Large infrastructure firms are uniquely qualified to help develop disadvantaged business enterprises while positioning them for future success. With a corporate commitment to diversity, providing mentoring and training, as well as sharing best practices, these firms are maximizing opportunities through DBE Programs. The HNTB’s Partners program was highlighted in Part 1 of this article, so here we will cover a range of educational, industry and mentoring programs that are being implemented to support and assist DBEs and small business partners.
Educational outreach
Across the country, HNTB continues to seek partnerships and opportunities to engage in educational programs designed to create awareness among young professionals and women about careers in engineering, architecture and planning.
Cal State University Guest Lecture
For the third consecutive year, HNTB aviation planning and engineering professionals delivered guest lectures at the firm’s office at Los Angeles International Airport as part of the airport planning course for California State University, Los Angeles.
Supplementing the university’s airport planning curriculum, guest lecturers shared details on notable airport projects and case studies. Topics included: U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s new “Baggage First” facility planning; airfield and airspace simulation tools; aircraft gate parking planning; construction phasing; determination of an airports’ critical aircraft; runway marking; and hangar planning and design.
“This valuable program is an exciting opportunity where students and guest instructors interact, share knowledge, and demonstrate a variety of potential career paths within the aviation industry,” said Peter Aarons, HNTB West Division aviation leader and associate vice president.
SPARK-LA Partnership
The collaborative SPARK LA partnership between the City of Los Angeles and HNTB completed its inaugural year at the Girls Academic Leadership Academy (GALA). The free after school program supplemented the new school’s focus on a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum to attract more female students to pursue degrees and professions where they are traditionally underrepresented.
The program was conceived by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as part of an effort to promote gender equity after a report published by the Mayor in 2015 found women and girls have been disadvantaged in Los Angeles. At a “Women in STEM” symposium last year, the Mayor announced that GALA was chosen to initiate the SPARK Program in Los Angeles to provide an engaging curriculum for GALA students that includes engineering and design challenges to create interest for STEM.
Sixteen interactive weekly sessions related to infrastructure, including sessions on aviation and airport design, were developed and students explored engineering and design challenges alongside industry professionals. The practitioners shared career insights and helped small teams of students develop projects to pique their interest and build excitement around careers in science, technology, engineering, architecture and mathematics with a strong focus on transportation related jobs.
Transportation Industry Outreach
Disadvantaged and small businesses had an opportunity to meet and network with prime contractors at a “Meet the Primes” event hosted by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority in collaboration with prime contractors. The event provided a chance to meet and interview prospective future DBE/MBE/WBE/SBE partners.
“This valuable outreach event provides an excellent opportunity for disadvantaged and small businesses to meet with prime contractors, share their areas of expertise and learn about what current and future contracting opportunities exist on planned infrastructure projects,” said Daniel Louis, PE, HNTB vice president and southern California PM/CM director and tunnel practice director (West).
As an industry partner of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, HNTB supports opportunities and maximizes participation for minority individuals, businesses and communities of color in the transportation industry.
“We value the perspectives, solutions and ideas that come from a diverse workforce. Working together, we can positively impact the needs of minority professionals and exceed client goals for minority and disadvantaged business enterprises,” said Taiwo Jaiyeoba, regional business development manager and the firm’s ambassador to COMTO.
DBE Recognition Program
Execution of strategic public recognition programs is a valuable way to demonstrate support for DBE partners. This involves identifying regional and national award opportunities and working in close collaboration with the DBE firm to develop and submit their nominations.
V&A, Incorporated, one of HNTB’s long-standing DBE/MBE firms was recently recognized as a top finalist at the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Annual Latino Business Awards. CEO Jose Valle founded V&A, Inc. in 2008 as a DBE/MBE civil engineering consulting firm specializing in large and complex roadway, traffic, infrastructure, transit, and third-party coordination projects. Valle was honored as a DBE business leader within the Latino community for setting the example for excellence and making significant economic contributions throughout Los Angeles County.
This successful program has placed the media spotlight on many talented DBE firms that not only raises their visibility within the business community, it builds and strengthens DBE working relationships for future opportunities.
Calmentor Protégé Program
Mentor programs can increase the pool of DBE and small architectural and engineering businesses for participation in complex transportation projects. The Calmentor mentorship program — overseen by the California Department of Transportation District 11 and the San Diego Association of Governments in coordination with the American Council of Engineering Companies and City of San Diego — is designed to encourage and support small businesses through voluntary partnerships with mid-size and larger firms and is intended to increase the participation of small architectural and engineering firms in public transportation projects. The firm’s involvement in the Calmentor program has provided architectural and engineering mentoring for several local firms, including for protégé firm Davy Architecture.
“Being involved in the Calmentor program is one of the best opportunities we've had to grow our business,” said Eric (Ric) Davy, principal of Davy Architecture. “HNTB’s expertise and ongoing support have further enhanced our capabilities and helped to position our firm for greater future success. After 28 years in practice, we still had much to learn. Our 29th year was our best year, yet and our 30th was even better.”
Mentoring programs are a great way for large companies to share knowledge with talented smaller firms aspiring to grow and do business with public agencies and provides a mutually rewarding experience for both firms as they have the opportunity to learn from each other.
Heritage of Commitment to Diversity
HNTB started in 1914 as a small business with a promising group of engineers designing innovative movable bridges. As the projects increased, the company has grown to contribute to many of today’s largest, most complex bridge, highway, rail, airport, public buildings and public works projects in the United States.
Since its founding, the firm has built lasting business relationships through continuous development and engagement of minority and small businesses as partners. Encouraging diversity in perspectives, cultures and backgrounds provides unique value-added solutions and options benefitting clients, employees and suppliers.
We encourage other industry professionals to also make a commitment to diversity in transportation.
Art Hadnett is president of HNTB Corporation’s West Division. Based at the firm’s Los Angeles headquarters, he is responsible for leading the operations of the nine-state West Division, including eleven offices and nearly 600 employees, overseeing vital and complex infrastructure programs in rail/transit, tolling and aviation. He possesses more than 30 years of comprehensive
