HISD Supports Nation’s Economic Recovery Through M/WBE Supplier Expo

Representatives from Hermes Architects (an HISD prime contractor) Tony Warner (left) and Will Rios shared information with visitors about the many public construction and/or renovation projects their company has already been a part of, including those at Bush Intercontinental Airport, Reliant Park and Stadium, and the district’s own Charles Hartman Middle School.

Economists have long recognized the importance of supporting locally owned businesses. Successful companies can infuse their neighborhoods with an unmistakable vibrancy, and expanding businesses have the potential to completely revitalize struggling communities—both by attracting other commercial enterprises to the area and sharing their prosperity with local faith-based entities, nonprofit ventures, children’s sports organizations, and school districts.

That’s why the district’s Office of Business Assistance and Bond Program Office hosted their first-ever exposition for Minority/Woman-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) on February 19, 2009.

The event provided a unique forum for local minority- and woman-owned firms to network, strategize, and prepare to provide construction-related services and materials to the prime contractors in the 2007 Facilities Capital Program. More than 200 people from 100 different companies attended, including general contracting firms, engineers, demolition companies, construction materials suppliers, and landscaping firms.

“Attendees were so appreciative of the opportunity to come in and find out information about how to do business with HISD’s prime contractors,” said HISD Supplier Diversity Manager Kandyce Fernández. “With the complexity of the work being done, being able to hear from people who already know how it works is really helpful. A lot of our projects will be starting up in earnest this summer, and this event gives both the district and locally owned businesses a head start on building these relationships.”

The expo included displays from more than 25 of the district’s prime contractors (companies that work directly with HISD) and various local M/WBE resource organizations, which expanded their database of qualified firms to perform subcontracted work on both renovation and new design projects.

“The district does have a business assistance plan,” added Fernández. “And we feel it’s our responsibility to strengthen the economic foundation of the communities where our students are living. To help M/WBE grow their businesses is our commitment as a district.”

For more information, contact Supplier Diversity at 713-556-7222 or visit the Bond Program’s Web site.