METRO & the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program Partners Continue Their Collaboration to Advance, Strengthen & Drive the Small Business Community

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

In keeping with METRO’s commitment to providing contracting opportunities to all businesses, on September 22, 2022, METRO’s Board of Directors adopted a Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VOBE) Program and a Disability-Owned Business Enterprise (DOBE) Program. These new programs are in addition to the existing and successful Small Business Enterprise (SBE) and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs.

To properly reflect METRO’s policy to promote equal opportunity, inclusion, and nondiscrimination in all its procurement matters, effective October 1, 2022, the Office of Small Business was renamed the Office of Economic Business Opportunity. The Office of Economic Business Opportunity oversees the Small, Disadvantaged, Veteran-owned, and Disability-owned Business Enterprise Programs.

Through their Interagency Mentor Protégé Program (IMPP), METRO continues its partnership with the City of Houston, HISD, Port Houston, Houston Community College, and Houston First Corporation to advance, strengthen, and drive the small business community.

METRO’s Office of Economic Business Opportunity continues to provide results-driven programs strategically designed to address the needs and challenges small businesses encounter. Under Deputy Procurement Officer Karen Hudson, Director Otis Johnson, Manager, Small Business Outreach Shurronda Murray, and Business Development Officer Alex Sandoval, this award-winning and widely recognized program provides the tools and resources for small businesses to reach their goals, equipping and preparing them to do business with METRO.

The METRO Office of Economic Business Opportunity remains a trendsetter when it comes to answering the call of SBEs and DBEs, having been the first to:

• Have 35% contract goals
• Require primes to commit to goal with identified SBEs/DBEs prior to contract award
• Graduate 7 SBEs/DBEs from the IMPP
• Offer multi-trades contracting
• Offer full calendar year of SBU training 
• Offer one-on-one business assessments
• Offer 100% secure on-line certification application

“The IMPP is a collaborative effort between like-minded agencies to ensure we are all achieving some of the same goals as it relates to fostering and strengthening long-term and effective working relationships between established companies and emerging small businesses,” says Murray.

2022 INDUSTRIES & FIRMS

Industries	No. of Firms
Construction	5
General Services	3
Professional Services	9
Supplies & Equipment	3

“Since the inception of IMPP, we have seen SBEs and DBEs achieve impressive business growth as a result of the mentorship, support, and workshops that provide invaluable tools and resources. Some of the Protégés are still teaming up for joint ventures, submitting bids with their former classmates all due to the relationships and trust that was built during the class.” Murray says. “We are so grateful to all of our mentors. IMPP wouldn’t be a success without their participation, taking SBEs and DBEs under their wing to aid them with their business plans, financials, etc.”

METRO and its IMPP partners are serious about supporting small and disadvantaged businesses, being devoted to the program’s purpose to aid these businesses. Each year IMPP has prime contractors who are doing business with one of the partnering agencies to assist them with mentoring these firms. The primes are not compensated but are volunteers which says a lot about the devotion of the past and present Mentors. METRO’s Office of Economic Business Opportunity only works with Mentors who take action, just as they do to help small businesses thrive.

Murray expresses, “METRO’s Office of Economic Business Opportunity doesn’t just talk, but puts our words into action. Though participating in the IMPP doesn’t guarantee contracts, we are sincere in our efforts to do whatever we can to position our small business owners to win and soar. We have seen winning in different forms, whether landing a contract, forming relationships, or receiving knowledge.”

METRO’s Office of Economic Business Opportunity has a commitment to providing various business enterprise programs that ensure equal opportunity, inclusion, and nondiscrimination in all procurement and contracting affairs.

For more information about METRO’s Office of Economic Business Opportunity, the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program, and all of their programs, please visit www.ridemetro.org/pages/SmallBusiness.aspx.

Quote:

“While METRO’s Office of Economic Business Opportunity remains committed to seeing our small and disadvantaged businesses succeed, I like to think we are more than just a department that provides programs and workshops. We are strong advocates for these businesses. Through METRO’s IMPP and other efforts, this office not only meets but continuously exceeds the agency’s contract goals with DBEs and SBEs because of our capability, passion, and allegiance.” – Shurronda Murray, Manager, Small Business Outreach