Minority Business Business Opportunities on Formula 1 Focus of March 28th Economic Perspectives

Hopeton Hay interviews Cloteal Haynes about contracting opportunities for minority and women-owned firms on the construction of the new Formula 1 race track in Austin, Texas on Economic Perspectives on Monday, March 28^th, at 5:30pm. Listen live at KAZI 88.7 FM Austin or online here: KAZIFM.org. Haynes’s firm, HEW, was hired by the developers of the Formula 1 facility to assist with the Minority-owned and Women-owned Business Enterprise (MBE/WBE) Procurement Program outreach to contractors

Developers will work closely with Haynes, HEW managing partner, who will be responsible for developing the MBE/WBE plan for the multipurpose venue that is scheduled to host its first event in 2012. In addition to assisting with outreach to local firms and minority contractor associations,  Haynes will assist in preparing MBE/WBE participation reports for the project and participate in meetings with City officials throughout the course of this project.

“The Formula 1 project represents a tremendous economic development opportunity for our city and I am excited to work with this team who is clearly committed to diversity in the construction of these world-class facilities,” said Ms. Haynes.

Haynes-Eaglin-Waters (HEW) provides general construction, construction management and MBE/WBE program management services. Established in February, 1988, the company is owned by Cloteal Davis Haynes and Kirk L. Waters who have a combined total of over 60 years experience in the construction and program management industry. Ms. Haynes has served as the M/WBE program manager for several notable Austin-area projects, including the City of Austin Water Treatment Plant No. 4, the Seaholm Plaza Development and the AISD School Bond Construction Programs for 1996, 2002, 2004 and 2008. Haynes has a masters degree from LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin.  She is also a graduate of Leadership Austin.

The Formula 1 United States Grand PrixTM 3.4-mile circuit combines modern features with details reminiscent of traditional races from the 1960’s. The surrounding landscape will allow for a maximum elevation change of 133 feet, a feature that is sure to please drivers as well as fans. In addition, the circuit includes a strategic combination of over 20 turns, including variations of classic corners such as Istanbul Turn 8, Maggots–Becketts–Chapel and Hockenheimring’s Stadium Section. The multifunctional facility, hosting the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, is ideally situated on a 900-acre site in southeast Austin along the SH 130 corridor near FM 812.

For more information, visit www.formula1unitedstates.com.

PODCAST AVAILABLE: How Leader Helps Increase Corporate Business Opportunities for Minority Businesses

The interview with Harriet Michel, president of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), from the April 19 edition of Economic Perspectives on KAZI 88.7 FM is now available for download.   To download her interview click: Harriet Michel Interview.  The interview is 19 minutes long and available as an MP3 file.  Michel was honored for Black History Month this year as an African American Economic Trailblazer by Economic Perspectives.

Providing a direct link between corporate America and minority-owned businesses is the primary objective of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, one of the country’s leading business membership organizations. It was chartered in 1972 to provide increased procurement and business opportunities for minority businesses of all sizes.

The NMSDC Network includes a National Office in New York and 37 regional councils across the country. There are 3,500 corporate members throughout the network, including most of America’s largest publicly-owned, privately-owned and foreign-owned companies, as well as universities, hospitals and other buying institutions. The regional councils certify and match more than 15,000 minority owned businesses (Asian, Black, Hispanic and Native American) with member corporations which want to purchase goods and services.

When it comes to helping African American and other minority businesses sell to Corporate America, no one does it better than Michel .  Under Harriet Michel’s leadership since 1988, the National Minority Supplier Development Council corporate members spent over $100 billion with minority firms in 2008.  With 3,500 corporate and 17,000 minority business members in its network, Michel has helped establish supplier diversity as a core business value in Corporate America.

Upcoming Interviews on KAZI Book Review & Economic Perspectives March 28 & 29

KAZI Book Review Sunday, March 28, 12:30 p.m. – 1 p.m.
Deborah Douglas, author of RIPE: Harvesting the Value of Your Business – Douglas will discuss how to position your company to sell it to a larger company for maximum profit.

Douglas is managing director of Douglas Group, one of the country’s most successful middle-market investment banking firms.  Douglas Group has successfully sold middle market companies for 17 years.  She began her career as an audit partner with Deloitte Touche, a major international CPA firm, where she became one of the first female partners in the firm’s history.  Douglas later headed Deloitte’s Midwest Merger and Acquisition Group.   She has served as President of the National Accounting Association and Chairman of the Missouri State Board of Accountancy, and served on the Missouri Society of CPA’s Executive Committee.

Economic Perspectives Monday, March 29, 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Ryan Robinson, Austin Demographer, City of Austin – Ryan will discuss the importance of the 2010 census and demographic trends in the Austin area.

Cecilia Estolano, Chief Strategist for Green for All – Estolano will discuss how investments in clean energy and cleantech can not only get America back to work, but create career ladders to the middle class for low-income communities and people of color.

Prior to joining Green For All, Ms. Estolano served as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles.  (CRA/LA). With an annual budget of over $726 million and a work program covering 32 project areas throughout the City of Los Angeles, CRA/LA is the largest redevelopment agency in the State of California. As CEO, Ms. Estolano redefined the role of CRA/LA to encompass a broad mission of creating economic opportunity and improving the quality of life for current and future generations living in CRA/LA project areas.

Listen live online at kazifm.org

Strategies for Finding and Keeping Employment During Tough Times

Eric Bell

Despite the recession coming to an end, job opportunities are few and far between.  Experienced human resource executive Eric Bell will discuss how to find employment and stay employed during tough economic times on the February 15 edition of Economic Perspectives, 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. central time on KAZI 88.7 FM.  Listen live online at kazifm.org.

Bell is the College Program Manager/ Senior Corporate Recruiter for Farm Credit Bank of Texas headquartered in Austin, Texas.  He has 13 years experience in human resources.  Prior to joining Farm Credit Bank, Bell spent 5 years as an human resources professional at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport where he was named employee of the year in 2001.

Bell has developed a number of innovative programs to increase diversity since joining Farm Credit Bank in 2005.  He created a  diversity recruitment strategy for Farm Credit Credit Bank that includes its first internship and mentor programs that focused on diversity.  Bell also developed and currently manages The Farm Credit Bank of Texas Scholarship and Partnership Program which provides significant support to minority college students .   The program contributes over a $100,000 dollars each year toward students pursuing their degrees in the business or financial fields at 23 colleges and universities including 17 predominantly Black or Hispanic institutions.