lune 19, 2013
jJn rt lattò CObseruer
Page 19
Reaching Out for Equity
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 3
vices to carry out the work, the
business is awarded with a con
tract.
Portland’s leaders in govern
ment, however, have pushed for
even greater participation from
minority business firms that are
desperately underutilized, offi
cials said.
“Oregon hasn’t necessarily
been the friendliest to minority
and women-owned businesses”
says Moody who has been with
the city for 18 years.
Portland has made a concen
trated effort to expand the diver
sity of the firms receiving these
contracts through their Minority
Evaluator Program.
Started in late 2009, the pro
and Christine Moody o f Portland Procurement Services work for strong relationships with minority andwoman-
gram requires all the city’s bu TlffaniPf nson
reaus to include at least one owned businesses as a crucial element to the city’s growth.
minority evaluator in the pro
Penson and Moody both
cess of procurement contract agree that having these kinds
• Fam ily Law
ing.
of strong contracting relation
• Bankruptcy
Tiffani Penson is in charge of ships with minority and women
• C rim inal Law
outreach to these communities owned businesses is nearly as
• E xpungem ents
as the head of the program.
important for the owners as it
• Animal Law
She said the effort includes is for the city.
meetings with African, Latino,
• R eal E state M atters
“Whether you’re a contrac
and Native-American leaders tor or just as a person, you’re
• W ills & T rusts
and the groups promoting mi different and I think that bring
• P robate
nority businesses, like the Or ing that to the table is going to
PC
egon Association of Minority help the city do things differ
Entrepreneurs and Hispanic ently.” Moody says
Metropolitan Chamber.
“We want to see everybody
"y-y H
It is outreach like this, Penson thriving and not just a certain
says, that is allowing Procure segment of the population.” she
ment Services to better under adds.
stand the needs of these busi
You can learn more about
nesses and giving them the tools Procurement Services and con
(503) 288-5522
to grow with them.
tracting opportunities by visiting
Jacqueline Lawson, owner port 1 andoregon. go v.
3537 N. Williams Avenue, Suite 101
of social media startup Hot
w w w .petersonlevine.com
and Mobile says contracting
with Procurement Services has
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helped her understand the “lay
of the land” businesswise.
Lawson, who has done busi
ness across the states, says
Preston and Moody are re
sponsible for one of the best
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