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OLLIE GARRETTPresident of Tabor 100

The Business of Education

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Boosting Main Street Lending

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Tabor General Meeting Photos

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Call for Seattle Fire Code Advisory Board

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February 2015

Dear Tabor Neighbors,

During my travels over the last few months, I have had the opportunity to reflect on the need to focus on the mission of equity and inclusion that Tabor and all of us individually must pursue in our business lives.

It can feel like we are walking on a tightrope, protesting the lack of equity and inclusion, and then working hard to be included. There are those who believe the opportunities are very limited and if they do not get them, others will, so they need to block their minority colleagues from them. There are others who will become our biggest critics because they are not experiencing the same sort of success that we enjoy. They claim that it is those who are successful who are the problem. We all work for, meet, and greet success in ourselves and others in different ways, but regardless of how we approach it, it is critical that we not allow others to deter us from a positive and fruitful

outcome.

Each of us must keep in mind that what others say about what we do or what we don’t do is nothing more than noise. As long as our efforts are sincere and meaningful, we should continue, regardless of the noise. I have learned to “rise above the noise” in my life, my business, and in my civic engagement. I have had to keep in mind that while others may or may not agree with Tabor, our focus should be on providing opportunities and we must and will pursue that goal without apology.

I am not above criticism and welcome it, when it is sincere. My ultimate measurement of success is whether there are more opportunities available and being pursued and captured by Tabor members. Over the years, with me at the helm and others, we have helped many do extremely well in business and we will continue to do so. My hope is that this year you and many others in the Tabor membership will add to the success of your business through the work that Tabor is doing and that you will redouble your effort to bring success to others.

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SEATTLE MAYOR SEEKING BOARD MEMBERS FOR FIRE CODE

ADVISORY BOARD

The Mayor of Seattle is seeking board members for the Seattle Fire Code Advisory Board to represent Major Institutions (including hospitals and universities), or Manufacturing/Warehousing, or the Services Industry (including nightclubs, entertainment, and retail). Board members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed the City Council for a renewable term of three years. They advise the City on updates and revisions to the code and have played a crucial role in shaping the City’s fire code to ensure it works for those who live, visit and conduct business in Seattle. The Board meets roughly once a month on Tuesday afternoons. The positions close on March 20, 2015.

We are seeking to fill board positions that represent the following:

• Major Institutions (includes universities, schools, hospitals)

• Manufacturing/Warehouse• Services Industry (includes nightclubs, retail, hotels, restaurants)

Board members are appointed by the Mayor, confirmed by the City Council, and play a crucial role in establishing the fire code for Seattle. The Seattle Fire Code helps prevent fires and assure the safety of people who live, work and visit in Seattle.

To apply, please send your resume and a cover letter indicating why you would like to join the Board to Karen Grove at karen.grove@seattle.gov by March 20, 2015. We encourage people with multicultural backgrounds or experience serving diverse populations to apply.

To learn more, please visit www.seattle.gov/fire/FMO/firecode/codeDevelopment.htm.

Fire Code Advisory Board c/o Seattle Fire Department, Fire Marshal’s Office 220 Third Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98104 Phone: 206-386-1451 Fax: 206-386-1359

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Award Recepants: (from left to right) Servando Patlan, Frank Lemos, and Fred Maxie.

Creating Opportunitities for YOU!

Together, Tabor 100 and Minority Business Advisory Council we’ll be:

Learn more about MBAC by visiting www.MBAC-WA.org.

• Creating opportunities for minority-owned businesses

• Promoting initiatives that impact economic development

• Building a stronger minority community with more opportunities

Did you know two out of every three new private sector jobs are created by small businesses?

Small businesses are the unique cornerstones of America and the backbone of our economy. And that’s why it’s so important for small businesses to have access to capital to start and grow their businesses.

To help bridge credit gaps for small business owners, we at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are partnering with credit unions. Credit unions are incredibly important as they are community-based and mission focused. They’ve helped their members finance cars, homes, education, and of course, small businesses.

The economic influence of this partnership is vast, as there are nearly 6,600 federally-insured credit unions with over 100 million members and around $1 trillion in assets. Across the country, SBA is engaging 250 credit unions to approve at least 10 loans of $50,000 or less, which would inject over $125 million into the small business economy.

This partnership is one of the many ways SBA is dedicated to creating jobs and tapping into America’s full entrepreneurial potential. We know that those who dream big and work hard can achieve the American Dream with the SBA. SBA is committed to moving America forward by making it easier for entrepreneurs to access tools and resources to start and grow new businesses.

SBA has taken additional steps to boost small dollar lending which will bolster our credit union partnership. We’ve streamlined credit evaluations by revising credit criteria for SBA 7(a) small dollar loans and we’ve

continued on page 5...

CALVIN GOINGRegional Administrator

►Boosting Main Street Lending

...“Boosting Main Street Lending” continued from page 4.

zeroed out fees on small dollar loans ($150,000 or less) making it easier for entrepreneurs to access capital by cutting costs and time.

If you need a small business loan, contact your local credit union. Also check out your local SBA office to learn more about how you can gain access to capital to jumpstart your business at www.sba.gov/local. WELCOME NEW TABOR

MEMBERS!• Patricio Mendoza, E.C. Computers Inc.• Geoff Owen, Kiewit Infrastructure• Roman Richards, RJ Richards CE LLC• Lisa Tompkins, Black Emerald City

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►Opportunities are Coming! Are We Ready?

HENRY YATESPublic Affairs Chair

In the next few years we will see federal, state and local government spending more on transportation in Washington State. Most of this work—billions of dollars—will be in the Puget Sound region. Our success in taking advantage of these opportunities will depend on how prepared and engaged we are as this new work presents itself.

We are now watching the state legislature grapple with a $15 billion transportation funding bill which will bring $5 billion in new highway projects to the Puget Sound region, alone. While the bill may or may not pass in this legislature, something like it will inevitably get through the legislative filter in the next couple years. The city of Seattle is growing faster than any other city in the nation and the need for more and better roads is high on city government’s agenda. The last city transportation package, which funded many projects suitable for minority businesses was $365 million over 9 years and the quest for a significantly larger funding stream will likely happen next year. And don’t forget the federal government, which already contributes about $700 to state and local governments for transportation annually. It will

likely create a new funding mechanism that could possibly bring even more transportation dollars. Lastly, Sound Transit is looking to get money from the Legislature and have the public vote to help raise about $15 billion dollars for ST3.

It is critical that we are monitoring and participating in the fate of all these measures and it is even more important that we get meaningful work from them and the two are tied together. Our engagement in all these opportunities will hinge on preparation – are we ready to engage with government and non-government entities that will create and ultimately spend the money generated by these new initiatives? Whether you run a PR firm or install hot mix asphalt on highways, showing up at meetings, commenting on critical legislation and bidding, yes, bidding, on the work, is key to getting some of these dollars. Tabor will help, but Tabor can only do so much. It will be important for all of us to “be present and be heard” when we are asked to comment on a particular piece of legislation, be in the crowd at a city council meeting or even talk to someone you know who might be a decision-maker..

We are going to see more spending on road and rail projects than we have ever seen. Time will tell how much will come to those of us who have traditionally been excluded. Are you ready?

Excellence Schools Now January meeting photos.

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By Linda Kennedy

Tabor 100 members had a rare opportunity after the January meeting. We met with three Washington State legislators to talk about the business of education.

As many of you know, Tabor received an education grant from Excellent Schools Now (ESN)— a coalition of some 40 organizations, which support education advocacy and equity. Education Chair, Kevin Washington and member, Linda Kennedy are working on this project.

Tabor 100’s particular charge in this effort is to recruit small and minority owned business organizations and businesses to advocate for better education in Washington schools.

The Legislators, Beacon Hill Democrat Senator Bob Hasegawa who is on the Ways and Means Committee and Republican Education Committee Leaders, Senator Steve Litzow from the Eastside and Representative, as well as Chad Magendanz from Renton attended.

The group told the legislators that we must have culturally competent teachers and districts which create bridges among communities welcoming parents into schools and encouraging their involvement. We need equity between school districts so students in Tukwila have the same opportunities as students on Mercer Island. Other suggestions included teaching parents to navigate the school system for the benefit of their children.

Business owners told the legislators students need more than STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Too many are graduating without the skills they require to enter the workforce. They said they spend valuable time teaching young employees things they should have learned in school. To make it in the work world, graduates need to be well-rounded critical thinkers who can work successfully on a team and function well in a variety of settings.

If you would like to be a part of our group, contact Linda Kennedy at Linda@LKMedia.biz or Kevin Washington at Washinkc@comcast.net.

The leaders of Tabor 100 want you to “Focus on the Goal” in 2015. Believe in our children and make better education for all our students part of the dream.

►The Business of Education with Excellent Schools Now

BEST PLACES FOR BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES?

Patti PayneColumnist- Puget Sound Business Journal

According to the last census in 2010, the city of Seattle comprises 8.4% African-African, which is a larger concentration than King County (6.1%) or Washington State (3.6%).

If you are an African American business owner or entrepreneur looking for the best place to locate your company, Seattle may not be on your list. At least, not according to a recent study done by NerdWallet, a consumer advocacy group, which looked into 109 metropolitan areas in the U.S .

NerdWallet lists Columbus, Ga., as the No.1 best place for black-owned businesses, with 34.2 percent of businesses there owned by African Americans. Seattle ranked No. 78, with only 2.9 percent of its businesses owned by African Americans.

However, in the Georgia city, the average revenue of these businesses is $32,000, while in Seattle it is $98,000.

NerdWallet’s website indicates that there are 2.1 million black business owners — a group that brings in more than $138 billion in revenue each year, according to the National Black Chamber of Commerce.

Here’s the NerdWallet list of the top 10 places for black-owned businesses, none in the Pacific Northwest:1. Columbus, Ga., metro area2. Montgomery, Ala., metro area3. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, Ga.4. Memphis,Tenn., metro area5. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area6. Fayetteville, N.C., metro area7. Durham, N.C., metro area8. Jackson, Miss., metro area9. Savannah,Ga., metro area

10. Baltimore metro area

THE TABOR 100 BOARD

President: Ollie Garrett President@Tabor100.org

Vice President: Brian Sims VP@Tabor100.org

Treasurer: Tracey Cruise Treasurer@Tabor100.org

Secretary: Sherlita Kennedy Secretary@Tabor100.org

Membership: Open Position Membership@Tabor100.org

Education: Kevin C. Washington Education@Tabor100.org

Public Affairs: Henry Yates PublicAffairs@Tabor100.org

Economic Development: Open Position EconomicDevelopment@Tabor100.org

Government Affairs: Jamila Johnson GovernmentAffairs@Tabor100.org

Fund Development: John Berdes FundDevelopment@Tabor100.org

Business Development: Malcolm Waters BusinessDev@Tabor100.org

TABOR 100 OFFICE 2330 130th Ave NE #101 Bellevue, WA 98005 425.882.4800 x.107 Staff@Tabor100.org

Newsletter Editor: Mel DePaoli mel@omicle.com | 425.440.1099

Webmaster: William H. Dudley WilliamDudley@jcisreal.com 425.917.8288

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT!

Lilly and Tabor 100,

working together for better health.

PRINTED IN USA ©2013, Lilly USA, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. lillyforbetterhealth.com

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Mar. 4: PCL Construction’s Semi-Annual SBE / DBE Outreach and Networking Event. 5-7 p.m. at 3650 131st Avenue Southeast, Bellevue.

Mar. 28: Tabor 100 General Meeting. 10 a.m. - noon at The Central.

May 20: Seattle Business Tradeshow. 3-7 p.m. at the

Washington State Convention Center.

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.

Government Affairs Committee meets on the last Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., preceding the Tabor General Meeting. The meetings are held at the G.R.E.A.N. House Coffee & Café shop, across the street from New Hope Baptist Church.

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

City of Seattle WMBE News – February 2015 City Purchasing and Contracting Services

Director: Nancy Locke, Nancy.Locke@seattle.gov 2014 Recap City consultant spend to prime consultants shows great improvements in 2014, after several years of declines. By year-end, we matched the city’s greatest consultant spend ever. This excludes WMBE subconsultant spend. For more reports, see www.seattle.gov/business

Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has dramatically reshaped their WMBE utilization trends, recovering from some of their recent declines that had been the lowest utilization rates in recorded years.

0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 14-Q1 14-Q2 14-Q3 14-Q4

City Consultant WMBE Spend (Prime Only) - All Departments

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5%

10%

15%

20%

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2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 14-Q4

Seattle Department of Transportation(Prime only) Consultant Spend

WMBE Public Works Inclusion Plan We updated the Public Works Inclusion Plan with two changes. First, it now reflects “past performance” that includes last year too. Several categories show really strong improvement: roadway work started at less than 10% WMBE subcontracting in 2012 and ended 2014 with a robust 18%; roof work started at 6% in 2012 and ended 2014 with a robust 30% WMBE subcontractor utilization. Pay attention to the other change in the WMBE Plan. This is similar to improvements made to the consultant plan. This change requires the Prime to honor the package of pricing, terms and conditions which you agreed upon in writing as part of the guarantee. This places an equal responsibility on the prime and sub to get clear and documented agreement in advance. Upcoming Events Feb. 20, 2015 – Priority Hire Ordinance roll-out Central Area Senior Center, 9-11 a.m. Join our workshop for women and minority firms to learn about the City of Seattle’s new Priority Hire Ordinance and associated Project Labor Agreement. We will review the ordinance and implementation plan, invite discussion and answer questions. No registration required. Feb. 24, 2015 – OMWBE Certification Class Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 Fifth Ave., Seattle, WA, Room 1600, 2–4 p.m. The City of Seattle encourages WMBE firms to certify through the State Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises. This free workshop provides hands-on assistance in certification. Bring your business paperwork and begin the process at the event. Email forrest.gillette@seattle.gov to reserve a spot. Feb. 25, 2015 – Consulting CIP Show Bertha Landes Knight, Seattle City Hall All capital departments will introduce major upcoming projects that are likely to have large engineering design consultant solicitations during the coming year. More details to come. March 5, 2015 – Alliance Northwest Sleep Country Complex, Washington State Fair in Puyallup, 110 Ninth Ave. SW, Puyallup, WA 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Alliance Northwest is a business-to-government conference that features keynote speakers, workshops and matchmaking sessions with government agencies and primes. Early bird registration ends Jan. 31. For more information and to register, go to www.alliancenorthwest.org/register. March 10, 2015 – Regional Contracting Forum Washington State Convention Center, 800 Convention Place, Seattle, WA, 8 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Attendees meet government contracting representatives and network with contractors, consultants and suppliers. For information, contact Forrest Gillette, forrest.gillette@seattle.gov or call 206-684-3081.