8BB AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE MIAMI HERALD FRIDAY , FEBRUARY 23 , 2018
Small Business Development
SBE Construction Firms Serve as Protégés in Jackson Signature Projects
By Gary T . Hartfield
Miami-Dade County ’ s Small Business Development Division u�lizes a varia�on of resources and programs to create and to access avenues of opportuni�es for businesses cer�fied in its race and gender-neutral Small Business Enterprise Cer�fica�on Programs . One such avenue includes the six “ Signature ” contracts issued by Jackson Health System .
Via a compe��ve process , qualified Small Business Enterprise-Construc�on firms can acquire subcontrac�ng opportuni�es and addi�onal construc�on management experience through a mentorship-rela�onship with established prime contractors in the healthcare construc�on management services industry .
Through six signature projects in its Miracle Building Plan , five black-owned firms ( Foster Construc�on of South Florida Inc ., IGWT Construc�on Inc ., MCO Construc�on & Services Inc ., Messam Construc�on , and Sagoma Construc�on Services Inc .) were awarded opportuni�es with leading prime contractors . Each has a 6.31 percent protégé goal on these projects , which have Guaranteed Maximum Prices ranging from $ 27 million to $ 121 million .
Foster Construc�on of South Florida , Inc ., a woman-owned company founded in 1997 , is under the mentorship of Turner Construc�on Company in the Jackson Rehabilita�on Hospital Project . Foster Construc�on made history as the first African-American owned construc�on company to build a Burger
King restaurant . The provider of a range of construc- �on services for decades , IGWT Construc- �on Inc . is the protégé for Skanska USA in the Jackson Memorial Medical Center Emergency Department Project . IGWT has provided services on a host of projects across the country including Disney ’ s Animal Kingdom , the 1996 Olympic Equestrian Venue , and major expansions to several interna�onal airports .
Founded in the early 1980s , MCO Construc�on & Services Inc . has provided services on a variety of projects since its incep�on , including American Airlines Arena and Marlins Park . During Small Business Week 2017 , SBD recognized the company as the recipient of the inaugural Marsha E . Jackman Small Business Award . MCO is the protégé for Turner Construc�on in the Jackson South Medical Center Project .
Messam Construc�on was founded in 2003 by its owners , both of whom are holders of the LEED Accredited
Professional designa�on . Currently , Messam is building and managing more than 1 million square feet of construc�on seeking LEED cer�fica�ons . Messam will par�cipate in the Jackson North Medical Center Project under the mentorship of OHL-Arellano Construc�on .
Sagoma Construc�on Services , incorporated in 2010 , provides design build services , pre-construc�on , general contrac�ng , and construc�on management . Sagoma has provided services to several clients , including Habitat for Humanity , Bap�st Hospital , Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood Interna�onal Airport .
This hybrid contrac�ng opportunity and mentor-protégé rela�onship will provide SBEs with an excep�onal prospect to expand their por�olios while gaining invaluable experience under the leadership of industry influencers . SBD is commi�ed to suppor�ng our cer�fied firms and looks forward to other success stories such as these in the future .
Business Report
By Beatrice Louissaint
Small businesses , par�cularly minority businesses , are fueling South Florida ’ s economy . As we celebrate Black History Month , let us applaud the successes of these black-owned businesses that are making history and support black-owned companies by doing business and partnering with them .
Courtney Newell is president and Chief Crea�ve Officer of Crowned Marke�ng & Communica�ons , which offers mul�media marke�ng solu�ons to reach more mul�cultural consumers .
Black-Owned Businesses Making History
Crowned becomes an expert in each client ’ s brand , products , services , industry , compe�tors and audiences , then creates a compelling strategy to engage with more customers around the globe . More than 130 media outlets in more than 100 countries have featured its award-winning work . Newell has been featured on “ The Today Show ,” “ Good Morning America ,” and “ HLN ,” and profiled in the Huffington Post and Black Enterprise . The company ’ s clients include Verizon Wireless , Humana , Bacardi and Hilton ( www . crownedmc . com ).
Benefits Outsource Inc . is a state-approved , third-party benefits administra�ve firm established in 1995 by Jackson Obasogie who immigrated to the United States more than 40 years ago from sub-Saharan Africa . A state-licensed insurance agency , BOI sells and brokers products such as property and casualty insurance , life insurance , and health insurance as well as ancillary services such as open enrollment , premium collec�on , re�ree billing and claims audit . BOI ’ s clients include Broward County
Public Schools , Palm Beach County Public Schools , Bacardi , Coventry / Aetna , United Healthcare , the city of Lauderdale Lakes , Hillsborough County , Humana Health Plan , Broward County Government and CIGNA Health Plan ( www . boibenefits . com ).
Joe Louissaint is president of Show Technology Inc ., an audio-visual rental and staging company with experience in providing clients solu�ons for successful conferences , corporate mee�ngs , awards dinners , concerts , events , product launches , press conferences and more . STI ’ s services include stage design , touring services and management , ligh�ng control , teleconference services and image magnifica�on . Its clients include the University of Miami , Bascom Palmer Eye Ins�tute , Jungle Island , the Greek Fes�val , and Morton ’ s Steakhouse . The company has provided audiovisual services for presidents Barack Obama , George H . W . Bush and George W . Bush ( www . showtechinc . com ).
James Champion is president and Chief Execu�ve Officer of Champion Services
Group , an HR consul�ng firm . Champion is a forward-thinking human resources professional with more than 40 years of experience in corporate HR prac�ce and administra�ve management . CSG designs training and educa�onal processes for subjects including change management , conflict management , cultural competency , and diversity . CSG has worked with clients including Burger King , Florida Power & Light , the University of Miami , Kra� Foods , Interna�onal Longshore & Warehouse Union and Miami Dade College ( www . championservicesgroupway . com ).
To meet these and many other minority entrepreneurs , a�end the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council ’ s 33rd Annual Business Expo , April 5-6 at the Broward County Conven�on Center . Learn more about the Business Expo at www . fsmsdc . org or call ( 305 ) 762-6151 .
Beatrice Louissaint is president and CEO of the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council .