Houston OBO Insights to Opportunity Newsletter - Spring 2023

Learn About Contracting at Houston Airport System

WHAT’S INSIDE Financial

FROM THE DIRECTOR

This year is a year of many celebrations, as is fitting for Mayor Turner’s last year as Houston’s

Page 3 mayor. In this issue, we continue to celebrate our recent achievement of certifying our 5,000th business, a milestone for the City and an extraordinary accomplishment for a municipality in Texas. We are proud to have such a large pipeline of diverse businesses to meet our contracting needs as well as the needs of other public sector and private sector entities, locally and nationally.

We also celebrate the graduation of our Turnaround Entrepreneurship Program – a class filled with enthusiastic local entrepreneurs charting paths of their dreams. And finally, we celebrate the upcoming awards that will be bestowed upon our

City’s Certification Program Sees Unprecedented Growth

By: Andrea Sidlauskas

Mayor Sylvester Turner’s administration has taken the City of Houston’s supplier diversity program to new heights by certifying its 5,000th business. With this achievement, the City of Houston now has more certified firms than any regional certifying agency in Texas, second only to the State of Texas’ HUB Certification program. The City of Houston serves 10 counties in the Houston metropolitan area, while the State’s certification program certifies HUB firms in 254 counties across Texas.

With these certifications, small businesses are eligible to participate in City of Houston goal-oriented contracts. They can also be used to do business in many public sector agencies across the region, as well as in the private sector. Last fiscal year, the City of Houston awarded more than $608 million to certified MWSBE

firms. Certified firms are also entered into the City’s Certified Firm Directory at Houston.mwdbe.com.

“When I became mayor in 2016, there were 2,550 small businesses in the City’s Certified Firm Directory,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “As I come to the end of my term, I’m proud to say we have increased that number by almost 100%.”

Mayor Turner honored Little Bits & Masterpieces, LLC as the 5,000th certified business on January 31, 2023, proclaiming it “Little Bits & Masterpieces, LLC Day.” The art studio, created by Sultanah Theriot, received the Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise certifications.

“I decided to get certified with the City of Houston to further establish my

CELEBRATING 5,000 CERTIFIED FIRMS: The Office of Business Opportunity’s Certifications & Designations team, led by Manager Tim Warren (center), assisted the City of Houston in reaching a supplier diversity milestone.

CERTIFICATION:

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Numbers Nearly Double Under Turner Administration

business as a reputable and trustworthy organization,” Theriot said. “I would encourage any business owner who is looking to establish themselves in the Houston area to consider getting certified with the City. It has helped me build my business and give my customers peace of mind.”

The Office of Business Opportunity certifies the following types of businesses through the City of Houston’s local certification program: Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), Small Business Enterprises (SBE) and Persons with Disabilities Business Enterprises (PDBE). OBO also certifies the following types of businesses on behalf of the United States Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT): Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and Airport Concessionaire Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE).

In order to get certified, business owners should review the certification requirements; attend the pre-certification workshop, which explains the process in-depth and allows applicants to ask specific questions; and submit their completed application together with all

requested documents through the online portal at https://houston.mwdbe. com/?TN=houston.

From there, applications are screened and audited before being sent to a committee review. The committee ensures the applicant firm’s eligibility and ends with a decision to certify the firm or issue a tentative denial with an option to appeal.

“Being the 5,000th certified firm is a significant achievement for me and my business,” Theriot said. “I am proud to be a part of the City of Houston’s commitment to supporting small businesses and promoting economic development.”

The City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity is committed to cultivating an inclusive and competitive economic environment by promoting the success of small businesses and developing Houston’s workforce. Administration of the City’s certification program is part of how OBO fulfills this mission.

“With the help of the Office of Business Opportunity, the City of Houston will continue its commitment to the advancement of equitable access, economic opportunity and the success of historically underutilized small businesses in the Greater Houston region,” Mayor Turner said.

How To Prepare for Certification

Small business owners are encouraged to take advantage of OBO’s Pre-Certification Workshops before starting the certification process. These workshops are available in the following formats:

On-Demand Pre-Certification Workshops: Available in English and Spanish, on OBO’s YouTube page: youtube.com/houstontxobo

Virtual Pre-Certification Workshops: Via Microsoft Teams. Held every first and third Tuesday of the month, except for holidays and City closures, at 2:00 p.m.

In-Person Pre-Certification Workshops: Held every third Tuesday of the month at 611 Walker St., 7th floor, Houston, TX 77022, except for holidays and City closures, at 2 p.m.

Visit houstontx.gov/obo/ registrations.html to sign up for a workshop or get more information about the City of Houston’s certification process.

FULFILLING OBO’S MISSION: OBO Director Marsha Murray said of her team, including certification officers Timika Prudhomme, left, and Michelle Bradley: “The growth of the City’s certification program has only been possible through the work of the dedicated public servants at OBO. My team is truly committed to the growth and success of our local small businesses.”

CITY COUNCIL RECOGNITION: Mayor Sylvester Turner, right, presented a City of Houston proclamation to Sultonah Theriot, owner of Little Bits & Masterpieces, LLC. The art studio, created by Theriot, is the 5,000th Houston business to receive certification (Minority Business Enterprise and Women Business Enterprise).

Houston Airport System Offers Opportunities for Contracting

By: Andrea Sidlauskas

TheHouston Airport System (HAS), comprised of the George Bush International Airport, the William P. Hobby Airport and the Ellington Airport, has long been touted for its top-tier travel venues. It is also thriving with opportunities for small businesses in the Houston area, including work in construction, professional services, concessions and car rentals. These opportunities are awarded to companies through the City of Houston’s bid process.

Competitive bidding specifications are available through Bid Documents (awarded to low bidder), Requests for Proposal (RFPs), Requests for Qualifications (RFQs), Best Value Bid (BVB) and Competitive Sealed Proposal (CSP). The type of method used depends upon the type of commodity or service being procured. For more information about doing business with HAS, go to Contracting Overview | Business and Partnerships | Houston Airport System (fly2houston.com).

The Office of Business Opportunity maintains an office at the Houston Airport System (HAS-OBO), which is committed to removing barriers to contracting success, ensuring equal opportunities and providing necessary tools for small businesses to compete successfully within HAS and the Houston metropolitan area.

Kellie Irving, the Deputy Assistant Director for HAS-OBO, said the sole purpose of this division is helping small businesses succeed.

“The opportunities for small businesses here at the airport are vast,” Irving said. “We want to ensure that small businesses have just as much opportunity as a larger company. We’re trying to build up companies in order for them to succeed

in the Houston market area.”

One tool that can be useful for small businesses is to obatin their Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) certification.

Although the certification applies only to businesses that plan to become retail or food and beverage concessionaires, as opposed to participating in construction-related or professional service-related projects, it does allow small businesses the opportunity to be awarded a subcontract from a prime company.

“I would always encourage a firm to get their ACDBE certification,” Irving said. “If you are certified, you have the option of either being the prime or submitting yourself as a partner to the prime and helping them satisfy a participation goal that’s been placed on the project.” While receiving the ACDBE certification

comes with advantages, it is not necessary to conduct business within the HAS. If a business is not certified, it can still access the HAS-OBO to help identify where business opportunities are; connect with the Supply Chain Management Department, which is part of HAS; and monitor the City of Houston’s Strategic Procurement Division for up-todate contracting information.

“We want to partner our small business community with good, viable opportunities to help them grow,” Irving said. “We want them to be able to flourish, and that only comes with good, keen knowledge that can be imparted by the HAS-OBO staff.”

To prepare for ACDBE certification, businesses are encouraged to attend the Pre-certification workshop, held every third Tuesday of the month at 2 p.m. at the Bob Lanier Public Works Building, 611 Walker St., on the 7th floor. Workshops are also available via Microsoft Teams at 2 p.m. every first and third Tuesday of the month, except for holidays and City closures, and 24/7 in English and Spanish at www.youtube.com/houstontxobo.

WORK IN PROGRESS: More than 180 minority, women-owned and small business enterprises have participated in the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, with more opportunities on the horizon. (Photo: Aerial View of Mickey Leland International Terminal D)

Kellie Irving, Deputy Assistant Director, Houston Airport System - Office of Business Opportunity

Turnaround Entrepreneurship Program Celebrates Graduation

By: Andrea Sidlauskas

The stigma faced by those who have been previously incarcerated oftentimes causes barriers for starting anew. But eight individuals this year, and 19 overall, have participated in the Turnaround Entrepreneurship Program (TEP) to overcome those obstacles.

TEP, administered by the Office of Business Opportunity with support from Houston’s Complete Communities and the Houston Health Department’s Community ReEntry Network Program, was founded in 2019 as part of Mayor Sylvester Turner’s Turnaround Houston initiative, which was created to assist Houstonians overcome barriers to employment. There have been three cohorts since the program’s inception.

TEP teaches previously incarcerated individuals how to start and operate their own business by providing entrepreneurship resources, mentorship, and education throughout a 10-week course.

During the program, participants create

a viable business plan and are given the knowledge and guidance needed to reach their small business goals with the assistance of SCORE Houston mentors. They also receive 1-1 financial mentorship from The BridgePath in efforts to increase their financial literacy and build their business credit for better access to capital.

This year’s cohort completed the program on March 30 at ImpactHUB Houston. At the event, each had the opportunity to speak about their business plan.

Richard Presley, a 2023 grad, said he had been in business before participating in the program. Even though he has small business experience, he said he gained insightful knowledge from the SCORE and BridgePath mentors.

“My degree is in business management,” Presley said. “In college you learn a lot of things, but when you actually start out doing your business none of that really applies. One of the biggest things

GRADUATION CELEBRATION: Richard Presley, a 2023 TEP grad, said financial mentorship was one of the biggest things he recieved through the program. I learned in TEP was the finances. I don’t care what kind of degree you have or what you know about business, if you don’t have your finances together, you’re going to fail.”

TEP not only imparts knowledge and resources to participants, but it also affords them the opportunity to overcome the stigma of being incarcerated. Many participants said they decided to start their own business because they had been unable to get or keep a job.

Robert Green, another TEP graduate and owner of XLR8 Pressure Washing Service, LLC, said he found it challenging to come out of the criminal justice system and find a job with a decent wage to provide for himself and his family.

“With me having a criminal history, one thing that I’ve noticed is that jobs would deter me from employment,” Green said. “But whenever I started to seek jobs on my own from the services that I provided, the majority of the people that I ever had an encounter with didn’t care about my criminal background.” During graduation, Presley presented

TEP GRADUATES: From left, Marcus Wilhite, Richard Presley, Alphise Washington, Shante Delgado, Robert Green, and Anthony Graves celebrate their completion of the Turnaround Entrepreneurship Program. Not pictured are Darian Ansari and Otha Norton. Go to TEP, Page 5

OBO Welcomes Assistant Director Cylenthia Hoyrd

The Office of Business Opportunity has a new Assistant Director, Cylenthia Hoyrd, who began her tenure on April 3. Hoyrd will oversee the Certification and Contract Compliance Divisions and the Department Services Unit, as well as lead other operations along with Director Marsha Murray.

“I love the mission of OBO,” AD Hoyrd said. “I come from a family of entrepreneurs, so I understand the struggle of trying to get into certain sectors, and I like helping small businesses.”

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology with a minor in Business Management from Talladega College and a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in Human Services from Northern Illinois University.

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Ms. Hoyrd comes to OBO from the Harris Health System where she served as Grant Writer and Staff Engagement Program Lead for the pharmacy and lab departments. She has previously worked for the Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago Housing Authority and the Houston Public Library in various capacities.

“I understand, empathize and support small businesses because I know the work that they do and the communities that they support,” AD Hoyrd said. “I know how difficult it can be, but people still love to do what they do. So we want to support them and help them to be successful.”

Service to God and her community are very important to Ms. Hoyrd. In 2017, she founded a consulting firm that provides professional business consulting and government grant services to clients across the United States.

She also founded the LeadHer Tour, a women’s empowerment network that calls successful Black women from across the country to network, learn and grow together. The two-day event covers topics such as finances, real estate, mental and physical health and the state of Black women across the country. Ms. Hoyrd said she loves working with female entrepreneurs, so she established the event to create a space where women can learn from each other.

TEP: Graduate plans to employ previously incarcerated individuals

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his appraisal company, stating that he truly enjoys real estate.

“Purchasing a home is one of your biggest purchases as an adult, and I actually found out I really enjoy helping people, getting them to the closing, working with them through the process and seeing them happy,” Presley said. “It’s the American dream, everybody wants to have a home. And I found out I loved it.”

Green’s power washing service has operated for two years, and he has inspiring goals for the future of his LLC. “I want to grow my company to the

point where I can become a secondchance employment company,” Green said. “That will allow for me to be able to put people immediately straight to work coming out of incarceration to where they would be able to make a decent wage. If they develop a passion within the pressure washing industry, then I’ll be able to help in guiding them into becoming an entrepreneur themselves.”

After ten weeks of hard work, commitment and many learning lessons, the eight graduates gained the tools necessary for their business to prosper, as well as resources to utilize in the future if necessary.

“I dedicated so many hours in order to be able to craft that business plan,” Green said. “But I believe that when you become an entrepreneur, you have to find something you enjoy doing so much that you’ll do it for free. And whenever you do, that allows for you to wake up everyday and be a contributing player within the community and enhance the community, keep the community clean, and keep the community safe.”

For more information about applying for the next Turnaround Houston Entrepreneurship program, contact Jessica.DelGreco@houstontx.gov. Applications are set to open in the Fall.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP BACKGROUND: OBO Assistant Director Cylenthia Hoyrd, who comes from a family of entrepreneurs, understands the challenges faced by other small business owners.

“I understand, empathize and support small businesses because I know the work that they do and the communities they support.”

Cylenthia Hoyrd, OBO Assistant Director

EMPLOYEE HIGHLIGHT

Nellie Piña Dedicated To Success of OBO Solutions Center

By: Jesse Rubio

Business Development Coordinator

Selma “Nellie” Piña is the first person visitors see when they enter OBO’s lobby. As a member of OBO’s External Affairs division, she ensures the smooth operation of the OBO Solutions Center (OBOSC), where she assists more than 200 clients per month. She also plays an integral role in supporting OBO’s business development programming.

QCan you tell us a little bit about yourself?

A: I’m a native Houstonian raised in southeast Pasadena, and I speak English, Spanish, and basic Arabic. My professional background includes previously owning a business as a sole proprietor hairstylist and I taught an English/Spanish classroom in Jordan where I also edited/authored English, Science, and Math books for the MENA region in the capital city of Amman.

QWhat kind of inquiries do you receive at the OBOSC?

A: Most of our inquiries come from those who have just registered a business with the Harris County Clerk’s Office wanting to know the next steps once their DBA has been obtained. We then guide them to the proper permitting and licensing steps, as well as provide them with all other services and resources that OBO offers at no cost. Other inquiries include referrals from 311 or other City departments for information about doing business with the City of Houston through MWSBE certifications; funding resources and business mentorship; and how to move or expand out-of-state businesses to Houston.

QHow have you grown professionally since you first started working for the City of Houston a year ago?

A: I’ve grown in how I better communicate with others, manage my time for efficiency, and in how I work with my team on various projects and business programs.

QHow has your time living abroad impacted your perspective working in the public sector?

A: In my 6 years of living abroad I worked as an English/Spanish instructor, mostly during the Syria Conflict in which many of my students were refugees. In a situation like that, one automatically assumes that feeling of an “ambassador” role, where you want to share your empathy and do your best to help others in need. I just knew at that point that upon my return home, all I wanted to do was to be of service in my own hometown.

QWhat is your favorite thing about working at OBO?

A: I have a BSBA degree with a concentration in Small Business/ Entrepreneurship, so I feel right at home! I was raised by a sole proprietor; my father has worked for himself since I was born. I witnessed the struggles, the successes, and everything that comes with owning your own business. I also chose that degree for the same reason and at OBO I get to apply not only my education, but also my own experiences

as a previous business owner myself. OBO caters to Houston’s business community in every aspect to position them for success.

QIf you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you like to go and why?

A: I’m a huge nature-lover, therefore places like northern India, the Kashmir region appeals to me, where I hear it looks like “Paradise on Earth.”

QWhat’s something about you that not many people know?

A: If you don’t know me, I confuse a lot of people (especially in e-mails) because everything is registered as my first name Selma, but I go by my middle name, Nellie.

QWhich 3 words would you want your colleagues to describe you with?

A: Trustworthy, team-player, dependable.

QWhat advice would you give to someone who might want to join the City of Houston?

A: Join the City of Houston to be part of the impact that you want to see in your community, and work hard to celebrate it.

South Post Oak Recycling Center Built On Legacy and Service

Before taking the reins of her parents’ family business in 2013, Brandi Harleaux worked as a strategic leader and consultative talent management and organization development executive for Fortune 500 companies. Now, as the CEO of South Post Oak Recycling Center (SPORC), Harleaux is leading the way in the sustainability space for small businesses. In March 2023, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) named Harleaux the State of Texas Small Business Person of the Year.

This award is presented each year during SBA’s National Small Business Week to recognize the hard work, ingenuity and dedication of America’s small businesses and celebrate their contributions to the community.

“I thank my parents because I’m really building on a legacy that they laid the foundation for,” Harleaux said. “Some people start from scratch, and that’s the spirit of entrepreneurship. But the other spirit of entrepreneurship is multigenerational entrepreneurs, so I feel very privileged to be here as a secondgeneration owner building on something that they’ve built, growing it and taking it to another level.”

SPORC began its journey in 1994 by focusing on servicing the recycling needs of households and working-class individuals, such as plumbers, electricians and HVAC technicians. It has since expanded to manufacturing, government entities and industrial accounts, and its ties to the community run deep.

SPORC serves the community economically, socially and environmentally. By receiving compensation for recycled items, individuals or families can use that money as disposable income in the community.

By recycling materials, CO2 emissions are diminished. Rare materials are not extracted from the earth as frequently because the secondary recyclable

materials can be used an infinite number of times.

The benefits of SPORC are countless, but Harleaux said that she is most excited about the impact that SPORC has in the community.

“As an entrepreneur, business is more than just about profit,” Harleaux said. “It literally is about the impact and what we can do with the profit. We can use those profits to support organizations that align with us, like the local football league, not just because they’re a football league but because they’re focused on building leaders, and they focus on integrity, and they focus on teaching people how to bounce back from setbacks.”

As a certified Minority and Women Business Enterprise (MWBE) with the City of Houston, Harleaux is passionate about supporting other MWBEs and small businesses. She currently serves on the Office of Business Opportunity’s Advisory Board as the Chairperson.

“I stepped into this role two and a half years ago, and what I love about it is the OBO Office works tirelessly day in and day out to better equip MWBEs to make sure they have opportunities,” Harleaux said. “I love having a direct impact to the resources available to MWBEs. I’m very much impact driven. I want to make sure that whatever I do, there is a result that comes from it.”

SPORC has been giving back to the Houston community for almost 30 years, and Harleaux has admirable goals for the future, including starting a foundation. “It is so meaningful that a company like ours that is in the recycling and sustainability space is being recognized by SBA,” Harleaux said. “It is not a typical business, but it is a business that is directly linked to sustainability, and they saw the value of that. And for that, I’m grateful.”

MWBE SUCCESS: Brandi Harleaux, CEO of South Post Oak Recycling Center (SPORC), was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2023 State of Texas Small Business Person of the Year. Harleaux shares SBA honors with several OBO partners (see page 9). She is pictured with SPORC Operations Manager Frank Robinson, Jr. (right) and Yard Manager Nolan Chatman.

“As an entrepreneur, business is more than just about profit. It literally is about the impact and what we can do with the profit . ”

Brandi Harleaux, CEO, South Post Oak Recycling Center

OBO CFO Celebrates 45 Years with City of Houston

By: Andrea Sidlauskas

After 45 years of service to the City of Houston, Patsy Jackson is still going strong as ever. She currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer for the Office of Business Opportunity, but she has been with several departments throughout her impressive tenure.

“I think the challenge is what kept me,” Jackson said. “I had opportunities to leave, I wasn’t stuck. I’m happy [with my decision to stay] because I think the positions that I’ve been in, and I’ve been in quite a few, I’ve been able to do something constructive and something that would better the City.”

Jackson has carried various supervisory, organizational and project management positions throughout her tenure, working in the departments of Planning and Development, Human Resources, Housing and Community Development and Affirmative Action, which is now known as the Office of Business Opportunity (OBO).

Through all her roles and departments, she has been with OBO the longest. She even had a hand in developing the department while she was working in Planning.

“We were the pioneers who set up the OBO Solutions Center,” Jackson said. “We’re the ones who put together the pamphlets, we did the research on the licenses and the permits that were required. There was no one-stop business assistance center, or OBO Solutions Center, before us.”

Jackson credits the love of a challenge to her length of time in OBO, and she said no two days, or two weeks, are the same. In her current role, she serves as liaison to all City departments, and managing the OBO’s budget along with other financial matters that may arise. She also manages the administration of the City’s Pay or Play program.

But more than the challenges, she said her favorite part about working in her

current position is the opportunity to meet new people.

“I get a chance to give everybody a warm welcome into OBO,” Jackson said. “I try to make sure that when you come on board, you don’t feel like, ‘I’m employee number 6678910, and I’m just going to report to my station and put my head in the computer and nobody talks to me.’ They can talk to somebody; they can ask questions. I want people to feel how I would want to feel. I would want to feel like people thought enough of me to reach out to me before I got here and make me feel like I’m welcome.”

Although she does not have explicit plans to retire any time soon, she said she will always be in a role to help others.

“Even when I retire, I don’t want to retire to be at home,” Jackson said. “I want to retire to go and help somewhere. I just

want to be able to contribute to society, people’s lives and their wellbeing.”

She emphasized the importance of being a kind person, and that small actions can make a large impact on another person’s day.

“One day I was walking through the tunnel, and this guy came past me, and I said, ‘Hey, how are you doing today?’ When he turned around, he had tears in his eyes. He said, ‘You don’t know what it means for you to speak to me.’ And I didn’t even know him,” Jackson said. “Sometimes people really just need help, and all it takes is that help to get them over the line.”

Jackson earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business from Grambling State University and a Master’s degree in Project Management from DeVry University. Her current duties include budget development, planning, projections, forecasting and monitoring expenditures. She loves a challenge; she is a high achiever; but above all, she enjoys helping people.

“We never know what people are facing at home,” Jackson said. “We don’t know what they’re going through, and sometimes it’s just good for people to know that you care, even if you’re not doing anything other than being nice to them. Be the best person that you can be. Some days you may have a rough day, but try to constantly be the best person that you can be.”

45 YEARS OF SERVICE: Patsy Jackson has no plans to retire soon. When she does retire, she plans to continue in a role that will allow her to help others.

“We never know what people are facing at home. We don’t know what they’re going through, and sometimes it’s just good for people to know that you care, even if you’re not doing anything other than being nice to them.”

Patsy Jackson, Chief Financial Officer, OBO

Financial Assesment Tool Now Available on OBO Website

Funding is an extremely important element to starting a business. It can also be one of the most difficult elements to navigate.

Through its online Financial Education and Assesment Tool, the Office of Business Opportunity offers several resources to assist business owners who are seeking funding. These resources are designed to connect business owners with appropriate financing resources for their small business or startup.

The website features a Financing Directory, which includes a list of funders grouped by the types of financing they provide. There is also a Financing Learning Module, which explains the when, why, and how of looking for financing. Finally, there is a Financing Needs As-

sessment Survey, which helps business owners identify possible financing resources. Business owners can also use this form to request additional assistance from OBO.

To access the tool, go to https://www. houstontx.gov/obo/financingtools.html. The Financial Education and Assesment Tool is available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

DID YOU KNOW?

➡ As a major corporate center, Houston is home to 23 Fortune 500 companies. Texas leads the nation, while Houston leads Texas ranking third among U.S. metro areas with the highest-ranking companies: Phillips 66, Sysco, and ConocoPhillips.

➡ The Houston Rockets’ name has nothing to do with NASA (or Houston). In actuality, the Rockets were first established in San Diego in 1967. Fans there were asked to choose a nickname for the team, and Rockets was chosen to reflect the outstanding growth of spaceage industries in San Diego. The team relocated in 1971, and the name stuck.

➡ Houston Airports maintained its

OBO ACCOLADES

On May 3, SCORE Houston and the U.S. Small Business Administration

Houston District Office will host its National Small Business Week Luncheon, an annual event that honors outstanding small business owners and small business champions in Houston. Awardees include several members of the OBO Advisory Board and OBO collaborative partners:

Brandi Harleaux

Texas Small Business Person of the Year

OBO Advisory Board Chair

CEO of South Post Oak Recycling Center

Lyndsey Brantley

Houston District Woman Business

Owner of the Year

Founder, Camellia Alise

2016 Liftoff Houston Winner

OBO Business Mentor

Adriana Gonzalez

Houston District Community Partner of the Year

President/CEO Camara de Empresarios

Latinos Houston

OBO Advisory Board Member

Michi Burns Clay

Houston District Community Partner of the Year

Regional Vice President, LiftFund OBO Collaborative Partner

5-Star Skytrax rating at Hobby Airport and 4-Star Skytrax rating at Bush Airport in 2023.

➡ Houston would rank as the world’s 26th richest economy if the city were its own country. That is more than Iran and Thailand’s Gross Domestic Product.

➡ Houston has the widest freeway in the world. The Katy Freeway at Beltway 8 comes in at a whopping 26 lanes across (12 main, eight feeders, and six managed lanes), earning it a spot on Business Insider’s list of The World’s 11 Wildest Highways.

➡ The phone on the International Space Station has a 281 Houston area code.

The Houston MBDA Business Center, operated by Houston Community College, will host the 8th Annual Salute to Minorities in Construction Luncheon on June 13. The event honors minorityowned construction firms and the advocates and organizations that support them. Awardees include:

Dr. Porscha Jackson

Government Advocate of the Year

OBO Business Development Manager

Edgartt Melton

Houston MBDA Client of the Year

CEO, 7th Echelon LLC

OBO Advisory Board Member

Business Advice with Lyndsey Brantley: Get practical business advice and guidance from beauty pioneer Lyndsey Brantley, founder of Camellia Alise. Brantley will provide mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs and established business owners in the form of scheduled 1:1 sessions every first Monday of the month starting May 1. To sign up for a mentorship session, go to https://tinyurl. com/OBO-EIR.

OBO-SCORE Panel DiscussionFinancing: May 4 from 1-2 p.m. at Houston Community College - Southwest, 1600 Texas Pkwy, Missouri City. Join the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity and SCORE Houston for a panel discussion designed for City of Houston vendors. This is an opportunity to learn more about doing business with the City of Houston and how SCORE Houston can support small business owners. Register at https://www.score.

DIRECTOR:

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

org/houston/event/city-houstonpanel-discussion-financing. For more information, contact porscha.jackson@houstontx.gov or call 832-393-0935.

OBO Business Beyond Borders Summit

- Doing Business in the Caribbean: May 18 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m at the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), Marilyn Davies College of Business, 1 Main St. The Business Beyond Borders Summit is a half-day international business conference for small businesses designed to provide insight and connections on how to effectively engage in global business. A combination of panels and B2B workshops, participants will leave with practical knowledge and steps to do business internationally. Learn how to make valuable contacts to successfully export products/services, as well as how to use technology and media/ social media to do business in Caribbean

City of Houston Disparity Study Underway

Continued from Page 1

esteemed Advisory Board Chair, Brandi Harleaux, our dedicated Advisory Board Members, Edgartt Melton and Adriana Gonzales, Liftoff Houston Start-up Business Plan Competition Winner, Lyndsey Brantley, and our very own, Dr. Porscha Jackson. Last, but certainly not least, we welcome Cylenthia Hoyrd to the OBO team. You will learn more about Assistant Director Hoyrd in this issue.

While we continue to grow our pool of certified companies, we also want to ensure that the City’s Supplier Diversity Program is realizing its intended impact. The City has a stated commitment to ensuring that historically underutilized and underrepresented businesses have opportunities to compete and participate in City procurement. As such, the City has retained MGT Consulting, a public sector consulting firm that specializes in disparity and availability studies, to perform the City’s disparity study. The study seeks

to identify the impact of a firm’s race, ethnicity, and gender on its ability to do business in the City’s marketplace, both public and private sectors, and acquire capital and bonding. The results of the study will also be utilized to assist the City in implementing strategies geared towards improving its principles of equity in the procurement and contracting processes in accordance with state and federal laws, and offer additional considerations to enhance the City’s ongoing efforts in these areas.

Many of you will be contacted by MGT Consulting representatives over the next few months. Your participation in the disparity study process is extremely important, as your input and insight will help to form the basis of recommendations put forth in the study. I am making a special request for you to make every effort to engage with the consultant. Thank you in advance for your participation!

countries. To register, go to https:// tinyurl.com/2023BBB. For details, contact porscha.jackson@houstontx.gov or call 832-393-0935.

OBO-SCORE Panel Discussion - Human Resources: June 1 from 1-2 p.m. at Houston Community College - Southwest, 1600 Texas Pkwy, Missouri City. Register at https://www.score.org/houston/event/ city-houston-panel-discussion-humanresources. For more information, contact porscha.jackson@houstontx.gov or call 832-393-0935.

OBO-SCORE Panel Discussion - Sales & Exporting: July 6 at Houston Community College - Southwest College, 1600 Texas Pkwy, Missouri City. For more information or to register, contact porscha.jackson@houstontx.gov or call 832-393-0935.

WHO WE ARE

Insights to Opportunity is produced by the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity (OBO). OBO is committed to cultivating a competitive and diverse economic environment in the City of Houston by promoting the success of small businesses and developing Houston’s workforce, with special emphasis on historically underutilized businesses and disenfranchised individuals.

Executive Editors: Marsha E. Murray, Esq., Cylenthia Hoyrd. Managing Editor: Pearl K. Cajoles Copy Editor: Norma Meadows

Contributing Writers: Andrea Sidlauskas, S. Nellie Pina, Jesse Rubio

Any information in this newsletter does not constitute the Office of Business Opportunity’s endorsement of any business or organization. If you have a story idea, send an e-mail to andrea. sidlauskas@houstontx.gov. #HoustonOBO