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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 24, 2008)
Page A B September 24, 2008 Local Electrician Builds Own Business trie, Inc. W orking as a subcontractor at the light rail project's future field offices, Malary learned from Stacy and W itbeck, one of TriM et’s prime Mall project contractors, just how big the electrical portion of the project would be. He also learned o f T riM et’s repu tation forencouraging disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) firms to bid for subcontracting work. TriM et’s DBE effort began with the Yellow Line on Interstate Av enue. DBE firms, including several from the local impact area, received a substantial portion of the overall 19 percent o f the contracting funds, totaling $36 mil lion. And at just over the halfway point in the Mall project, DBE subcontractors accounted for $20 million in contract value through June of this year. W hen he learned o f the subcon- tra c tin g o p p o rtu n itie s on th e project, M alary sprang into ac- Union mentorship leads to subcontracting J ohn F all F or the P ortland O bserver bv Jean M alary has com e a long way, both geographically and pro fessionally to find success in the world o f construction. Not just any construction, either, but the most visible construction site in the region— the Portland Mall Light Rail Project. Not long after his journey from Haiti led him to the Portland area, he began working as an electrician. “ 1 worked for various com panies and a local union,” M alary recalls. He soon connected with the larger network o f electricians by joining the International Brotherhood of E le c tr ic a l W o rk e rs , w h e re a m entorship program initiated him to subcontracting. In 2004. he started his own business, Affordable Elec- 4 mentorship program through the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers introduced electrician Jean Malary to the world of subcontracting. State Labor Com m issioner Brad Avakian announced last week that O regon’s minimum wage will increase by 45-cents per hour next year. The 5.37 percent increase in the cost o f living will bring the state’s minimum hourly wage to $8.40, effective Jan. 1. As a result o f Ballot M ea sure 25, passed by voters in 2002, the minimum wage is adjusted annually based on changes in inflation as m ea sured by the Consum er Price rounded to the nearest five cents. The new wage becomes effective the following Janu ary. "By helping workers and their families preserve their purchasing power in difficult times, our strong minimum wage law also benefits our local economies, where work ers spend most o f their pay- checks,” Avakian said. M inim um wage w orkers represent about 7.5 percent of Brad Avakian O re g o n ’s w o rk fo rc e and 143,000 individuals struggle to Index. The Oregon C om m issioner support them selves and their o f the Bureau o f Labor and families on these wages. Industries is charged with ad Several other states, includ justing the minimum wage for continued on page A 19 inflation every Septem ber, 1 ' Construction CoJOR www.walshconstructionco.com Proud to partner with CJ Jackson Construction Co. and Faison Construction Co. to build the Humboldt Gardens community. For subcontracting and employment opportunities, contact Carols n Wilson at 503-793-6824. WORKSHOPS SCHEDULE Join us to celebrate and recognize outstanding minority-owned businesses in Oregon and Southwest Washington at the annual MED Week awards luncheon and trade show at the Oregon Convention Center, 777 NE Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. WEDNESDAY 10/01 8:00-9:45 A.M. AT OCC 777 NE MLK, JR. BLVD. PORTLAND TARGET Diversity Practitioners and M/WESB Program Administrators, Owners; Private and Public promoting Diversity TOPIC Diversity Leadership. Develop skills to aid Diversity Professionals and Owners at becoming Change Agents within their organizational culture. Learn to enhance the impact of your Diversity Program, internally and externally. Get your booth early! MED WEEK MINORITY ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT WEEK RECEPTION, TRAINING, LUNCHEON & TRADE SHOW TRADE SHOW: 10:00 AM -3 :0 0 PM A great opportunity for you to showcase your products TARGET Minority, Women, and Emerging Small Business Firms awards luncheon attendees. Purchase of a booth includes two tickets to the awards luncheon. AWARDS LUNCHEON: 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM owned businesses in Oregon and Southwest W ashing ton. O u r keynote speaker this y ear is Mr. R onald Langston. He is the National Director for the US Dept of Com m erce Minority Business Development Agency. RECEPTION: 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM Portland. OR 97232 Host Sponsor: Portland Development Commission THURSDAY 10/02 3:00 -5:00 P.M. AT 0AME 4134 N VANCOUVER AVE, PORTLAND TOPIC Successfully Fulfilling Diversity Goals. Learn about Diversity programs and techniques for successful imple mentation. Does your company or agency have projects with aspirational goals or a diversity program? Come share and learn how to create a "win, win" environment on your project. EVENT INFORMATION For more event information, please contact: National Director o f the M inority Business Development JERRY WALKER AT 5O3.8O2.85O9 Agency Under the Bush Administration TOPIC Sales; "Closing the Deal." At this exciting and dynamic event, develop sales and marketing techniques that benefit M/W/ESB firms in the competitive business market. Learn how to increase your company's income and have a great time in the process! TARGET Private and Public Owner/Contractor; Project Managers, Purchasing Agents, Superintendents and Engineers At the Crowne Plaza Hotel. 1441 NE 2nd Avenue. RONALD LANGSTON WEDNESDAY 10/013:00-5:00 P.M. AT OCC 777 NE MLK. JR. BLVD, PORTLAND and/or services to an estim ated audience of over 5(M) The awards luncheon showcases outstanding minority- THIS Y EA R 'S KEYNOTE SPEAKER on page A 19 Building Partnerships to Build Our Community é à WALSH Minimum Wage Increase Coming 45-cent increase tied to inflation continued jerry w2 @ hapd x .org WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 1 2 0 0 8 ’ 10A M —3PM LEANNE BROWN AT 503.962.2213 brownl@trimet.org BDIWEB.ORG THANK YOU 2008 SPONSORS I o * «I r n i P o rtlan d C o m m u n ity C o lin q<? REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED for these classes. Contact Cinna mon Brannon Williams at Clnnam onW @ hapdx.org to sign up. More information at bdiweb.org. Or goto OREGON CONVENTION CENTER 777 NE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BLVD. PORTLAND, OREGON T R IM M E T Attendance at these trainings is priced extremely low ($10) and is intended to add value to the training. Pay on-line or at the door. Refreshments shall be provided. i I * - ------•'IDENCE T u rn e r QuAJinu ’6« F.J* urn SKANSKA US Army Corps of Engineers i PIM: