October 10,1990-"M in o rity Business Enterprises-- Page 3a
Benge Named Minority
Small Business Person of Year
Scou Benge, President o f Benge
Construction Company, has been named
as the Minority Small Business Person
o f the Year by the Small Business A d­
ministration, Portland District Office.
Each year the SBA honors an outstand­
ing minority business person, whose
selection is based on successful business
development and community involve­
ment.
Benge Construction Company is a
four year old firm involved in heavy
construction with specialties in asphalt
paving, underground utilities and site
grading. Since establishing this firm in
1985, Mr. Benge has been successful in
substantially increasing sales for each
year in business, and in the past year
showed an increase of over 200% over
the prior year, achieving almost $5 m il­
lion in revenues.
Mr. Benge attributes the rapid growth
o f the company to the existence o f the
G overnm ent’s minority business pro­
grams which gave the firm the opportu­
nity to prove itself. Once given this op ­
portunity, the company delivered by
providing top quality work and timely
performance. Mr. Benge estim ates that
when he started the firm about 90% of
the jobs came as a result o f his minority
business status. Now he indicates that
it's down to about 40% , and that much
o f his business now comes as a result of
the reputation o f the firm and its ability
to compete in the marketplace.
Mr. Benge has also been cited for
his substantial community involvement,
which includes serving as Co-Chair of
the Oregon Department o f Transporta­
tion’s Emerging Small Business C om ­
mittee, member o f the Metropolitan
Service District’s Minority Business Com­
mittee, past President o f the local chap­
ter of the Associated General C ontrac­
tors and past Chair of the AGC Minority
Business Committee. O ther activites
include working on the construction of
O regon’s Vietnam W ar Memorial, and
serving as a presenter at Portland State
U niversity’s Minority Student Week.
Mr. Benge and other minority busi­
ness persons will be recognized at the
Annual Minority Enterprise Develop­
ment Week Luncheon, held to com ­
memorate National Minority Enterprise
Development Week. This year the lunch­
eon will be held at the Red Lion, Jantzen
Beach on October 10. Tickets for the
luncheon, which will feature former New
Mexico Governor Toney Anaya, can be
obtained by contacting Impact, Inc. (503)
245-9253.
"At the banquet table of nature
there are no reserved seats.
You get what you can take,
and you keep what you can
hold. If you can't take anything,
you won't get anything; and if
you can't hold anything, you
won't keep anything.
Protect yourself
against BIG
LOSSES and
COSTLY
REPAIRS.
Call Levi Russell
289-3648
COBBLERS
t
&
Tastiest Pastries
M y name is Levi Russell. I am an ex­
perienced housing rehabilitation spe­
cialist and home remodeling inspector.
I advise homeowners in making im­
provements to their homes, correcting
code violations, selection and quality of
materials, selection of contractors, and
estimating cost of improvements.
I also perform house inspections for
home buyers. For more Information,
call 289-3648.
Cason’s Fine Meats
Specials
Pork Chitterlings $7.99/bucket
Louisiana Channel Cat $3.99/Ib.
Cleaned Chitterlings $20.00 (please call
in advance)
Pork Spareribs $1.89/lb.
Beef Ox Tails $1.89/Ib.
Red Snapper $1.89/lb.
Buffalo $2.99/lb.
And you can't take anything'
without organization."
A. Philip Randolph
specials good until October 18th
7406 N. Vancouver Ave.
Phone: 285-4750
Disadvantaged Business
Enterprise Program
It is the policy of the Clark County Public Transportation Benefit
Area Authority (dba C-TRAN) to encourage Disadvantaged Busi­
ness Enterprise (DBE) participation on all C-TRAN projects. There­
fore, C-TRAN maintains a DBE Program based upon Department of
Transportation (DOT) Rule 49, CFR, Part 23, and directives of the
Urban Mass Transportation Administration (UMTA) Office of Civil
Rights.
The overall goal of C-TRAN’S DBE Program is to ensure that DBEs
are given the maximum opportunity to participate in all projects.
Specifically, C-TRAN is securing a minimum of 15% Disadvan­
taged Business Enterprise partiepation in all procurement opportu­
nities.
The Procurement and Grants Manager, acting as the DBE Program
Coordinator, is responsible for monitoring the DBE program, insur­
ing Program compliance with federal and state guidelines, and solic­
iting DBE participation in all procurements. All Departmental Di­
rectors assume responsibility for DBE Program compliance within
their department. DBEs are welcome and encouraged to apply for C-
TRAN certification in order to facilitate participation in any present
and future contracting opportunities.
Ms. Sandy French, Procurement and Grants Manager
C-TRAN
P.O. Box 2529
Vancouver, Washington 98668
(206) 696-4494
054Ñ
PIES
Catering & Special Orders
Business ( 503 >774-6149 -287-1763
Nero and Associates Discusses
Changes in Black Community
Nero and Associates, Inc. (NAI)
congratulates the Portland O bserver on
twenty years of publication, serving both
the Portland Black community and the
entire City of Roses.
“ W hat’s in it for us?” How does
the Portland Observer help the Black
community? How does it help the city?
Black-oriented newspapers give their
readership the opportunity to see daily
events from the point of view of other
Blacks, in contrast to the more sterilized
views o f our local television stations and
regional newspaper.
Minority-oriented newspapers pro­
vide a forum for the minority com m u­
nity to express its views without hesita­
tion. We can view and discuss the
progress and vitality of our community,
as well as address the solutions to prob­
lems of crime, drugs, prostitution, and
broken families, without the political
expediency of others diminishing our
voices.
W e can no longer afford to ask,
“ W hat’s in it for m e?” W e must ask,
“ W hat’s in it for us? How do minorities
benefit? How does the entire Portland
community benefit?” If we do not do
this, we stand the risk o f being seen as
self-centered, self-righteous, and unre­
sponsive to others--precisely the quali­
ties seen by many in today’s mainstream
society and governm ent
NAI encourages the Portland O b­
server and all Portlanders, w hatever race
or ethnic group, to join in an effort to
improve ourselves and our relations with
others. W ithout the ability and w illing­
ness to cooperate, no actions we take as
individuals or small groups can have a
lasting impact to cause positive change.
W e must improve our educational
system to provide equal opportunity, fi­
nancially as well as academ ically. We
must change our aid and social welfare
programs to encourage families to come
together and stay together. W e must
improve our legal system to promote the
concepts of fairness and consistency in
enforcement, and compassion in provid­
ing alternatives to those and only those
who can and are willing to be helped
through education, training and counsel­
ing.
“ W hat’s in it for us?” Hopefully, a
society in which we can all live, without
daily fear o f crime, violence, drugs, fam­
ily disintegration, and hatred. O new hich
responds to our humanity, rather than
our inhumanity. O ne which helps rather
than hinders, tears down walls instead of
building them, shows caring rather than
apathy.
T hat’s a lot of “ in it” for all of us.
Support Minority Businesses—
They Care, Share, Contribute
Nero and Associates, Inc. salutes Portland's minority
and women businesses on the 20th anniversary of
Portland's Black voice, the Portland Observer.
Minority and women businesses employ more minorities
than non-minority businesses. They are willing and able
to work with other minority community members to
improve the conditions of minorities, individually and as
families. Many provide services in the old-fashioned
neighborhood style and are located in the communities
they serve, offering a caring alternative to the sterile
mainstream marketplace.
Nero and Associates has been minority-owned and
headquartered in Portland since its founding 20 years
ago. We understand and support the minority and
women owned businesses of Portland.
Support minority businesses. Support small businesses
and the neighborhood staff they employ.
They care about your neighborhood and the Portland
minority community as a whole; they share in our
dreams and hopes for a better tomorrow; and they
contribute jobs and personal service to all of us.
David M. Nero, Jr.
C.E.O./Chairman
X ncro
and associates, inc
Serving Portland
for 20 Years
520 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1250
(503) 223-4150
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