MBE/EDGE Committee Meeting s1

MBE/EDGE Committee Meeting 3/6/2012 Minutes In attendance: James Austin, Kristen Edwards, Shanda Gore, Erik Johnson, Gary Johnson, Olivia Holden, Nadia Labenture (Guest), Milton Mcintyre (Guest), Jennifer Pastorek, Reverend Donald Perryman, Amy Runge (Guest), Teresa Smith, Bill Stewart, Larry Sykes, Carmen West (Guest), David Wood, and Wesley Yarborough (Guest). Dr. Gore welcomed all in attendance and guests: Nadia Labenture, Assets Toledo, Milton McIntyre, Peak Electric Inc., Amy Runge, RJ Runge, Carmen West, Minority Business Development Agency, and Wesley Yarborough, Continental Defense Protection Group. Dr. Gore reviewed the minutes from the February meeting. All action items were resolved. She asked Committee members to please notify her if any changes or corrections needed to be made to the minutes. Follow-up: Dr. Gore stated that the Eberly Center fundraiser, Celebrity Wait Night was a great success with over 400 guests who attended. With more than 40 waiters, over $21,000 was raised to support programming for the center. Dr. Gore thanked the Committee for their support of the event. Dr. Gore asked Ms. Runge to tell the Committee about her company. Ms. Runge stated that she is the president of RJ Runge Company, which is an EDGE firm that helps to develop other EDGE firms, as well as participation on projects. She explained that the firm not only helps other companies to grow, but also educates larger firms on the importance of the EDGE program and how it is vital to be successful. Dr. Gore asked Ms. Runge to share information with the Committee concerning workforce participation on the project. Ms. Runge provided a spreadsheet to the Committee detailing the current status of the project pertaining to EDGE workforce participation. She explained the document and discussion followed. Ms. Runge made clear that she tracks EDGE firms and minorities that are working for those firms rather than prime contractors per request of Jason Toth. She stated that her company organizes site visits and conducts follow-ups with companies to ensure minority and women participation. Ms. Runge stated that Lathrop, as a prime contractor, prequalified companies and RJ Runge stepped in and tried to help all EDGE companies across the state to meet those requirements. The University, however, did not use Lathrop’s prequalification. Ms. Runge stated that EDGE subcontractors and suppliers did not have to be prequalified. Dr. Gore stated that for clarification on the primes’ prequalification and workforce participation numbers, she would request that Mr. Toth be present at the next meeting.

of 2 Action Item: Dr. Gore will invite Mr. Toth to the next MBE/EDGE Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 3. Dr. Gore stated that at the previous meeting, Committee Members asked for Lorie Sarnes to provide an updated version of the spreadsheet provided at a previous meeting, as well as information on the I-29 form used to report participation. Action Item: Lorie Sarnes will provide an updated version of the workforce participation spreadsheet to the Committee, as well as information on the I-29 form. Dr. Gore asked Mr. Austin to discuss the timing on the project in terms of completion. Mr. Austin answered that the project was 75-80% complete. In terms of meeting the House Bill requirement, Ms. Runge stated that through the end of January, there had been 60% completed with the participation goal of the project. Dr. Gore stated that the Committee would like to know the minority business participation within the EDGE participation. Ms. Runge stated that the requested information could be broken out into contractors and suppliers for the sake of clarity. Action Item: Ms. Runge will separate the contractors from the suppliers on the spreadsheet and disseminate the revised document to the Committee. Dr. Gore asked Ms. West to tell the Committee about her herself and the Minority Business Development Agency. Ms. West disseminated literature about herself, as well as the MBDA to the Committee. Discussion followed. Dr. Gore requested that for the sake of time Ms. West attend the next MBE/EDGE Committee meeting to further discuss the MBDA. Dr. Gore thanked everyone for attending and the meeting adjourned at approximately 1:30 pm. The next meeting will be held on April 3 at 12:00 p.m. in the Minority Business Development Center Training Room. Please mark your calendars with the following 2012 MBE/EDGE Committee meeting date. All meetings will be held at 12:00 noon in the MBDC Training Room. May 8 June 5 July 10