Winter 2021 | Insights to Opportunity
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OBO ACCOLADES
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or its leadership and commitment to the advancement of the minority and small business community, the Office of Business Opportunity was honored with the 2021 Strategic Partner of the Year Award by the Greater Houston Business Procurement Forum during its 30th Annual Awards Ceremony.
GRADS ON LOCATION: The 2021 Turner School of Construction Management cohort visited an active Turner Contruction site along with Dr. Porscha Jackson from the Office of Business Opportunity, and representatives from Turner Construction Company, including Andrew Reno.
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Online for Application Info Continued from page 3 of Transportation’s Small Business Transportation Resource Center. Vice Mayor Pro Tem Martha CastexTatum of Houston City Council District K, who delivered welcome remarks, spoke to participants about the program’s benefits and the procurement opportunities available in the future. “This program will help prepare you to take advantage of the billions of dollars that the City and the federal government will spend on construction projects in this region over the next few years,” she said. “You will be able to expand your networks within the contracting community, and you will get firsthand knowledge about how to manage growth and pain points in this industry.”
Turner School of Construction Management The Office of Business Opportunity celebrated the 2021 cohort of the Turner School of Construction Management with a graduation ceremony on Nov. 16 at the Houston Community College Alief Hayes campus. The event returned to an in-person format this year. In planning the program, OBO and Turner Construction Company considered new
OBO Director Marsha E. Murray also recieved accolades for her leadership in 2021. In September, she was named a Woman of Excellence for her contributions to the Greater Houston community during the Ruby Jubilee celebration of the Federation of Houston Professional Women, pictured below.
ways to make it the most impactful for participants. While the class was held in a virtual format with more than 60 participants last year, the 2021 cohort was reduced to 17 in order to introduce a more personalized and hands-on curriculum. Also new in 2021 was a visit to an active Turner construction site at a KIPP campus to see business being done the “Turner Way.” For 30 years, Turner Construction Company has maintained a strong and steady partnership with the City of Houston, allowing men and women in construction and related industries to find many opportunities to grow and win more contracts because of this educational outreach program. “I am confident that your business acumen has become stronger with new and refreshed knowledge of managerial, technical and administrative skills,” said OBO Director Marsha E. Murray to the 2021 cohort as she delivered congratulatory remarks on graduation day. “May everything you have learned from Turner School assist you in developing strategic business relationships and growing your network.” For more about Turner School of Construction Management, go to houstontx.gov/obo and click on Business Development Programs or contact Dr. Porscha Jackson, Business Development Manager, at Porscha. Jackson@houstontx.gov.
In December, Director Murray was also honored with the 2021 Legacy Maker Award for blazing a trail of leadership and service for others to come. This award was presented by Walker’s Legacy and the African American Mayors Association. Also in December, OBO External Affairs Manager Pearl K. Cajoles received recognition from Mayor Sylvester Turner for her hard work, dedication and service to the City of Houston. She is pictured below with Mayor Turner and Director Murray, who nominated her for the award.
