Latimer Forms MWBE Task Force
A Minority and Women Owned Business (MWBE) Task Force was established by Westchester County Executive George Latimer last week.
The group met for the first time Aug. 14 to discuss action plans to enhance NWBE inclusion in more projects in the County, both inside the government as well as outside.
During a press conference after the meeting, Deputy County Executive and Chair of the MWBE, Ken Jenkins, who Latimer introduced as a “leader on this issue,” said that over 40% of the residents living in Westchester County qualify as either a minority or are women.
Jenkins said that existing County law requires encouragement in the promotion and hiring of MWBE businesses and that last year only 5% participated. It is a federal requirement that at least a minimum of 10% participate.
Jenkins emphasized that not only should this be 10% of the $1.5 billion the County contracts out for construction work, but for all types of professional services as well.
Bridget Gibbons, Deputy Director Economic Development said only 2,000 MWBE companies are registered on the County website. “We want to amplify the availability of qualified companies,” she said.
The task force is expected to act as a platform to listen to the difficulties that face these businesses, in order to best tackle challenges.
“The bottom line is this – we need to attract businesses and keep businesses here in Westchester County to keep our economy thriving. When our businesses thrive our County thrives, and we want to partner with those businesses, large and small, to meet their employment needs and technology needs,” Latimer said.
Jenkins added, “We have had a law on the books in the Board of Legislators for many years, and we need to make sure we are doing the outreach that is necessary to help identify opportunities for businesses here in Westchester.”
The MWBE Task Force appointees are: Paul Williams, Former President, Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY). Liz Velez, President, Velez Organization. Anne Janiak, Founder and CEO, Women’s Enterprise Development Center (WEDC).
Elsa Rubin, Accounting Consultant. Deborah Bradley, Founder and President, Women’s Builders Council (WBC) and Founder of Deborah Bradley Construction & Management Services, Inc. Sherry Bruck, Creative Director, Harquin Creative Group. Nora Madonick, President, Arch Street Communications (ASC). Dwight McLeod, Chief Executive Officer, Capstone Strategy Group. Bill Mooney, President, Westchester County Association (WCA). Marsha Gordon, President and CEO, Business Council of Westchester (BCOW). Ross Pepe, President, Construction Industry Council (CIC). Ximena Francella, Co-Chair, Hispanic Democrats of Westchester. Kim Jacobs, Executive Director, Community Capital New York. Susana Lara, Co-Owner, Sir Speedy Printing. Iliana Carmona, Corporate Director of Contracts, Westchester Medical Center. Cheryl McKissack Daniels, President and Chief Executive, McKissack & McKissack. Wiley Harrison, President, Business of Your Business. Dr. Belinda Miles, President, Westchester Community College (WCC). Bonnie Yam, Principal, Pension Maxima. –Chirag Shah, Founder Lifestyle Westchester, Co-Owner LifeNY.
