MBE/EDGE Subcommittee Meeting
02/09/2010
Minutes
In attendance: Betty Anzaldua, Tom Bebley, Lawrence Burns, Shanda Gore,
Erik Johnson (guest), Gary Johnson, Greg Jones, Chuck Lehnert (guest), Kara Mominee, Karl
Parker, Jennifer Pastorek, Megan Reichert-Kral, Lorie Sarnes, Allen Seifert (guest), Debbe
Skutch, Jacob Studer (guest), Mark Urrutia, David Wood
Mr. Burns welcomed subcommittee guest Mr. Allen Seifert, Director of Capital and Construction
Resources and Erik Johnson, MCBAP Coordinator. Mr. David Wood, MCBAP Director will be
taking place of Mr. George Robinson on the subcommittee.
Dr. Gore walked through the minutes covering action items from the last meeting. Mr. Burns
stated that he received the written description of the Minority Contractors Assistance Program
(MCAP) from Mr. Paul Toth, and will provide to Dr. Jacobs.
Action Item: Mr. Burns will forward to Ms. Mominee to disseminate the written description out
to group members. (Attached)
Dr. Gore provided an update on the Minority Business Incubator and stated that she now has
verbal commitments from two more companies to move in for early to mid March. She relayed
that this now brings the incubator to full capacity. Dr. Gore thanked everyone on the committee
and stated that a lot of the success has come from both promotions and word-of-mouth
recommendations. Current Incubator companies include:
1. Cosine Technical Group, LLC – Oona Temple
2. Toledo African-American Bureau of Commerce – Vince Wiggins
3. Northwest Ohio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce – Gary Johnson
4. Hexistor Data Protection Services – Andrew Schmidt
5. KPGL Global Energy Resources, Inc. – Lee Russell
6. Bebley Enterprises – Tom Bebley
7. Peak Electric – Milton McIntyre
Mr. Burns invited Mr. Seifert to present. Mr. Seifert indicated that he works with both the
University and athletic enterprises to develop both of the budgets and manage to make sure to
stay within budgets. Mr. Seifert stated they his department has five different sources of capital
that they manage within the University and clinical enterprise:
1.
Locally-funded capital is the funding of operations. In any given year, the goal is to fund
the depreciation, which is usually able to be done.
2.
State capital is for repairs and renovation projects that facilities manage.
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3.
Grants are associated with some amount of capital development. If the program is a large
program, there is a need to build space or buy equipment that is specific to the program
then there is money set aside for that piece of the grant.
4.
Bond money is typically money that UT would externally borrow to fund strategic
initiatives, large initiatives. Large bonds include Savage Hall renovation and Memorial
Field House.
5.
The last category is the UT Foundation which does a lot of gifting. In many instances a
benefactor will donate a certain amount towards a project.
Mr. Seifert stated that with large projects it is not always one source of capital that covers the
project and that there could be many different sources covering one project.
Mr. Burns stated to Mr. Seifert that one of the thoughts the committee had is to allow minorityowned businesses to be aware of projects coming up and be able to provide those businesses with
the opportunity for work.
Mr. Burns provided an example that the External Affairs department at The University of Toledo
is currently working on a large printing project. Mr. Burns explained that he came to the
subcommittee and asked the group if they knew of a qualified minority-owned business to
complete the project. Mr. Burns questioned if the University can do something similarly with a
capital project. Mr. Seifert assured that this is certainly doable, but a way to do this will have to
be discussed.
Mr. Lehnert stated that there is a five-year look ahead for deferred maintenance and a six-year
look ahead for the state. With this in mind, companies can see future projects in advance. Mr.
Burns asked if Mr. Lehnert had the list of future projects.
Action Item: Mr. Lehnert will forward future projects to Mr. Burns to distribute to the
subcommittee.
Mr. Wood requested that it would be a good idea for minority contractors who have the ability to
perform to start creating and developing relationships. If the minority businesses know when the
bidding is coming and they form these relationships, then they could be seriously considered
because UT will know what they do and what kind of work they have done. Ms. Pastorek stated
that this can definitely be done.
Mr. Johnson included that having the future projects available for minority businesses to see
would be a great opportunity for businesses. Mr. Johnson stated that Mr. Howard Hilliard who
works in the UT Purchasing department has done a great job with this by bringing in minority
owned businesses to pre-bidding meetings and introducing them to the contractors building a
strong relationship between the two.
Mr. Urrutia stated that the University is more increasingly committed to helping small local
minority businesses and being involved in the community. With this committee’s help, he asked
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that the committee make goals and guidelines to how to do this. Mr. Urrutia also suggested that
the contracts be broken up and split among minority-owned businesses.
Mr. Urrutia stated that the committee needs to strive towards better inclusiveness. The key is to
find some strategies that we can utilize to help us be more inclusive. Mr. Burns answered that
this is why there are many different people at the table, and that himself and the committee will
continue to invite people that will help in reaching the committees goals and strategies.
Mr. Burns inquired if UT would have the ability to choose a minority owned business rather than
the lowest bidder for a contract. Mr. Lehnert and Ms. Pastorek stated that this would not be able
to be done because it is required by the state to go with the company with the lowest bid.
Mr. Lehnert suggested that now that the MB Incubator is open, a tri-fold needs to be put together
that lists all the Incubator companies that can be handed out. Since UT is required by law to
participate with EDGE it would be beneficial to have a list of all EDGE certified companies to
hand out to contractors.
Action Item: Mr. Burns and Dr. Gore agreed and will pursue this idea once the companies have
officially moved in.
Mr. Lehnert suggested putting together a seminar about how to do business with The University
of Toledo. The seminar would include information about the bidding process, what kind of
information companies should have, and how to work with the Website. At the same meeting, it
would be a great time to co-mingle all contractors, engineers, and other professions.
Action Item: Dr. Gore and Ms. Mominee will begin the planning process for this.
Ms. Skutch indicated that The Center for Family and Privately-Held Business is doing a lot of
what Mr. Lehnert talked about including affinity groups and mini forums.
Ms. Reichert-Kral stated that holding another UT and MCBAP event would be a good idea in
order for these groups to meet and build relationships. A lot of the topics that Mr. Lehnert talked
about previously could be discussed at this event as well.
Dr. Gore stated that if any committee members know of any companies that have not already
been brought to the table, then to please let the group know. Dr. Gore indicated that although the
Incubator is full, there is still the opportunity to use the resources and services associated with
the Incubator.
Mr. Johnson suggested that Ms. Sarnes or someone from facilities come in and work with
MCBAP on the training program.
Mr. Burns suggested that the group bring in a different company from the Incubator at each
meeting and include them on the agenda.
Action Item: Ms. Mominee will work on contacting each MB Incubator company to set up a
subcommittee meeting for them to attend.
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Ms. Skutch also indicated that she would like to have the chance to meet with each company to
discuss the Center and its benefits.
Mr. Parker reminded the subcommittee that the 2nd Annual MBE Electrical Industry Summit will
be on Friday, February 26, 2010 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Mott Branch Library. Please
email Mr. Parker at karl.parker@parkerenterprisesllc.com if you have any questions.
The meeting concluded. The next meeting will be on March 9, 2010 at 12:00 noon in the
Scott Park VIP room.
Please mark your calendars with the following
2010 MBE/EDGE Subcommittee meeting dates:
March 9 at Noon
April 13 at Noon
May 11 at Noon
June 8 at Noon
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