July - August 2020 | Insights to Opportunity
www.houstontx.gov/obo | Page 3
that HR Green already believes in, but that doesn’t mean we stop with who we already know.” HR Green continually seeks opportunities to help small businesses better address market needs, which in turn helps provide exceptional service to the City. The company is eager to get involved with the Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program (IMPP), a business development initiative that aims to build capacity of historically underutilized businesses by pairing them with established firms. ABOVE & BEYOND: HR Green has consistently exceeded the aspirational goal set by the City of Houston for professional service contracts. The project team meets pre-COVID.
BUSINESS PROFILE
HR Green Shows Steadfast Commitment to City of Houston’s MWBE Program By: Pearl K. Cajoles
S
ince securing its first professional service contract with the City of Houston, civil engineering firm HR Green has been a champion for providing subcontracting opportunities for small businesses owned by entrepreneurs of historically underutilized groups, including women and people of color. For every $1 million that the City has awarded to HR Green, the company has consistently subcontracted approximately $300,000, or 30%, of the contract value to Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises (MWBE firms). This exceeds the 24% aspirational goal set by the City for professional service contracts.
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: VANESSA APLON-LETSON By: Enzo Mungu Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of Business Opportunity had to make major adjustments, including taking its in-person workshops to a virtual space. In OBO’s Certification Division, Senior Business Development Coordinator Vanessa Aplon–Letson, who has worked with OBO since March 2007,
HR Green’s work with the City includes floodplain management, stormwater drainage and paving projects, lift station renewal and replacement, and other improvements to wastewater treatment plants. “Our overall intent is to always go beyond what is required, and we are focused on providing meaningful assignment opportunities, not just exceeding utilization goals,” said Eric Hall, Regional Director, Water, for HR Green. “Our ability to exceed our MWBE participation goals stems from the collaborative relationships of trust that we have built with small, minority-owned firms. When a bid solicitation comes up, it’s easy for us to find a preferred partner
stepped in to implement measures which enabled the program to remain active. In addition to processing applications for the six certifications provided by OBO and helping train new certification team employees, Aplon-Letson also recorded online certification workshop videos for on-demand viewing, conducted site audits via virtual interface, and handled administrative duties. Aplon recently shared her thoughts about what drives her caGo to APLON-LETSON, page 5
IMPP, which was cancelled this year due to COVID-19, is set to resume in 2021. The program is a collaboration among the City of Houston, the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County (METRO), Houston Independent School District, Port Houston, Houston Community College, and Houston First Corporation. “A lot of firms exceed participation goals like we do, but there is a shorter list of companies that are willing to commit to formal agreements like IMPP,” Hall said. “Involvement in this program will further solidify our commitment to MWBE participation, and we are always looking for ways in which to help smaller companies become our strategic partners.” About HR Green: Founded in 1913, HR Green is one of the nation’s longest-operating engineering firms. Its Houston office has been serving the region since 1977, and the company now employs more than 500 professionals across the nation. HR Green is united in its mission to build communities and improve lives. To learn more about HR Green, go to www.hrgreen.com.
