Diversity Connection Newsletter Heading

Third Quarter 2012

Message from the Director

   

The North Texas Tollway Authority Business DiversityLo-Res Director Coleman
department continues to progress in providing services to assist disadvantaged/minority/women and small business enterprises to successfully compete for business with the NTTA.

 

We are excited to share that the NTTA recently announced that VRX Incorporated, a certified woman-owned business enterprise, as the winning firm for NTTA's maintenance management consultant services. The MMC is responsible for routine and preventative maintenance activity, engineering support and recommendations.

 

Many D/M/WBE firms, including VRX, are already succeeding in their respective industries; we want to help them get to the next level by making sure that they are aware of all NTTA opportunities and that there is a level playing field. In serving as a subcontractor on various NTTA projects, VRX's familiarity with the NTTA allowed the firm to understand the protocol and expectations of a prime participant.

 

The Business Diversity Department strives to ensure that procurement opportunities with the NTTA are shared with the vending community in the four counties that the NTTA serves including Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties through our relationships with various trade associations, and industry and advocacy groups.

 

Please visit our website www.ntta.org and find upcoming opportunities for all categories, as well as the NTTA's construction letting schedule. For questions regarding all NTTA procurements email the Procurement Department: [email protected].

 

Should you have any questions or comments, we would be delighted to hear from you. Contact the NTTA Vendor Outreach Hotline at (972) 447-3333 or email [email protected].

Or you can always contact me directly.

 

The NTTA is open for business.

 

Anthony Coleman

Director of Business Diversity

 

Business Diversity Advisory Council Welcomes New Faces 

 

BDAC_2012 MEMBERS
Incoming, outgoing and continuing BDAC members pose with NTTA Chairman Kenneth Barr. (L-R) William (Bill) Lawrence, Devoyd Jennings, Kerry Goree, Galileo Jumaoas, Perwez (Perry) Molubhoy, Rosa Navajar, John Martinez, Beverly Wright, John Kelly, Chairman Barr and Charles O'Neal

 

The NTTA welcomed four new members to its Business Diversity Advisory Council in August, bringing fresh ideas to further strengthen the Authority's outreach efforts.

 

  • Kerry Goree, president of the Denton Black Chamber of Commerce, will represent Denton County.
  • Luis L. Estrada, president and CEO and a board member for Studios 121 Inc., will serve as a Tarrant County representative.
  • John Kelly, executive director of the Dallas/Fort Worth Black Contractors Association, will represent Dallas County.
  • Perwez (Perry) Molubhoy, president and CEO of Atlantic Hotels Group, Ltd., will serve as a Collin County representative.

 

The council, which consists of business and community leaders, helps guide the Authority in its efforts to encourage the participation of disadvantaged, minority-owned, women-owned and small business enterprises (D/M/W/SBEs) in NTTA contract opportunities. The nine-member group assists the NTTA's Business Diversity department with outreach activity, 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 Director Anthony Coleman serves as facilitator to the council.

 

Similar to the structure of the NTTA Board of Directors, the council consists of two appointees from each of the four counties currently served by the NTTA and one at-large member.

 

The new representatives replace their county's outgoing members, who have served on the committee since its inception in 2009.

 

  • Rosa Navajar, former president of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, from Tarrant County
  • William (Bill) Lawrence, former mayor of the City of Highland Village, from Denton County
  • Charles O'Neal, former president of the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, from Dallas County
  • Galileo Jumaoas, executive director of the Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce, from Collin County

 

"These members have significantly affected the way the NTTA approaches contracting," said NTTA Chairman Kenneth Barr, "the philosophies and wisdom they have shared have been woven into the fabric of the NTTA, giving our organization richer texture and depth."

 

The new members were officially introduced at the Aug. 15 NTTA Board of Directors meeting. For more information about the NTTA's business diversity programs, visit NTTA> Procurement> Business Diversity.

ROAD Program Continuing Education Seminar

 

Business Diversity staff hosted its third Relationships and Opportunities Advancing Diversity continuing education program Aug. 7 in the NTTA Boardroom.

 

The course, "Return on people leads to return on investment" was taught by Beverley Wright, the NTTA's Business Diversity Advisory Council appointee for Denton County. She encouraged attendees to engage in a collaborative, cooperative environment that encourages individual accountability with team support.

 

Wright has served on the BDAC since 2009 and is president of Wright Choice Group, an executive coaching business. She has more than 30 years of corporate, individual, and entrepreneurial coaching expertise helping clients.

 

The NTTA's ROAD Program provides opportunities for emerging disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned firms to grow and gain expanded access to resources, a broader scope of services, deeper technical knowledge and improved business management and operations processes by partnering with larger, more established firms offering similar services.

 

Beverly Wright
BDAC Appointee Beverly Wright tells ROAD program members to pay attention to people in the workplace.

Chambers of Commerce Outreach

 

Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce Meeting

Business Diversity staff continued to reach out to small businesses by supporting the Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce's "Business and Economic Development Meeting" monthly seminar June 12. Director of Business Diversity Anthony Coleman participated on a discussion panel. Coleman spoke about building successful relationships with the NTTA, the importance of vendor registration, and upcoming NTTA initiatives such as the Dallas County Vendor Outreach Symposium and the SecondWednesday Business Chat Sessions. Event participants discussed business opportunities, showcased their companies, and networked with other participants.

 

Greater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce Meeting

Business Diversity staff participated intheGreater Dallas Asian American Chamber of Commerce program, "Procurement One-on-One," in Dallas Aug. ninth. NTTA staff met with GDAACC members seeking assistance. Anthony Coleman provided information about upcoming NTTA initiatives Business Chat Sessions, held on the second Wednesday of each month. Coleman provided vendors with contact information based on their area of interest/expertise.

 

Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce Awards

Business Diversity and Communications and Marketing staff attended the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards June 21. The FWMBCC presented awards for members' professionalism and hard work. The NTTA helped sponsor the event. FWMBCC President Devoyd Jennings also serves as chairman of the NTTA Business Diversity Advisory Council as a Tarrant county appointee. BDAC members Beverley Wright and William Lawrence also attended in support of the chamber's outreach initiative.

Tarrant County Vendor Outreach Symposium 

 

Botanic Garden Ctr FT WORTH
Attendees listen to a listing of upcoming NTTA opportunities at the Botanic Garden Center in Fort Worth.

NTTA Business Diversity staff hosted the fifth Tarrant County Vendor Outreach Symposium May 24at the Botanic Garden Center in Fort Worth. Approximately 70 prospective contractors attended the event.

 

To increase its outreach efforts and to market contracting opportunities to the public, the NTTA hosts Vendor Outreach Symposiums to provide information about upcoming projects.

 

The symposiums are traveling road shows that offer one-stop outreach for prospective vendors and provide information about contract opportunities for future NTTA projects and procurements. Participants have the opportunity to meet staff from various NTTA departments, including the Business Diversity Department. Representatives from the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency also provide information about how to become DBE- or M/WBE-certified.

 

Rosa Navejar, NTTA Business Diversity Advisory Council member and president of the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, spoke with attendees and provided information on initiatives to assist and promote disadvantaged, minority, women-owned and small business enterprises. Allen Smith, construction and procurement director of the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, was also recognized for his support of the NTTA's diversity initiatives.

Kevin Reilly, corridor manager for Chisholm Trail Parkway, gave an update on the project, including opportunities available to D/W/MBEs.

 

Steve Mason, president of Mas-Tek, a D/M/WBE company that recently earned a prime contract on the CTP project, said that, "The NTTA encouraged Mas-Tek to meet for a debriefing following past unsuccessful request for proposals.  That really helped us to develop our first successful request for proposal last year and reflected capabilities of our company."

Staff provided information about contract opportunities on future NTTA projects and procurements.   Kelly Francis and Monica Runion, representatives from the Women's Business Council - Southwest, provided assistance and guidance to attendees regarding certification.

 

To receive an alert when the next event is scheduled, please call the Vendor Outreach Symposium hotline at

(972) 447-3333 or email  [email protected].

Issue: 4

In This Issue
Business Diversity Advisory Council Welcomes New Faces
ROAD Program Continuing Education Seminar
Tarrant County Vendor Outreach Symposium

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 

AGENDA FOR BUILDING CAPACITY FORUM

 

Business Diversity staff continued outreach efforts with Tarrant County small businesses at the Agenda for Building Capacity Trans- portation Forum held May 16 at the Inter-modal Transportation Center in Fort Worth. Director of Business Diversity Anthony Coleman discussed how to build successful relationships with the NTTA, stressed the importance of register-ing as a vendor and provided information about upcoming initiatives, including the Tarrant County Vendor Outreach Symposium and the Second Wednesday Business Chat Sessions conducted at the NTTA. 

 

SPEAKERS BUREAU REACHES COMMUNITY GROUPS

 

NTTA officials and topical experts help hundreds of home-owners, civic club members and com-munity leaders navi-gate the complicated landscape of North Texas transportation through its Speakers Bureau. Take ad-vantage of this free service and request a speaker for your group.

 

Groups can schedule exclusive time with NTTA speakers to help their members learn more about the Authority and its roadways. Topics for presentations include roadway construction updates, roadway safety, environmental efforts, innovative financing and the history of the NTTA. Topics also may be customized to the interests of the or-ganization making the request.

 

The NTTA Speakers Bureau began in 2008 as part of the Authority's commitment to com-munity involvement. Don't miss out on the opportunity for your group this year.

 

Requests for a speaker should be made at least 30 days in advance. For more information or to request a speaker for your event, e-mail [email protected] or call 214-224-3088.

 

  TOUCHDOWN! 

HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS TOLLTAGS!

  

Yes, Dallas Cowboys TollTags are on sale at area Dallas Cowboys Pro Shops and online at www.shopcowboys.com.

 

Supplies are limited, so hurry and be one of the lucky ones with a Dallas Cowboys TollTag. Personalize your vehicle with the Cowboys' logo on your windshield, or give the Dallas Cowboys TollTag as a gift to your favorite fan.  Dallas Cowboys TollTags are available to both existing and new TollTag customers.

 

TollTags are the best way to travel on North Texas toll roads.  TollTag customers pay the lowest rates -- ZipCash customers pay 50 per-cent more reflecting the higher cost of collection. You can use your TollTag for parking at Dallas/Fort Worth International and Dallas Love Field airports and receive discounted rates for parking and pass-through at DFW Airport. TollTags also can be used on any toll road in Texas without the hassle of receiving and paying bills through the mail. 

Cowboys TollTag 

  NCTRCA MONTHLY CERTIFICATION

 

Staff participated in an outreach effort with small business owners at the North Central Texas Regional Certification Agency's monthly certification workshop hosted by the Tarrant County College District May 31.

 

The free certification workshop attracted 30 attendees. The first part of the session provided disadvantaged, minority-owned, and woman-owned business enterprises an orientation on the certification process. NCTRCA staff provided on-site certification assistance for those with questions.

 

During the second part of the workshop, staff discussed upcoming initiatives and opportunities with attendees. All recently certified members were allowed to introduce their companies and network with each other. More information on NCTRCA can be found here.

 

  FARMERS BRANCH BUSINESS AND CAREER EXPO

 

Business Diversity staff attended the Farmers Branch Business and Career Expo June 5. The Farmers Branch Chamber of Commerce hosted the event, which gave owners of small businesses the op-portunity to meet with staff from various agencies to discuss business opportunities. NTTA staff discussed techniques for doing business with public entities and the im-portance of networking.

 

 Fast Fact  

Your Business Diversity Team at the North Texas Tollway Authority