Great Opportunities for Small Businesses at Airport

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1 JUNE 2017 Great Opportunities for Small Businesses at Airport An interview with Ronald Lewis, Deputy Executive Director of Operations From the bustling North Terminal to the rising South Terminal, Ron Lewis sees great opportunity for small businesses to grow and succeed at Orlando International Airport. This is an exciting place to be, said Lewis, Deputy Executive Director of Operations for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA), the airport s governing body. No two days are alike, and what matters most for small businesses that wish to succeed is how hard they will work to make their dreams come true. With more than fifty years experience in aviation, twenty-five of those with GOAA, Lewis knows a thing or two about what it takes to succeed in the industry. He began his career in 1964 with Trans World Airlines (TWA) while he was studying business administration at the University of Cincinnati, attending college by day and working at night. Working with TWA exposed Lewis to people and cultures from around the world. During the introduction of the 747 aircraft between New York City and major European destinations, Lewis was on board as a customer service representative talking to passengers about what was important to them for eight hours at a time. Here he learned the power of listening and being genuinely interested in people, insights that serve him well to this day. In today s security conscious environment, Lewis continues to draw upon these lessons. Maintaining the airport s safety and security is his main focus because, as he said, Nothing else is possible unless people feel taken care of. Having worked in airports around the world, Lewis brought a broad base of experience and knowledge to GOAA when he joined the organization in One thing he noticed was that there were very few opportunities for small businesses. Elsewhere, he had seen small businesses make significant contributions to other facilities and found it gratifying. During his time at GOAA, Lewis has supported the inclusion of small businesses and the role of the Small Business Development Department. Today, Lewis regularly interacts with the airport s contracted small businesses through his role as Chair of the Ground Transportation and Concessions Procurement committees. Twice a month, he also oversees focus groups that include rotating small business representatives. Lewis says one of the greatest benefits of pursuing a contract with GOAA is the opportunity it provides small businesses to grow and gain new skills. He urges small businesses interested in working with GOAA to engage with the Small Business Development Department, which, does an excellent job of identifying opportunities for small businesses. With all of the construction and development going on, there are great opportunities right now. We want to ensure small business people are not left behind [as the airport grows], he said. One of the biggest satisfactions is watching small businesses develop and progress from one contract to another.

2 $300 million in small business contracts may be awarded in South Terminal Expansion, details at GOAA s June 29th small business presentation Arrivals Level Curb Level 3 The Small Business Development Department team is dedicated to making the South Terminal Complex expansion as inclusive as possible for locally-owned companies. That effort launches on Thursday, June 29, with a Construction Program Presentation for small businesses followed by Parking Garage Pre-bid information. The June 29th event will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Orlando Executive Airport located at 365 Rickenbacker Drive, Orlando, FL We are excited to welcome Central Florida s small business community to learn about the more than 40 contracting opportunities that will be awarded due to our multi-billion dollar expansion, said George Morning, Director of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority s (GOAA) Small Business Development Department. The South Terminal Complex at Orlando International Airport (MCO) is a $1.8 billion expansion project and approximately $300 million will be awarded to small businesses. The project will include a new airside terminal with 16 gates, baggage handling systems, and a six-story, 5,000-space expanded parking garage. GOAA has a 30-year relationship with small businesses and is committed to awarding significant contracts for this project. The June 29th presentation is the first in a series of events and outreach activities hosted by the Small Business Development Department to identify, educate, and involve as many small businesses as possible, including businesses certified as MWBE (Minority Women Business Enterprises), LDB (Local Developing Businesses), and SDVOBE (Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Enterprises). For those seeking details on certification, more information is available at By partnering with small, locally-owned businesses, we add value to our construction projects while investing in Central Florida s economic growth and development, said Phil Brown, Executive Director of GOAA. In 2014, GOAA awarded $100 million to small businesses and construction projects. Questions regarding the event and RSVPs may be ed to sbd-events@goaa.org by June 26th.

3 GOAA and Hensel Phelps Provide Opportunities and Partnerships for Small Businesses Intermodal Terminal Facility By Dylan Evento Hensel Phelps has partnered with the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) and will be providing preconstruction, construction, commissioning, and close-out phase services to GOAA as the Construction Manager at Risk for the 822,000 sq. ft. airside portion of the new South Terminal C. The project includes the construction of 2.8 million square feet of apron and taxiway paving, 16 gates, roadways, lighting, walkways, and security improvements. This project represents an important opportunity for both Minority and Women Business Enterprises (MWBE) and Local Developing Businesses (LDB) in Central Florida through both Hensel Phelps and project subcontractors. In addition to the Airside Terminal work, GOAA also is partnered with Turner-Kiewit Joint Venture on the connected Landside Terminal, CEP, and parking garage, which comprise the remainder of the current South Terminal Program and provide additional opportunities to MWBE and LDB businesses. Outreach efforts and advertisement notices will be conducted to garner interest within all trades prior to issuing each bid package. Scope packages will be developed and packaged to better align with the capabilities of interested firms solicited through a competitive bid process. Subcontractors that would like to bid on these upcoming packages are asked to contact GOAA s Office of Small Business Development or visit its website to ensure that they are properly certified per GOAA s MWBE and LDB policies prior to bidding. In addition to its own MWBE certification, GOAA accepts current MWBE certifications from the City of Orlando, Orange County Government, and the State of Florida Office of Supplier Diversity. GOAA s LDB Program is unique to GOAA and therefore, GOAA only accepts its own LDB certification. Additionally, in order to receive an invitation to bid, subcontractors must first be prequalified by completing and submitting the Hensel Phelps prequalification form available at azurewebsites.net/. Hensel Phelps has performed work for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority for more than 14 years and has consistently achieved and exceeded contracting goals with our LDB and MWBE partners. We have been a local presence in Orlando for the past 19 years, and our team is committed to building upon our prior efforts to grow businesses within our community on the South Terminal C Phase 1 Project.

4 Advocating Small Business Success Vernice Atkins-Bradley Vernice Atkins-Bradley has championed small businesses throughout her career. When she worked at the City of Orlando s Downtown Development Agency, she was known for creating programs to enhance life in Downtown Orlando, especially for African Americans. And during her three years as vice president of the M/WBE Alliance and the Construction Assistance Center, her office worked with GOAA on several initiatives to expand the reach of small businesses in the community. In 2009, Atkins-Bradley left an executive position at Turner Construction to form Votum Construction with her business partner, Teska Dillard, who also was with Turner. The company specializes in building and renovation services and has successfully partnered with larger firms, including Turner, to work on some of the city s biggest projects. When I started my firm, we knew how to look for opportunities in the marketplace and sell our skills as a small business to secure those lucrative contracts, she explains. Representative Votum contracts include significant community Venues projects such as the Amway Center and the Orlando Citrus Bowl, the demolition of an old church on the future site of the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center, and the Orlando City Soccer stadium. In addition to sports and entertainment complexes, Votum also has completed projects with religious and educational facilities, including Florida A&M University College of Law and Barry University of Law. The knowledge she gained while working with government agencies has paid off for Votum, which recently secured its first contract with GOAA s Small Business Development Department for the South Terminal Complex project. We are tremendously excited to be working on a multi-year project in a new environment that can help us learn new skills, she says. Today, she continues to champion other small businesses, including her competitors, to connect with and become involved with GOAA. My partner and I invite other small business owners to meet with us one-on-one, and we help explain the construction management process. We show them how to prepare in-house bids and how to devise a plan if they are awarded a project of this magnitude. Atkins-Bradley credits the firm s success not only with opportunity but also with knowledge and networking. She encourages other business owners to attend information meetings, find out when the pre-bid conferences on projects will be opened, and attend local board meetings to learn about a project s status. But most importantly, she says, success comes from business owners taking an internal evaluation of the company, Identify what work they can do and logistically how they can sustain the company in a long-term contract, both financially and technologically. Every day that our door is open is a hallmark of our success. Our employees and families rely on us to make good business decisions, so they have a place to work, and I know that we have succeeded in that goal.

5 GOAA Small Business Development Department Provides Counsel, Advocacy and Advice to Local Companies Orlando Intermodal Airport A question and answer session with Somdat Jiawan, Manager-Small Business Q. How long have you been at GOAA? A. I am in my 18th year serving the interests of the Aviation Authority and our partners in the Small Business Community. Q. What are your primary responsibilities in the Small Business Development Department? A. We might be considered matchmakers: we are constantly looking for ideal partnerships between small companies and current project requirements to create successful and sustainable relationships. We strive for the maximum inclusion of as many locally-owned Small Businesses as possible to participate and prosper through various airport improvement and expansion projects. After all, when local Small Businesses do well, our local economy does well, too. My job is to make sure that Small Businesses, including those certified as minority, women-owned, or service disabled veteran s firms, receive the support and assistance they need to effectively compete for construction, concession, and other airport business opportunities. We review and evaluate all items presented to the Construction Committee and the Professional Services Committee to determine the level and type of Small Business participation for each item and then actively seek a successful engagement. Finally, we ensure all subcontracts are monitored to ensure compliance and payment issues are handled promptly and properly. Q. What s the first step in assessing a potential Small Business contractor? A. We welcome all Small Business contractors as potential partners. We are here to help with mentoring and advocacy on everything from insurance to security and certification to safety. If there is an enthusiastic Small Business owner who wants to work with us and offers the kind of talent and skill set we need, our Small Business Development Department will work tirelessly to make that happen. Q. How do you maintain the required communication and transparency between GOAA, prime contractors, and subcontractors? A. We maintain open communication between our prime contractors, project managers, and Owner s Authorized Representatives. This proactive policy includes guidance from our legal department, mediation, and other resolution actions deemed necessary. Q. What characteristics can boost a Small Business chances of earning a South Terminal contract? A. There are three characteristics that boost a local firm s chances of working on the project: providing a skill set that is in demand and matches a job requirement; the capacity to be competitive; and the ability to deliver a quality product or service on time and within budget according to the project specifications. Certifications are important but are not required to compete in our projects. It s part of our job as Small Business advocates to help firms through the process of those certifications offered through GOAA. There are also other considerations for specific contract items, such as cash flow, manpower, and scheduling, but our department will work with a willing business owner to reach a successful partnership. Q. What steps, processes and programs are in place to support Small Business Participation? A. We have several programs in place to boost our Small Businesses. Primarily, the Aviation Authority is passionate about including as many small locally-owned businesses, including those owned by women, minorities, and service disabled veterans, as possible on available contracts. It s the lifeblood of our department. Second, our online certification systems allow applicants to apply electronically, so they can fill out the forms, scan required documents, and submit their certification request in less time and with less hassle. Third, we are streamlining our processing time for payments by moving into an electronic fund transfer system. We ve also refined the construction manager s payment process. And finally, the Aviation Authority has created a Designated Mobilization Program (DMP), which provides an advance payment on contract to meet costs associated with the initial project expenses and ease cash flow restrictions for our Local Developing Businesses (LDB). Q. How often do you provide an assessment of responsibilities and performance to ensure that a project is on time and on budget? A. While it s the General Contractor s responsibility to manage all subs to ensure timeliness, performance, and schedule, we are kept in the communication loop to maintain our support of Small Businesses. This helps ensure a smooth project in which sub contractors are paid as promptly as possible and that job performances are assessed fairly and openly. Need more information? Visit the Small Business Development Department link at airport-business/.

6 SBDD App Connects GOAA and Small Businesses Gerard Merritt, CEO of CGSolutionsGroup Mobile technology is transforming the way the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) connects with small businesses. Using its new phone app, GOAA s Small Business Development Department (SBDD) has created a news and information portal to promote opportunities at the airport, including the South Terminal Complex. The free SBD Connect app allows small business owners and prime contractors to connect at the touch of a button on their smartphones. Apps offer a direct form of connectivity for people who want to reach a wider audience, explains Gerard Merritt, CEO of CGSolutionsGroup, the technology solutions and software firm that developed the app. We get bombarded with hundreds, if not thousands, of s a day and how can we be sure if someone receives an ? The app lets business owners post their contact information and search for available prime contractors at the airport. A notes function allows users to type in and store a library of content from an event or project. The app also includes project agendas, schedules, and GOAA s upcoming community outreach events. The idea for the app formed last spring when Merritt met with George Morning, director of the SBDD. GOAA wanted to grow its outreach and find an effective way to reach small business owners in Central Florida. Merritt pitched the idea of creating an app and began the creative development on an initial strategy for Morning and his team to approve and then presented the mockups to the GOAA Executive Board. CGSolutionsGroup has worked with clients in the public and private sector, including Orange County Public Schools, Bethune-Cookman University, PSA Construction, and Balfour Beatty. However, Merritt says working with a large government agency such as the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority requires a different set of criteria that most small business owners may not realize. There are multiple stakeholders, so you need to receive approvals on every level for a project. We researched and followed GOAA s branding guidelines for colors and logos. We met those requirements early so we could focus on designing an app that was user-friendly and captures the interest of business owners, he says. Merritt s team of IT developers researched the demographics of small businesses and social media patterns. Most of the companies had established profile pages on Facebook, so Merritt mimicked similar functions using one button to find information rather than searching multiple pages. Swipe functions and creating familiar icons for gear settings and generic contact information buttons were added to the concept. The SBD Connect app debuted last fall at GOAA s small business networking event, and Merritt says the feedback from users has been positive. The company is now updating the app with additional color schemes and notifications tabs scheduled to go online in the next days. With an ability to reach a wider audience, Merritt explains the app platform can grow as GOAA s needs change with the South Terminal Complex such as creating a link to submit bids directly to prime contractors on projects. As a small business owner, Merritt applauds agencies who use mobile technology to better connect with their audiences. This is a direct contact and lifeline to GOAA s Small Business Development Department. If you are interested in doing business with the airport, you need this app, he adds. The SBD Connect App is available free to download at Android Play Store and itunes App Store.