NAMC COMMITTEE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
By Angela Carbone Chair , Agency Alliance Committee
YOLANDA LEWIS
The name of her company , Innovative Resources , describes Yolanda Lewis herself as much as it does her business . Lewis , NAMC San Diego ’ s Agency Alliance Committee Chair , has been a minority small business advocate for over a decade .
Lewis examines agencies and corporations that were failing in their obligations to minorities , women , and disabled veterans . The answers lie in data . “ They aren ’ t following the rules because no one ’ s holding their feet to the fire ,” she said . When authorities said they could do nothing , she used the agency ’ s own reports to prove that they were required to do something .
“ Information is key . It ’ s the best weapon we have to combat inequality ,” she said .
The obstacles are huge . Proposition 209 , for one , decimated progress . While General Order 156 was designed to increase participation of female and minority business enterprises in procuring contracts from utilities , some utilities ignored the rules until challenged to do so .
Such barriers don ’ t deter Lewis from leading others to seek economic opportunities and justice . “ It can be frustrating . You get
Just asking for a fair shake isn ’ t enough . “ It ’ s important for us to be strategic , not to fight from an emotional perspective , but from a data-based , business strategic perspective ,” she said . Minority business owners must show how awarding them a contract will reduce costs and increase profits for the company awarding the contracts .
In NAMC , Lewis ’ goal is to push the Agency Alliance Committee ’ s goals and objectives which include helping members get an opportunity to compete . Again , her approach is data-driven . If a company owner ’ s bid for a contract is rejected , Lewis analyzes why . Did the firms have enough insurance ? Did they post a high enough bond ?
If a business owner knows what went wrong , it can be fixed . “ We make the corrections and come back again ,” she said . “ It ’ s not a short-term win we are looking for . This is a long-haul battle . “ We waste a lot of time wondering why . All you need to do is to figure out what didn ’ t work and how to overcome it .”
Business owners must maintain the struggle . “ If you quit fighting , that means you lose . What if Martin Luther King , or Malcolm X , or Rosa Parks stopped fighting ?” The struggle is not selfish ; it ’ s for the greater good for the next generation , Lewis said .
Lewis sees her work with NAMC San Diego & Imperial Counties Chapter as part of the struggle , and knows that leadership also means working collaboratively . “ We are so small in numbers ,” she said . “ We have to share information and knowledge . If we open our mindset to cooperation and collaboration , we are all more powerful ,” Lewis said .
“ We have to have goals so we can measure our success . We want to work collaboratively to influence and promote equality . We ’ re looking for long-term success to demonstrate that we bring value ,” she said .
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