HCC and MBDA Salute Minorities in Construction
Jul 1, 2019
Houston Community College (HCC) builds on its reputation in construction education when its Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) hosts the Fifth Annual Salute to Minorities in Construction luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 18, at The Junior League of Houston, 1811 Briar Oaks Lane.
With construction remaining one of the leading industries in Houston, MBDA officials have noted that local businesses not only continue to sustain the construction industry’s growth, but they also have begun to diversify with more minority and female representation.
HCC has hosted MBDA, which is funded by the US Department of Commerce, since 2013. Its mission is to foster the growth and global competitiveness of minority-owned businesses.
According Mark Praigg, Interim Director MBDA, the annual salute was conceived as a way to highlight Houston firms and individuals who embody the spirit of inclusiveness and diversity throughout all sectors of the industry.
“This year’s honorees demonstrate the esteemed business leadership, outstanding service, and generosity in which Houston should be proud,” said Praigg of luncheon honorees Associate General Contractors of America (AGC), Houston Chapter, and its president and CEO, Jerry Nevlud. “The companies and individuals stood out for their contributions to our growing small-business community.”
Praigg said AGC and Nevlud share an unwavering commitment to building better business by their support of minority construction firms and professionals. He added that their diversity and inclusion committee has been instrumental in fostering an environment of backgrounds and perspectives that are brought together for the continuous improvement and success of the construction industry.
In addition, AGC has also been a partner with the Kingdom Builders’ Center Construction Contractor’s College, a six-month program to help small and minority-owned businesses bid on contracts, as well as the Salute to Minorities in Construction since its inception.
Other Houston MBDA honorees include: Robert Gonzales and Bobby Gonzales of Gonzales Commercial Electric, Inc., Client of the Year; Capital One Bank, Corporate Advocate of the Year; Richard Gianni, Senior Executive Vice President of LiftFund, Community Partner of the Year; and Edgartt “Ed” Melton, 7th Echelon, LLC, Construction Trailblazer Client of the Year.
Carolyn Watson, vice president of Global Philanthropy for JPMorgan Chase & Co., will give the keynote address. For tickets or tables, click here. For more information about the event, call 713.718.8974.
The Minority Business Development Agency staff has advised 270 minority-owned businesses, facilitated over $280 million in contracts, and raised $265 million in financing. It has also helped create more than 600 jobs for minority-owned businesses. In doing so, the HCC-MBDA agency has consistently earned an “outstanding” rating by the US Department of Commerce.
For more information about the MBDA program, visit: www.hccs.edu/mbda or call 713.718.8974