners attended a business marketing presentation by Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure Group.

A continuing education program launched in September for ROAD program current and future participants. This is part of an initiative to provide continuing education to achieve expanded access and opportunity.

 

The program geared towards business marketing, was hosted by one of the 2011 ROAD program participating firms, Shaw Environmental and Infrastructure Group, and attracted 25 attendees including current ROAD program participants and other small businesses.

 

At the event, Shaw personnel discussed the importance of building relationships prior to the procurement announcement on letting, the value of knowing your client, and the importance of allowing time for quality check and quality assurance.

 

"Participants in the ROAD program are gaining guidance and direction from the prime firms with whom they may partner with," said NTTA Business Diversity Director, Anthony Coleman, "It's a mentoring opportunity they might not otherwise find." Coleman also commended Charley Mock, Business Development Manager for Shaw, "for sharing such invaluable information with the attendees."

 

The ROAD program provides opportunities for emerging disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned firms to expand access to resources, broaden their scope of services, gain deeper technical knowledge and improve business management and operations processes through partnerships with larger, more established firms offering similar services. 

2011 ROAD PROGRAM GRADUATION 

 

In late summer, the NTTA honored the 2011 ROAD program participants in a graduation ceremony conducted in the NTTA Boardroom.  The following graduating teams were recognized and given awards for their participation in the inaugural ROAD program:

 

  • (Prime) Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell LLP, (Consulant) Taylor Law Firm, P.C.
  • (Prime) Atkins, (Consultant) Urban Engineers Group, Inc.
  • (Prime) HNTB Corporation, (Consultant) Arredondo, Zepeda & Brunz, LLC
  • (Prime) HDR Engineering, Inc., (Consultant) Salcedo Group, Inc.
  • (Prime) Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., (Consultant) IEA, Inc.  (Innovating Engineering Associates)

The ROAD program seeks to promote and facilitate relationships between prime contractors and consultants to foster opportunities for D/M/WBE's to paraticipate in large contracts with the NTTA.

 

Kimberly Tolbert, Assistant Executive Director of Administrative Services, shared some of the accomplishments of NTTA, as well as the ROAD program's model.  NTTA's past Chairman Victor T. Vandergriff provided remorks and presented graduation plaques along with Anthony Coleman, Director of Business Diversity.

 

Additionally, NTTA Board Directors Bill Moore, Bob Day and NTTA's Business Diversity Advisory Council members Phyllis Cole and Beverley Wright, as well as reoresentratuves from area prime contracting firms and disadvantaged, minority and women-owned business enterprises attended the event.

NTTA BUSINESS DIVERSITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (BDAC) MEMBER: 

CHAIMAN DEVOYD JENNINGS

 

 

Similar to the structure of the NTTA Board of Directors, the Business Diversity Advisory Council (BDAC) consists of two members from each of the NTTA's four-member counties and one at-large member.

NTTA's current BDAC Chairman, is Mr. Devoyd Jennings. Jennings was confirmed by the NTTA Board of Directors as a Tarrant County representative and was unanimously elected to a two-year term as chairman in August 2010 by his fellow BDAC members. Jennings also served as a member of the NTTA's Fair Share Committee, the predecessor to the BDAC.

 

Jennings serves as the president of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Texas Association of African American Chambers. His extensive knowledge of public and private organization efforts in the area of economic development is gained through more than 20 years of experience with economic development organizations in the metroplex.

 

A native of Fort Worth, Jennings grew up supporting the gold and blue at I.M. Terrell High School and is a 1966 graduate.  He enrolled at Tarrant County College and later attended Texas Wesleyan University graduating with a degree in marketing in 1971. 

 

In 1973, he began a 27-year journey with TXU as a Community Affairs Specialist where he lobbied government agencies, legislative bodies and industry leaders on energy policy. 

 

Jennings, no stranger to community involvement, has taken the leadership role in a number of community and civic issues.  He has served on numerous boards including: The Texas Association of Business from 1995 to present, Texas Wesleyan University from 1989 to 2008, North Texas Commission from 1993 to 2003, and most recently served as chairman for the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber and the Texas Association of African American Chambers.

 

He resides in Forest Hills with his wife of 30 years Gwen Barbee.  When not actively engaged as President and CEO of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, he spends time relaxing with his family and grandchildren.

An overview of the Business Diversity Advisory Council:

The North Texas Tollway Authority's Business Diversity Advisory Council (BDAC)  advises the NTTA in its efforts to encourage the participation of disadvantaged, minority-owned, woman-owned and small business enterprises (D/M/W/SBEs) in NTTA contracting opportunities, assists the NTTA's Business Diversity Department with outreach activities, serves as a primary resource in identifying specific industry groups to target for procurements, and helps identify barriers experienced in contracting by D/M/W/SBE programs. Business Diversity Department Director, Anthony Coleman serves as facilitator to the council.

For more information, Click Here

 

COUNTY REVIEW--HIGHLIGHTS/RECOMMENDATIONS


After a three and a half month review of the North Texas Tollway Authority, Alvarez & Marsal (A&M) and its partner, Animato, have detailed governance and operational issues at NTTA and laid out a roadmap for improvements. A&M, selected by the county judges of Tarrant, Denton, Dallas, and Collin counties to conduct the review, evaluated the four specific areas of the NTTA: transparency, organizational, procurement and finance.

 

With regard to business diversity, the County Review report highlighted the significant progress that has already been made to increase involvement at the NTTA.

 

Observations included:

 

Procurement - Supplier Diversity

  • Business Diversity Department (BDD) complies adequately with their own policy and procedures.
  • NTTA's BDD has expanded its efforts across multiple communities, businesses and organizations.

 

Recommendations included:

 

  1. Having Internal Audit schedule periodic reviews of BDD to evaluate control and governance processes.
  2. Contacting governmental entities similar to NTTA, and other organizations to determine if comparable benchmark information is available.
  3. Pursuing direct engagement of D/M/WBE legal services firms.
  4. Discovering and defining handling of potential cases of supplier diversity non-compliance, fraud, and/or abuse, include the following in the BDD policy and procedures and communicate to all participants:
    •  NTTA Ethics and Fraud Hotline or other facility to receive confidential reports of issues.
    • Handling and escalation protocol for resolving issues.

 

BDD has evaluated and will implement recommendations from the report. Staff is developing a plan that focuses on sustainable and cost-effective solutions.

Frequent updates to you about our progress will be provided online at http://www.ntta.org/.

 

To see the full report, Click Here

LUNA AWARDS AND THE NTTA WOMEN'S FORUM

 

"Building Relationships into Successful Partnerships" and taking a relationship to the next level.

 

As part of its mission to include disadvantaged, minority-and women-owned business enterprises in the procurement of NTTA goods and services, the NTTA's Business Diversity Department highlighted women-owned businesses during the 5th Annual Luna Awards & Regional Hispanic Contractors Association Women's Business Conference. Held on September 8, 2011 at the Irving Convention Center, in Irving, Texas the event attracted over 600 participants.

 

NTTA Director Jane Willard addresses a panel of ROAD participants at the 5th Annual Luna Awards & Regional Hispanic Contractors Association Women's Business Conference.
The forum included a panel discussion facilitated by NTTA's Board Member Jane Willard and included some of NTTA's Relationships and Opportunities Advancing Diversity (ROAD) program participants: Cristina Criado, President of Criado and Associates, Sharon Douglas, President of Bradley Douglas Construction Services, Jolene Craig, President of Craig Design Croup, and Katherine Dress, Vice President of PDI Green Technology. The NTTA panel addressed topics such as "Building Relationships into Successful Partnerships" and taking a relationship to the next level.

 

Additionally, the NTTA's ROAD program was named as a 2011 Luna Finalist, for Business Advocate of the Year. The philosophy of the Luna Conference was to empower women through training and awareness  in all career levels of construction, architecture, and engineering.

NTTA'S VENDOR OUTREACH SYMPOSIUM (VOS) TRAVELS TO COLLIN COUNTY

 

 

The NTTA is committed to improving mobility in North Texas and believes in working with the communities it serves, including public stakeholders and business vendors.To increase its outreach efforts and to market contracting opportunities to the public, the NTTA hosts Vendor Outreach Symposiums (VOS) to provide information about upcoming projects. The VOS is a traveling road show and a one-stop outreach for prospective vendors.

 

The December VOS was one of many symposiums conducted by the NTTA. The third "VOS" event held in Collin County. These events are designed to engage contractorsin the process of doing business with the NTTA. Attendees received assistance from Business Diversity staff on how to find available opportunities online and complete their vendor registrations. Attendees were also invited to network with each other following the event program. The VOS will travel to Denton County in February 2012.

 

For more information on future symposiums and outreach events,

Click Here 

Issue: 2

In This Issue
NTTA's ROAD Program
ROAD Continuing Education Program
2010 ROAD Program Graduation
Business Diversity Advisory Council Member Highlight
County Review Highlights and Recommendations
Luna Awards and the NTTA Women's Forum
Vendor Outreach Symposium Travels to Collin County

VENDOR REGISTRATION

 

Stay apprised of NTTA opportunities by registering online at www.ntta.org.  Registering online allows your firm to automatically receive emails for NTTA bid opportunities that match your company's registered skill sets by specific commodity codes.

 

 

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES

 

Visit www.ntta.org  to find upcoming opportunities for  four industry-specific categories, as well as the construction letting schedule. 

 


CONTACT US

   

For questions regarding 

 vendor outreach, email [email protected] or call 972-447-3333.

 

For questions regarding business diversity, email [email protected] or call 214-461-2007.

 

For questions regarding all procurements, email [email protected].

 

Visit the Business Diversity Department online at www.ntta.org for direct access to the NTTA's Diversity Policy, Contractors Compliance Handbook, compliance report forms and other helpful links. 



 

 

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

 

ROAD Logo
 

Vendor Outreach Sympsoium

Your Business Diversity Team at the North Texas Tollway Authority