business engagement and compliance office

ADOT’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office, Major Projects leader honored

ADOT’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office, Major Projects leader honored

ADOT’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office, Major Projects leader honored

April 5, 2023

WTS Advancing Women Advancing Transportation recognizes industry commitment

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation's Business Engagement and Compliance Office and Robert Samour, ADOT Deputy State Engineer for the Major Projects Group, have been honored for contributions to the transportation industry and to advancing women.

At an April 1 ceremony in Phoenix, the WTS Advancing Women Advancing Transportation‘s Metropolitan Phoenix Chapter presented its Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award to ADOT’s Business Engagement and Compliance Office (BECO). BECO ensures that ADOT and its subrecipients, contractors and consultants comply with federal regulations related to disadvantaged and small business inclusion, equal and fair employment opportunity and on-the-job training in the construction trades.

BECO’s efforts include Construction Academy Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs that prepare minorities, women, disadvantaged individuals, and veterans to enter highway construction trades. A Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and Small Business Transportation EXPO scheduled for Wednesday, May 3, at the Mesa Convention Center will help small businesses and those owned by individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups compete for transportation contracts that receive federal funding.

More information on BECO and its mission are available at azdot.gov/BECO.

Samour, who received the Honorable Ray LaHood Award, named for the former U.S. Secretary of Transportation, oversees ADOT’s Major Projects Group. In that role, he is responsible for the state’s largest freeway projects, including construction of the Loop 202 South Mountain Freeway and the I-10 Broadway Curve Improvement Project. That includes managing public-private partnerships that allow ADOT to construct these projects faster and at a lower cost.

The WTS Advancing Women Advancing Transportation is an international organization dedicated to shaping the future of transportation for the public good through the global advancement of women. More information on the group and its mission is available at wtsinternational.org. To learn more about other winners of the Metro Phoenix Chapter’s annual awards, please visit wtsinternational.org/chapters/metro-phoenix > Annual Awards

ADOT switches to virtual meetings to help small businesses

ADOT switches to virtual meetings to help small businesses

ADOT switches to virtual meetings to help small businesses

June 5, 2020

PHOENIX – The current public health situation has transformed how the Arizona Department of Transportation educates and supports disadvantaged and small businesses seeking federally assisted contracts, with virtual sessions replacing traditional meetings.

“We continue in creative ways to serve our customers relentlessly,” said Kent Lane, small business and workforce development officer with ADOT’s Business and Compliance Office.

Companies participating in ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program must be owned by individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, such as women and minorities.

Regular ADOT offerings for disadvantaged business enterprises, such as a 21-week Business Development Program and counseling for individual businesses, are now being done virtually for all. Previously, online participation was available only for businesses outside Maricopa County.

The online format also holds promise for educational conferences, project opportunity expos, panel discussions and other gatherings. For example, a recent virtual Small Business Town Hall had Arizona Commerce Authority staff educating 31 disadvantaged business enterprises and small businesses about current and upcoming funding along with other resources available due to COVID-19.

The DBE Supportive Services team also frequently sends e-newsletters and emails about available resources, webinars and networking opportunities offered by ADOT and community partners.

For more information about ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program, please visit azdot.gov/dbe.

ADOT to host Small & Disadvantaged Business Transportation Expo

ADOT to host Small & Disadvantaged Business Transportation Expo

ADOT to host Small & Disadvantaged Business Transportation Expo

February 14, 2020

PHOENIX – The Arizona Department of Transportation and partner agencies will hold an event Thursday, March 12, highlighting project opportunities to owners of small businesses and companies qualifying for the agency’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program.

The 2020 DBE & Small Business Transportation Expo, scheduled for 7 a.m. to noon at Glendale Civic Center, also will allow attendees to network with industry professionals and business owners and hear from transportation leaders including featured speaker ADOT Director John Halikowski. Also participating are the Phoenix Public Transit and Street Transportation departments, Valley Metro, the Maricopa County Department of Transportation and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program helps qualifying small businesses compete for federally assisted contracts. The companies must be owned by individuals from socially and economically disadvantaged groups, including women and minorities.

To register for this free event, please visit adotdbeexpo.com.

Although the expo is geared toward Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and small businesses, it’s open to all businesses, public agencies, vendors and community partners with an interest in the transportation industry.

For more on this event or ADOT’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, please contact the ADOT Business Engagement and Compliance Office at 602.712.7761 or visit azdot.gov/dbe.

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