The P3 Project for Diverse Entrepreneurs

Air traffic control and aviation expert Oscar Lewis, president of The Lewis Company, visits the P3 Project podcast to discuss the recent midair collision of a military helicopter and passenger airplane near Washington, D.C. Lewis provides his insight on the accident and shares why DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) had nothing to do with this mishap. Lewis also discusses his journey to building a successful business in logistics management, aviation science and engineering services. The Lewis Company is based in North Carolina and has Orlando, Florida, and Virginia offices. Visit https://thelewiscompanies.com/ for more information. Shelton Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine, is the host of the P3 Project. Visit http://www.americandbe.com  

Kadilex Construction President Karl Jefferson Jr. joins the P3 Project for Diverse Entrepreneurs podcast to discuss his success in building a full-service Ironworking company in the infrastructure and transportation industry. Jefferson shares his experience of starting the business in 2010 specializing in rebar installation on bridge and highway projects but has expanded the company to include a variety of steel-related services. Jefferson shares how programs like the federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program (DBE) and others are helping minority-owned businesses to build capacity, gain market share and achieve success. Learn more about Kalidex Constructions at www.kadilexconstruction.com

Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nathaniel P. Ford Sr. and WSP USA Senior V.P. and National Transit and Rail Market Leader Jannet Walker-Ford visit episode #33 of the P3 Project for Diverse Entrepreneurs. Both Fords share their journey as a married couple maintaining a thriving relationship while serving as leaders and transportation industry executives. They also discuss their philosophies on effective leadership in maximizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in their organizations, and how they are preparing the next generation of diverse professionals to assume leadership positions in the infrastructure and transportation industries. Nat and Jannet conclude the conversation by discussing how they advance opportunities for DBE, minority- and woman-owned businesses in their organization, and how organizations like the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and WTS International help advance the mission of creating a more diverse and inclusive industry. Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine is the host of the P3 Project for Diverse Entrepreneurs podcast.    

Episode #32 of the P3 Project for Diverse Entrepreneurs features a conversation with father and daughter entrepreneur duo Steven Davis and Monique Allen. Davis is President & CEO of Construction & Engineering Services Consultants, Inc. in Jacksonville, Florida; and Allen is President of ACMS Northwest, LLC in Portland, Oregon. Both minority business leaders are growing successful enterprises as DBE firms in the infrastructure and transportation contracting industry. Davis and Allen discuss obstacles they have overcome to remain successful, how they attract and retain quality employees, and the people who have inspired their success. The P3 Project for Diverse Entrepreneurs is hosted by Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine. 

Fairpointe Planning, LLC CEO and Principal Tanisha Hall visits the P3 Project podcast and shares her journey to growing a successful business in the transportation planning industry. Hall talks about her business strategy when starting the company, the importance of getting certified as a disadvantaged business enterprise (DBE) and a woman-owned business (WBENC); and how these certifications helped the company grow. Hall gives her thoughts on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) -- also know at the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. She also gives advice to aspiring DBEs about strategies to accelerate their success in the transportation industry and in government contracting. Visit https://fairpointeplanning.com/

Legacy Rail Operations co-owners Gregory White and Jeffrey Wright visit the P3 Project podcast to share their journey towards DBE success in building a rail operations consulting firm helping transit agencies across the country improve the design, construction and operation of passenger rail systems. The brothers discuss uniting Jeff's extensive experience working in rail operations at Chicago Transit Authority with Greg's business acumen and entrepreneurial experience to create a unique firm in the marketplace adding value to its clients. The brothers also discuss working together to build the company and carving out a niche in their market. http://www.legacyrail.com/

DIGroup Architecture President Vincent Myers, AIA, LEED AP visits the P3 Project to share his firm’s history as a merger of three architecture firms coming together to maximize their collective opportunity. Vince also talks about being a second generation architect after his father, Harvey Myers, became one of the first African American licensed architects in the state of New Jersey. He discusses the firm’s strategy to take advantage of upcoming opportunities coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and how he is maximizing the firm’s MBE and DBE certifications to add greater diversity in the design, engineering and construction industries. https://digrouparchitecture.com/

Messer Construction Vice President - Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer Stanford Williams shares his company’s best practices for increasing the participation of MBE, WBE and DBE firms in supplier diversity efforts on construction projects. As a member of the company’s executive leadership team, Williams works directly with Messer President and CEO Timothy J. Steigerwald and other leaders to ensure inclusion and diversity is practiced throughout the company and on all construction projects, maximizing spending with minority businesses and women-owned businesses. Williams also shares his innovative and forward-thinking approach to developing employment opportunities for diverse workers using a wholistic approach to personal development and job training, called the Urban Workforce Development Initiative. Visit https://www.messer.com/economic-inclusion/

Talson Solutions, LLC Founder and President Robert S. Bright shares the history and accomplishments of his DBE and MBE-certified consulting firm specializing in construction auditing and capital project consulting. Bright talks about the role of a construction auditor, new industry opportunities coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and how to pursue international business opportunities. He also shares his passion for giving back to his community and for growing a successful business to be an example for other entrepreneurs to follow.  Talson Solutions is based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. https://talsonsolutions.com/

Onyx Enterprise, LLC President and CEO Tarolyn Buckles shares her firm’s story and journey toward success. Buckles is an engineer and entrepreneur building an engineering consulting, program management, and construction management firm based in Detroit, Michigan. Onyx Enterprise provides construction inspection services, materials testing and water/wastewater engineering. The firm is a certified woman-owned and minority-owned business that is also DBE certified in several states. Buckles talks about the value of training, mentoring and development programs in her firm’s success; and also how these programs helped with building relationships and marketing her company. Visit www.onyx-enterprise.com

Episode #25 of the P3 Project features an interview with Sumithra Jagannath, president of ZED Digital. Sumithra talks about her path to entrepreneurship after working in the technology industry earlier in her career. She also talks about new technologies and software applications changing the way transportation services are utilized, through internet-based tools like multimodal trip planning, contactless payments, and hands-free ticketing. Sumithra also shares her thoughts on the role technology will have in the transportation industry after the pandemic, and after the recent passage of a new transportation funding bill. Visit https://zed.digital/ for more information about ZED Digital. The P3 Project is hosted by Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine.

Yerba Buena Engineering and Construction President and CEO Miguel Galarza shares his inspiration for starting the company as a Hispanic business owner in San Francisco, California in 2002. Galarza talks about his background working as a journeyman carpenter in the labor union and then working for a SBA 8(a) contractor while learning to manage projects for the federal government. He also talks about the significance of being the first company selected as the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Diverse Business of the Year. Galarza describes his commitment to helping other Latino business owners succeed and how he learned to scale back his business to focus on profit rather than gross revenues.

This episode of the P3 Project features Charnelle Hicks-Gungor, president of CHPlanning/Nspiregreen. Hicks-Gungor describes her background and how she got interested in the urban planning industry as a college student at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. She also talks about her experience and strategy for growing her Philadelphia, PA-based DBE firm from a startup in 1998, to building a solid industry reputation through working with several large transportation agencies and leading national consulting firms. She then describes what led to the acquisition of Nspiregreen, a Washington, DC based planning firm in 2020 to accelerate her company’s growth. Hicks-Gungor also shares how the deal to by Nspiregreen came together and her strategy for integrating the firm into the CHPlanning organization. The discussion concludes with her thoughts on how more young people can be inspired to enter the urban planning field. Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine is host of the P3 Project. https://www.chplanning.com/ https://www.nspiregreen.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/charnelle-hicks-gungor-b9a9127/ https://www.AmericanDBE.com

C. David Moody visits the P3 Project podcast to discuss his journey as an entrepreneur in the Atlanta, Georgia construction industry and his journey as a survivor of sexual abuse as a child. Moody’s story of overcoming obstacles and challenges to achieve success is woven through his numerous professional and personal achievements. Moody founded C.D. Moody Construction Company, Inc. (CDM) in 1988 and has grown the company into an award-winning general contracting and construction management firm. CDM specializes in aviation, collegiate, commercial, K-12, municipal, nonprofit, and retail facilities, as well as historic renovations. CDM is ranked as one of Atlanta’s Top 25 Commercial Contractors and Top 100 Private Companies by Atlanta Business Chronicle. CDM has worked on several of Atlanta’s most notable projects including Olympic Stadium, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Turner Baseball Field, Philips Arena, Coca-Cola, Disney World, Mercedes Benz, Home Depot, and the new Maynard H. Jackson International Concourse. Learn more at https://cdmoodyconstruction.com/ and https://moodyspeaks.com/ Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine is the host of the P3 Project. https://www:AmericanDBE.com

Episode 21 features an interview with Mae C. Whiteside, P.E., founder, president and CEO of CKL Engineers LLC. CKL is based in Chicago and is licensed and a certified DBE firm in the states of Illinois, Texas, Georgia, Iowa and Indiana. Whiteside discusses her journey from public housing and homelessness to building a successful and award-winning engineering firm, while overcoming major obstacles along the way. Whiteside also talks about her passion for civil engineering, giving back to the community and helping other entrepreneurs succeed. http://ckleng.com/ https://americandbe.com/p3project/

Brunson Cooper, managing director of Corenic Construction visits the P3 Project podcast and talks about growing a thriving MBE/DBE construction company the Metropolitan Washington, DC area. Cooper shares his background working for one of the largest construction companies in America after graduating from North Carolina A&T State University. He also talks about growing Corenic Construction from a small startup firm to a general contracting company performing as a prime contractor and first-tier subcontractor on major building projects. Cooper then shares some of the mentors that have helped guide his career, and were a significant influence during the growth of the company. Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine is the host of the P3 Project. Websites: https://corenic-cg.com/ https://www.americandbe.com

LLE Construction Group LLC president & CEO Lasenta Lewis-Ellis joins the P3 Project to discuss her history and success as a woman entrepreneur in the construction industry. Lewis-Ellis talks about the challenges of starting a company in Columbia, South Carolina and the strategies she used to grow the company. She also shares her personal black history hero, tips for entrepreneurs to grow a successful company, and the major challenges facing minority businesses and DBE firms. Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine is the host of the P3 Project podcast. https://www.lleconstructiongroup.com/ https://americandbe.com/

Attorney Rodney K. Strong, CEO of Griffin & Strong P.C., visits the P3 Project podcast to discuss his firm’s work to increase equity and inclusion for minority-owned and women-owned DBE firms across the country. Strong highlights Griffin & Strong’s work on the Living Cities - City Accelerator initiative by helping 15 cities analyze their procurement activities to identify best practices and improvement opportunities for the greater inclusion of diverse companies. Strong also talks about his earlier work at the City of Atlanta on the team producing the nation’s first local disparity study; and about his black history and civil rights heroes, as the P3 Project continues to celebrate Black History Month. Strong later talks about the importance of minority-owned and women-owned firm’s participation in disparity studies in their market areas to help government agencies document the discrimination practices keeping them from gaining full access to business opportunities. Finally, Strong shares his lessons learned during his entrepreneurial journey and tips for entrepreneurs to consider when seeking to build a successful business. Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine is the host of the P3 Project. Griffin & Strong website - https://www.gspclaw.com/ Governing Magazine – City Accelerator - https://www.governing.com/cityaccelerator American DBE website - https://americandbe.com/

Episode 17 of the P3 Project podcast features a conversation with Melvin E. Clark Jr., owner, chairman and CEO of G.W. Peoples Contracting Company Inc. The company is based in Arlington, Virginia is one of the nation’s leading minority-owned rail construction companies. Mr. Clark talks about his experience in growing two rail construction companies during his career, his advocacy work on behalf of minority businesses to create the SBA’s Mentor/Protégé program as part of the 8(a) Business Development Program, and his efforts to extend the USDOT DBE Program to include expenditures using funding from the Federal Rail Administration. During the show, Mr. Clark also talks about his black history hero and the major challenges facing minority firms in reaching equality in the construction industry. He also shares his greatest accomplishment as an entrepreneur, and his advice to other DBE and minority entrepreneurs seeking to grow a successful company. Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine is the host for the P3 Project.

Attorney Colette Holt of Colette Holt & Associates visits the P3 Project podcast to discuss the legal landscape for DBE, minority-owned and women-owned businesses during the President Biden Administration. Ms. Holt also talks about the current makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court and the potential impacts this court can have on civil rights and affirmative action programs to support diverse business development. Other topics include the importance of disparity studies by government agencies to support affirmative action programs and her most influential figures in Black history in honor of Black History Month. Ms. Holt provides legal counsel and consulting services to governments and businesses on procurement and contracting; employment discrimination; regulatory compliance; Organizational change; program development, evaluation and implementation; and issues relating to inclusion, diversity and affirmative action. Ms. Holt is a nationally recognized expert in designing, implementing and defending affirmative action programs. She has concentrated her practice in these areas for over 20 years, after serving in senior legal and management government positions. The P3 Project Podcast is hosted by Shelton A. Russell, publisher of American DBE Magazine.