July 2016 Tabor 100 Newsletter

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OLLIE GARRETTPresident of Tabor 100

Business Community’s Salute to Boeing

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McCleary Decision Finally Moving Forward

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Meet Charles Wilson, New Diversity Manager

4June Meeting Photos

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July 2016

As President of Tabor 100, this month I thought it important to focus on the rash of violence that has marred several communities and has the potential to create an even greater divide among minorities and the public servants charged with protecting us all. Tabor 100 can be a unifying force providing the much needed hope to those now disenfranchised and feeling the system is rigged to keep them from the success and prosperity others seem to enjoy.

Tabor 100 was created to open doors and enhance business opportunities for disadvantaged business. We are still committed to this outcome and in the midst of the recent turmoil, we are rededicating ourselves to the equity and inclusion we were founded on.

The thriving businesses that can attribute some of their success to Tabor 100 have created the much needed

optimism that the system is one in which we can win. The problem is that there have not been enough of these successful businesses and we must create more! Through a number of methods, Tabor 100 is working to change this dynamic and have additional minority businesses that can claim success and instill optimism in our community. We have worked diligently with others to promote Tabor 100 and Tabor member businesses. For anyone who has joined the Tabor 100 organization and attended either our general meetings or special events, you should know that those gatherings have generated untold profits for many of our businesses.

In these days of concern about race relations and the seeming inability to envision a positive future, Tabor 100 is working hard to create opportunities. We are just one piece of the puzzle that will bring prosperity to our communities, one business at a time. With that prosperity comes a realization that all is not lost and that the American dream, regardless of how long it takes to get there, can be achieved.

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► ► June Meeting Photos

WELCOME NEW TABOR MEMBERS!• Michele Percussi, Hill International, Inc• Marques Warren, Warren’s News & Gift, Inc• Andrew Adekoya, Adekoya Business Consulting LLC

• Cathy Ridley, Landau Associates• Joedy Smith, Fox’s Grounds & Building Maintenance

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You are invited to come and enjoy a memorable evening in the Sk ybridge of the Washington State Convention Center, Downtown Seattle on Friday, September 30, 2016.

6:00 PM Check-in, Reception, and Silent Auction7:00 PM Dinner, Entertainment, Program, and Awards Attire: Semi -Formal

Tabor 100 is an association of entrepreneurs and business advocates who are committed to economic power, educational excellence and social equity for African-Americans and the community at large. Tabor 100 is a 501(c)3 organization.

Save the date!

Purchase your ticket at www.Tabor100Gala.org today!

“Seizing your opportunity”

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► ► Meet Charles Wilson the New Public Works Business Diversity Manager at the Department of Enterprise Services

Following an extensive recruitment, the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) has selected Charles Wilson to serve as the agency’s Public Works Business Diversity Program Manager.

Wilson started at DES on July 1 and joins Servando Patlan, Business Diversity and Outreach Manager for goods and services contracting, and Erin Lopez, the Business Diversity Initiatives Manager. Each of them is working full-time to:• Help businesses connect with contracting

opportunities• Lead teams within DES that are focused on

removing barriers for small and diverse businesses

Improving utilization of small and minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses is a priority for DES and the state.

DES public works contracts represent a large source of opportunity for Washington businesses. DES oversees 400 design, construction and energy projects worth $290 million annually.

Though Charles has been the DES Public Works Business Diversity Program Manager only a short while, he already has identified a number of priorities including:• Create a robust mentor/protégé program• Implement policy and procedure to encourage

joint venturing • Increase barrier reduction efforts to include

access to capital, bonding assistance, and subcontractor prequalification.

In addition, there’s now a requirement that the first agenda item at all construction project progress meetings will be, “How are we doing with diversity?”

Charles brings more than 25 years of experience in improving small and diverse business utilization, with extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. He comes to DES from his most recent role as the manager for the City of Tacoma Office for Small Business Enterprise.

Charles is recognized as an innovator when it comes to improving business diversity. For example, in Tacoma he successfully launched a partnership with Sound Transit and PCL Contractors to develop

the first “Hands-on Concrete Placement Training” and created the Pierce County Regional Municipal Advisory Group, which included representatives from 13 cities and agencies in Pierce County. The group was instrumental in developing a regional public works, architectural and engineering services, and goods and services diversity outreach strategy.

In state service, Charles has also worked to oversee women and minority business enterprises (W/MBE), disadvantaged business enterprises (DBE), Equal Employment (EEO), On-the Job Training (OJT), and Title VI programs at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and as an affirmative action officer at the state Department of Ecology.

As the primary agency for state contracting, it is important for DES to hire innovative and experienced people like Charles to help lead efforts in supporting small and diverse business participation. In addition to DES playing a key role in state government contracting, DES Director Chris Liu is leading Gov. Inslee’s 12-agency Business Diversity Subcabinet. Charles will be a valuable asset for the community, DES and the state.

Congratulations Charles from your Tabor family!

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► ► McCleary Decision Looks Like it is Finally Moving Forward

That sound you’ve been hearing in the Olympia background has been the McCleary decision delays, reverberating throughout the WA Legislature. Four years ago, the WA State Supreme Court ruled that WA had not been fully funding the primary [and, only] mandate they have: Educating Washington state children. Education funding in the State has been a terribly complicated mix of various “pots” of money

– from Federal money all the way down to individual donations, varying wildly across the 295 WA school districts.

Lack of equity, clarity, fairness, and outcomes all abound – and the McCleary suit filed against the State brought the issue to a head, with the Supremes determining that the State was not paying its full and proper share; thus burdening the localities with cobbling together remedial solutions. Districts with weak tax bases are poorly equipped to do this – creating disparities.

After more than 2 years of delays in Olympia, last August 2015, the Court held the State in contempt, ordering a fine of $100,000 per day for failing to make enough progress. Because the terms of the fine don’t actually take the dollars away from the Legislature, thus failing to cause enough pain to incite any real urgency, the Legislature formed yet another task force last session to debate and kicking the can down the road once again. Kids and families were kept waiting…

Recently, the Seattle Times posted this edited update: “OLYMPIA — The state Supreme Court has ordered the state to appear in court before the justices decide whether to lift or add to sanctions in the McCleary school-funding case. In an order released Thursday, the justices listed the questions they want the state and the plaintiffs to answer in a hearing scheduled for Sept. 7. In general, the justices want to hear the state’s explanation for why its most recent school-funding plan for the court’s McCleary decision should be considered sufficient.

Finally, it looks as though the Supremes have begun to up the ante and leverage more actions pressing the State and the Legislature to accelerate timelines and drive a solution within the coming 2017 session. Estimates for the “fix” range between $3.5 - $12 Billion dollars every two years to address school salaries and levy issues.

Minority and small businesses have a great deal at stake – and very little voice or power in this game. Minority businesses are not well organized, lack spare dollars for lobbyists, pit sectors against each other, and often have difficulty getting larger Chambers and business groups to hear or support their needs.

The first things you can do as a minority or small businessperson are to inform yourself of the issues – and vote. Attend and participate in candidate forums. Talk to your representatives.

Secondly, Tabor 100 has been participating for several years in a coalition of about 40 organizations around this issue of Education: the Excellent Schools Now Coalition. [ESN]. ESN is consolidating around key educational priorities for the upcoming session – and whether this McCleary debate should include a larger bang for the taxpayers buck than “more of the same” weak educational outcomes for WA children. This should be an opportunity, knocking.

WA State is one of only a few where the achievement gap has actually still been growing – rather than being reduced. We also know the weakest performers remain students of color.

Unless you can outbid Boeing and Amazon for talent – you need to become more involved in creating a stronger workforce for the future. Grab an oar – our kids deserve better than they’re getting. [Much of this Olympia delay kerfuffle is yet more about the adults, again…]

The call to action is coming. Soon. Stay tuned, or contact me directly.

KEVIN WASHINGTONEducation Chair

FRANK LEYRITZ

Alaska Airlines creates a special livery to pay tribute to Boeing’s first 100 years.

Tabor 100 was well represented at the Boeing Company’s 100 year anniversary celebration at the Museum of Flight.

Alaska Airlines and over 700 business leaders celebrated Boeing’s 100th birthday at the Museum of Flight, Boeing Field, Thursday June 30th . Alaska Airlines unveiled their new B737-900ER jetliner with a centennial paint theme “Boeing 100 years strong” painted on both sides of the fuselage. Seattle quarterback and Alaska Airlines ad spokesperson Russell Wilson was the Master of Ceremony.

Four former Washington State governors were in attendance, Christine Gregoire, Gary Locke, Mike Lowry, and Dan Evans. Also attending were many County, and State government officials, e.g. Mayor Strickland, Governor Jay Inslee, King County Executive Dow Constantine, and. Among the corporate officials attending were, Brad Tilman Alaska Airlines CEO, Ray Conner, president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, three tour buses of Alaska Airlines officials and employees, and 100 local CEOs. The celebration filled the museum’s parking lot with attendees forming a gigantic number 100. The event’s tarmac setting enabled networking and socializing. During the ceremony, Alaska Airlines and Boeing each pledged $ 100,000 donations to the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship for low and middle-income youth studying science technology, engineering, and mathematics.

► ► The Business Community’s Salute to Boeing

Photos taken by Frank C. Leyritz, Aviation COnsultancy, LLC, Museum of Flight Volunteer Tour Guide

Your First Step Toward Success

Sign up online today!

The Port of Seattle’s Small Business Program promotes access for small minority, women, and disadvantaged firms. Take your first step toward equal access and economic opportunity.

Contact:Office of Social [email protected]

www.portseattle.org/About/Organization/Pages/Small_Business

LINDA KENNEDY

The YES! Program is in full swing with our students. Our program, which is in its 8th year, shifted its focus to not only help students avoid summer learning loss, but to help them with social skills and self-esteem. Studies show that without some kind of educational activity in the summer, students can lose one third of what they learned in school the previous year.

We are once again meeting middle school students where they are and moving them forward. Our classes include Ancient World History, Literature and Creative Writing, Geography, Media Literacy, Science, Cursive Writing, Math, Learning to Learn, Self Esteem, and Video Production. YES! has a holistic approach; our classes dovetail with each other. For example, students use cursive writing in all their classes. They explore how media affect their world and their education. We are also working with students on the so-called “soft skills.” We practice shaking hands, speaking before a group, and looking people in the

eye when conversing.

Our program, as always, is free and meets every Saturday for eight weeks from 8am to 3:30pm. It is the brainchild of Tabor 100 Member Kibibi Monie, who wanted to provide summer education for our students when the Seattle School District cut summer school. I have taught in this program every year since its inception. It is important for students and parents are pleased and grateful. If that’s not enough, it is extremely rewarding for those of us continuing to work for the success of our students.

► ► YES! Youth Education Summer has Begun

THE TABOR 100 BOARD

President: Ollie Garrett [email protected]

Vice President: Brian Sims [email protected]

Treasurer: Anita DeMahy [email protected]

Secretary: Sherlita Kennedy [email protected]

Membership: Sharlene Spencer [email protected]

Education: Kevin C. Washington [email protected]

Public Affairs: Henry Yates [email protected]

Economic Development: Edson Zavala [email protected]

Government Affairs: Jamila Johnson [email protected]

Fund Development: OPEN POSITION [email protected]

Business Development: Anthony Burnett [email protected]

TABOR 100 OFFICE 2330 130th Ave NE #101 Bellevue, WA 98005 425-881-8768 [email protected]

Newsletter Editor: Mel DePaoli [email protected] | 425.440.1099

Webmaster: William H. Dudley [email protected] 425.917.8288

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT!

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working together for better health.

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UPCOMING MEETINGS

Jul 30: Pre-Apprenticeship Job Fair. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Filipino Community Center.

Aug 27: General Membership Meeting. 10 a.m. to noon at the Central.

Sept 9: Free Labor and Industries Contractor Training Day at Edmonds Community College.

Sept 30: Tabor 100 Gala. 6-9 p.m. at the Washington State Convention Center.

Nov 9: 2016 Business After Hours. 5-8 p.m. at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Education Committee meets after the Tabor General Meeting, the last Saturday of the month from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at The Central.

Please contact any of the Chair’s for more information about their committee.