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: