Minority & Small Business Week
PageA20
September 24. 2 00 8
Governor Encourages
Diverse Workforce
Orders agencies to get creative
G ov. T ed K ulongoski has
sig n e d an e x e c u tiv e o rd e r
w hich directs agencies to co n ­
tinue to im prove affirm ative
action efforts and outlines tools
agencies can use to create a
m ore inclusive w ork e n v iro n ­
m ent.
T he recent executive order
builds on an executive order
issued by the G overnor in 2005
and updates agencies w ith in­
form ation on program s that
will lead to a m ore inclusive
w ork environm ent.
“ S ta te g o v e rn m e n t m ust
P hot «» by M ark W ashin «; ton /T he P ortland O bserver
Business Diversity on 42nd Avenue
Several Northeast 42nd Avenue area businesses participate in the first Saturday Marketplace at MeRae's
on 42nd, a multicultural full service salon at 5842 N.E. 42nd Ave. Pictured (from left) are James Dixon
o f Dixon's Rib Pit; Marie Larkins, MeRae's stylist and owner; Phyllis Spaulding o f Stage Struck; Rick
Bronson o f Professional Pest Control Supplies; and Milane Cremeans o f Curvy Girls Clothing.
International Trade Guide Now in Spanish
A pop u lar guide to ex p o rt­
ing published by the U.S. Small
B usiness A dm inistration has
been translated into Spanish
a n d isa v a ila b le o n S B A 's W eb
site.
“ B reaking into the T rade
Game: A Small Business Guide
to E x p o rtin g ” w as translated
by A rg en tin a’s C h am b er o f
E x p o rte rs an d w ill be d is ­
se m in a te d as a jo in t e ffo rt
b e tw e e n th e A r g e n tin e a n
C h a m b e r an d th e S m all and
M edium E n terp rise C on g ress
o f th e A m e ric a s on In te rn a ­
tio n al T rad e.
BREAKING INTO THE
TRADE GAME
A Smill Bu»ln»»« Quid* Io Eipordng
Jlj 1
Sandy K. Baruah
“ In our global econom y,
tra d e a m o n g n a tio n s has
proven a leading factor in eco-
V » MBtil »»Bil* .UBUWFH1M
nom ic developm ent and jo b
grow th. For small businesses,
learning how to break into the
international trade gam e is a
m ust to m ake them m ore
com petitive,” said SB A A ct­
ing A d m inistrator Sandy K.
B a r u a h . “ W e a r e v e ry
pleased that this translation
will m ake this invaluable tool
a v a ila b le to th o u sa n d s o f
businesses in our hem isphere,
including the m any S panish­
speaking entrepreneurs in the
U .S., and w e thank those
w ho m ade it p ossible.”
“ B reaking into the T rade
G am e: A S m all B usin ess
G uide to E xporting” is av ail­
able online at sb a.g o v /o it.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski
State agencies need to foster an
inclusive work environment and
continue to take all steps available to
them to create a diverse workforce...
- Gov. Ted Kulongoski
respect the rights o f all e m ­
p l o y e e s ,”
G o v e rn o r
K ulongoski said. “State a g en ­
cies need to foster an inclusive
w ork en v ironm ent and c o n ­
tinue to ta k e a ll steps available
to them to create a diverse
w orkforce and ensure em ploy­
ees are respected and treated
fairly.”
T he ex ecutive o rd er directs
agencies to review affirm a­
tive action plans and e n co u r­
a g e s th e m to w o rk w ith
G o v e rn o r’s A ffirm ative A c­
tion O ffice to continue training
designed to im prove em p lo y ­
e e s’ skills and com petency in
m anaging affirm ative action
and diversity issues.
T he ex ecutive o rd er also
enco u rag es agencies to use
an exit interview process d e ­
veloped w ith the D epartm ent
o f A dm inistrative S ervices to
offer state em ployees the o p ­
portunity to provide feedback
on th eir experiences in their
em ploym ent before m oving to
another agency or job.
T he D epartm ent o f A dm in­
istrative Services will also con­
duct periodic audits on m an­
a g e m e n t e f f e c tiv e n e s s in
achieving specific agency af­
firm ative action goals.
“T his executive order will
strengthen o u r efforts to open
the doors for m any O reg o ­
nians that have traditionally
faced barriers o f gaining e m ­
ploym ent o r advancing in the
w orkplace,” K ulongoski said.
“ W e can achieve the goals o f
a diverse w orkforce through
open m inds and acom m itm ent
to an inclusive culture in state
g o v ern m en t.”
The City of Portland,
Multnomah County, and Metro
Grow
want your small business
to be successful.
1
We have several programs to help minority, women
and emerging small business owners reach the
goals they've set out to achieve. Contact us about
contracting opportunities for both construction
companies and professional services consultants.
CITY OF PORTLAND:
Bureau of Purchases - Greg Wolley
503-957-0024 • gwolley@ci.portland.or.us
www.portlandonline.com/omf/purchases
^3J Bureau of
Development
.
S S j Services
P ortland
T ransportation
MULTNOMAH COUNTY OREGON
Bureau of Development Services
Tiffani Penson • 503-823-1109
tiffani.penson@ci.portland.or.us
www.portlandonline.com/bds
Office of Transportation Richard Gray
503-823-5250 • richard.gray@pdxtrans.org
www.portlandonline.com/transportation
MULTNOMAH COUNTY:
Robert L. Fields • 503-988-5111, xt. 22769
robert.l.fields@co.multnomah.or.us
www.multcopurch.org
METRO:
Angela Watkins • 503-797-1816
angela.watkins@oregonmetro.gov
www.metro-region.org