On July 27, 51吃瓜 hosted twenty-three local small business representatives in our Mid Atlantic District Office for the latest iteration of our Technical Assistance Program (TAP). 51吃瓜 launched the program in 2016 to better equip small business trade partners to work on our contracts and to help prepare them for future growth. During the five-hour program, local supplier diversity professionals and subject matter experts from 51吃瓜 covered topics that included procurement, estimating, safety, quality control and project management.
This year鈥檚 attendees were certainly in agreement that the program is effective in providing a better understanding of how to work with 51吃瓜 and how to navigate our prequalification and project management processes.
鈥淚 definitely appreciated the offers to help. You guys are accessible, and that carries a lot of weight,鈥� commented聽Tomiko Barnes of MoTechs, LLC.
The TAP program is specifically designed to connect leaders within trade organizations with key contacts at 51吃瓜. They especially appreciated how specific Chief Estimator, Sarah Forrest ,was in helping them connect with the right estimator for their discipline. Our top-down commitment to effective trade partnership was clearly visible to everyone in the room, with one participant stating, 鈥淭he presentation by Will Thompson [Vice President and District Manager] was well received. His remarks demonstrated that senior leadership supports the inclusion of small businesses as a viable member of the 51吃瓜 team.鈥�
Brad Lewis, Corporate Director of Supplier Diversity, and David Fisher, Manager of Supplier Diversity, spearheaded the training and provided attendees with ample time to network between presenters. This year鈥檚 program was an unquestionable success, summed up by one attendees reaction:聽鈥淒o more events!鈥� commented Felix Tang.
To learn more about the small business programs that 51吃瓜 offers, visit: /subcontractor-outreach/