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Countdown to the Excellence Awards Gala The nominations are in for the 2006 Excellence Awards Gala, which will take place Thursday, Nov. 30 at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton. |
Countdown to the Excellence Awards Gala
The nominations are in for the 2006 Excellence Awards Gala, which will take place Thursday, Nov. 30 at the Ritz Carlton in Clayton.
- 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception
- 7:00 p.m. Dinner and Awards Program
- 8:30 p.m. Champagne Toast and Dancing
Attendees and their guests must have tickets to the awards ceremony. No one will be admitted without a ticket.
There’s still time to reserve your spot at SLMBC’s most anticipated event of the year. You can call Barbara Gibson at the SLMBC office at (314) 241-1143.
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As part of our ongoing focus on the opportunities and challenges for MBEs within the construction industry, Connections spoke this month with Alan Richter, executive director of the newly created Regional Union Construction Center (RUCC).
You’ve been regional director for the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) for a little more than six years. Tell me about the transition to your new role.
The lack of minority construction contractors who have sustainable businesses has been a problem in St. Louis – and throughout the country – for as far back as many of us can remember. There have been a lot of different efforts to address this problem, but none have met with much success. At the beginning of this year, members of the PRIDE labor management group started meeting every other Monday to really begin to examine ways to tackle this issue. The committee invited me to the table a few months into their meetings because of my business experience and my close work with small businesses for the past six years. After several months, we decided we had a concept that made sense, went through the process of forming a not-for-profit corporation, selected an 11-member board and established by-laws. The group selected me as executive director for the reasons I mentioned earlier, plus the fact that one of the SBDC’s success stories is with a minority electrical contractor – the exact kind of success stories we hope to build with the Regional Union Construction Center.
What makes the RUCC different from previous efforts to address the lack of sustainable minority construction businesses?
We have 11 Board members who not only have a genuine concern about this problem but who also want to be involved in the solution. My transition to the new role isn’t “official” until December 1, but I’ve already received several lists of minority construction contractors that we can potentially help. And by help, I mean that we will have processes and programs in place that cover all aspects of a construction company’s business growth cycle. We’ll screen individuals and their companies to make sure they not only have the potential, but the desire, to grow. If companies are relatively new start-ups, we may have them use SBDC for several months to help them become more viable contractors. We’ll help companies map out plans to improve any weak spots in their business. And we’ll also create a three- to five-member advisory board for each company we work with. These individuals will have strong knowledge and experience in the construction industry and will meet every 30 to 45 days with their designated construction company. The bottom line is that this is a team effort. It won’t just be my decisions, but the RUCC board will also be involved.
Are there certain kinds of construction companies that the RUCC is targeting?
The companies that participate must use union labor or be willing to do so in the future. Other than that, we’re not going to turn away anyone, although the plans and programs we map out for each company will vary depending on the company’s needs. So, in some cases, we may recommend that an individual take advantage of SBDC services. In other cases, the person may be ready to receive targeted, tailor-made services to help take the company to the next level of growth.
The important thing to remember is that this company belongs to the individual, not to me and not to the RUCC Board. It’s very important to find individuals who have a genuine desire to grow and to learn and to own sustainable businesses. These individuals have to have a fire in their belly to want to succeed, because running a small business of any sort requires hard work and long hours. The high risks and low margins associated with construction make it even tougher to succeed in this business.
What challenges do you think the RUCC will face as it gets underway?
The same challenges that have always been faced in construction. Business is competitive, business is tough and to manage a successful business really is a major feat. When you couple that with the fact that minorities found it difficult to become union members for so long, which kept them out of the construction business, you’re playing catch-up just to get representation in the industry. It becomes even tougher when you consider the fact that many parents don’t view trade jobs as viable career choices, even though many people in the construction industry make more money than your average employee with a four-year college degree. We also face the reality that many minority construction owners do not have role models and the funding needed to succeed. But again, these issues are nothing new, so we’re hopeful that with the right collaboration, we can begin to bring about real change.
What opportunities do you see?
The opportunity is here to make a difference. As I mentioned, we’re looking for individuals who really want to succeed and who have the ability to do so. Business isn’t just given away. No matter what size you are and what your background is, everyone still has to compete. But if we can connect with individuals who are willing to put in the time, energy, and work needed to grow, and give them mentors and educational resources, we know that there are tremendous business opportunities available.
The RUCC has some short-term goals, but longer term, we’re focusing on a three-year horizon. We need to have time to nurture the companies and to help them spread their wings a little. At the end of three years, we’ll do a thorough assessment of our progress and, hopefully, what we’ll find is that we have 20 or more minority construction companies that are notching up their capabilities and putting themselves in position to take on new growth opportunities. We need it for the industry and we need it for our community.
If you have questions about the RUCC, contact Alan Richter at (314) 631-5374 or richtera@missouri.edu.
The November PON meeting was rescheduled in observation of Veteran’s Day. The new meeting date is Thursday, Dec. 7 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Express Scripts in Riverport.
December’s PON meeting will include a recap of the San Diego NMSDC Business Opportunity Fair, a review of meeting topics for 2007, and an MBE presentation. All corporate members are encouraged to attend and to bring a guest. Please RSVP to Valerie Shelton of SLMBC at (314) 241-1143.
SLMBC Annual Meeting and Holiday Reception
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The SLMBC Annual Meeting and Holiday Reception will be held on Thursday, Dec. 14 at Alberici Constructors, Inc., 8800 Page Avenue.
The Board of Directors will meet at 4:30 p.m. followed by the Annual Meeting and Holiday Reception at 5:30 p.m. Please RSVP to Tamara Moore of SLMBC at (314) 241-1143. |
The Architectural Record Innovation Conference in New York recognized Alberici Constructors for its sustainable design and construction.
New MBEs
Ms. Shalesheanna Danrich, CEO
Gateway Management Specialist
1419 Walton Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63113
(314) 578-8238
(314) 340-3550 fax
E-mail: gatewayspecialist@yahoo.com
Web: www.gms.com
Professional Consultant: Modeling/marketing
Mr. Ken Jones, Manager, President
Mash Group Holding, LLC d/b/a The Mash Group
One North Brentwood Plaza, Suite 510
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 638-4200
(314) 638-5894 fax
E-mail: kjones@mashgroup.com
Web: www.mashgroup.com
Manufacturing: Trade show exhibits
Mr. Randy Wright, President
Nationwide Tree Service
1339 Walton Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63115
(314) 533-4344
(314) 260-9666 fax
E-mail: r64wright@yahoo.com
Services: Tree cutting and hauling
New Reciprocals
Mr. Rafael Vinoly, President
Rafael Vinoly Architects, PC
50 Vandam Street
New York, NY 10013
(212) 924-5060
(212) 924-5858 fax
E-mail: rafaelvinoly@rvapc.com
Web: www.rvapc.com
Professional Consultant: Architectural services