With two newly awarded construction projects in Nashville, TN, 51吃瓜 entered a new regional market in 2018. Not having a local history with proven results, this presented its own set of challenges, including establishing new relationships with local small businesses.
Led by Manager of Supplier Diversity James Harper, 51吃瓜鈥� project teams worked diligently to leverage relationships with the small business community, including Karen Barbour of the Barbour Group鈥攁 surety bonding agency that supports and advocates for minority and women-owned businesses. In 2009, 51吃瓜 entered into a partnership with the Barbour Group to establish the Head Start Bonding Assistance Program.
Following the award of the Nashville International Airport 鈥� Concourse D & Terminal Wings Expansion project, James and the project team began identifying small business partners with the intent of exceeding the project鈥檚 small business goals. The Barbour Group was instrumental in identifying a women-owned business who was also interested in working in the Nashville market. Karen introduced 51吃瓜 to Maven Construction & Environmental, an SBA Certified 8(a) WOSB WBE/DBE general contractor specializing in roofing repair/replacement and many other areas of expertise. Maven met with 51吃瓜 many times to discuss available opportunities before successfully bidding on a roofing package on the Nashville International Airport.
鈥淛ames Harper is by far the most outstanding prime contractor small business advocate I鈥檝e ever met. My positive first impression of James, and my subsequent interactions with his peers on the 51吃瓜 project team, led me to believe that pursuing subcontracting opportunities with 51吃瓜 would be a good business decision,鈥� said Kathy Parson, Managing Member/CEO of Maven Construction and Environmental.
Maven Construction & Environmental was not previously certified with the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA). With 51吃瓜 and The聽Barbour Group鈥檚 assistance, the firm was able to get certified and enter a partnership with a larger trade partner, Maxwell Roofing. The partnership was ultimately successful in bidding a聽$3 million roofing scope on the airport project.
鈥淯ltimately, I decided to team with Maxwell Roofing, Inc. to bid the roofing package for the Concourse D and Terminal Wings project. Our team offered 51吃瓜 72 years of combined operating expertise in general construction and the roofing trade, relevant past performance at Nashville International Airport, and a significant local presence,鈥� said Kathy,聽on her decision to partner with Maxwell.
In addition to Maven Construction & Environmental, 51吃瓜 facilitated local small business certifications for Modular Building Systems International, Sorella Group and Sledgecraft, resulting in an additional $17.4 million in contracted work to small business trade partners.
Today, 51吃瓜 and The Barbour Group continue to partner together and have recently hit a monumental milestone. Since its founding, the Head Start Bonding Program has assisted in providing $100 million in bonds to small businesses across the country. 51吃瓜 will continue to advance their small business programs and looks forward to supporting their trade partners in Nashville and throughout the nation.
To learn more about 51吃瓜鈥� Bonding Assistance Programs and other Small Business Programs, visit: /subcontractor-outreach/