newsobserver.com projects - DOT: Department of Travel? - Comments

Re: DOT: Department of Travel?

Shelroc09 — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:44:46 -0400

Get the facts before you dismiss supplier diversity programs which you confuse with affirmative action programs. The government, community and tax payers will pay now or pay later for past policies, practices and discrimatory efforts negatively impacting minorities and women in business. The playing field is still a uphill battle in areas such as access to capital, obtaining on the job experience, bonding and insurance as well as breaking down the strong hold of capacity issues that have been fostered by years of discrimination against minorities and women businesses.
If you believe everyone deserves an EQUAL shot then ask NCDOT why African Americans only received 1% of all contractual dollars for the past 3 years. NCDOT needs to do all the outreach and contracting possible to improve its record with contracting and procurement with minorities.

SHELROC

Re: DOT: Department of Travel?

Shelroc09 — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:32:11 -0400

Thank you News and Observer for once again slanting a story negatively to sell newspapers! You and your reporters know and do little to uplift the minority and women business community throughout your service area. It is imperative that the work Mr. Russell, other Small Business Development Specialists and Supplier Diversity professionals do to support, foster and encourage participation in contracting and procurement across the government, private and public sectors. Rest assured, regardless of how one may feel about supplier diversity programs the competition, rules, access and evaluation process is far from a "level playing field" in business. A better story and understanding for the N & O and its readers would be, "Supplier Diversity in business positively impacts the community through job creation, supply chain diversity and quality of work product throughout North Carolina." I encourage all Executive Managers and CEO's to attend ENC 2010. If Supplier Diversity Executive Networking is good for Merck & Co., Food Lion, Progress Energy, NCDOT, UNC-CH, Diaz Foods, IBM, NASCAR, ESPN and Wachovia to name a few... maybe the News and Observer can learn the importance of supporting and PARTICIPATING in such programs.

Shelroc@yahoo.com

Re: DOT: Department of Travel?

tangoz — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:17:15 -0400

I have reservations about this type of affirmative action. It was ruled unconstitutional in busing, college admissions and other areas. I believe everyone deserves a EQUAL shot.

DOT: Department of Travel?

markjohnson — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:32:35 -0400

The Department of Transportation, which has laid off temporary workers and is trimming its budget, paid more than $1,000 last weekend to send one of its managers to an executive networking conference at a resort hotel in Pinehurst.

Shelton Russell, director of workforce opportunity and development for the department, attended a conference organized by the N.C. Institute for Minority Economic Development.

The Transportation Department paid a $1,000 registration fee for him to attend. His room at the Manor – "a sportsman's lodge" – in Pinehurst is listed as $127, about double the usual state rate for hotels.

Russell initially filed a registration form indicating he would take advantage of the tennis function on Saturday, though at a beginner level. A subsequent registration form, though, left the tennis section blank.

The conference, which began Thursday, is billed as "bringing together minority business entrepreneurs and corporate decision makers."

The event, however, comes after the Transportation Department has laid off 1,200 temporary workers who typically do pothole filling, drainpipe clearing and grass cutting alongside roadways.

DOT Communications Director Greer Beaty said providing technical assistance and training to companies owned by minorities, women and the disabled will help them survive the recession, something that is central to the mission of Russell's office.

That office was created to help such businesses compete for DOT contracts.

"Making sure that all businesses in North Carolina have the same access to, and are able to take advantage of, the opportunities before them should be part of everyone's mission," Beaty said.