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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“Not only have I done well,
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but many others who have uti­
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