Mndot DBE and Workforce Collaborative Project Teams 2017

MnDOT DBE and Workforce Collaborative Project Teams 2017

NEW: JOB SITE Cooperation – Chairs Abbey Bryduck and Mel Reeves

This team will develop training, education materials, and recommendations for support to address the need for creating an effective diverse workplace. Both new workers and employers need to adapt to a workplace that is different from what they are used to – including new mindsets and expectations on both sides. This new team will engage others to develop resources to address these cultural adaptations on both sides.

Pilot Project II – Chairs Joelynne Hanson, Tim Farrell, and Thomas O’Keefe

The Collaborative will continue to be an active part of a new Pilot Project that includes all the steps and interacts with all MnDOT systems will help everyone identify opportunities for genuine systems change as well as engage all the professionals within MnDOT that have responsibility and authority to create a fair system with opportunities for minority and women workforce and DBE participation.

Group will track modify, advise, recommend, processes (pre-bid to ribbon cutting)
MnDOT officials are a part of the group
Multi-professional team that can integrate commitment to diversity throughout entire system and collaboratively create genuine and sustainable systems change

Workforce Development – Chair Yolanda McIntosh

With a goal of 32% participation in the metro area, there is clearly a need to increase interest, readiness, and participation from minority and women workers in the hiway-heavy construction industry and in MnDOT projects. Doing so will include assessing opportunities to introduce people to careers in construction, recruitment of people ready but not yet in the pipeline, and implementation (or bringing to scale) efforts that have shown some promise elsewhere. The group will:

Assess the challenges and opportunists for workforce development and propose a plan to bring workforce up to scale
Explore models for application or expansion/replication within MnDOT or Collaborative entities
Identify strategies for overcoming employment barriers
Identify ways to support/prepare people for the realities of a career in construction including such things as, financial planning (personal), managing seasonal work cycles, transportation/mobility of assignments etc.
Review and make recommendations for improvement of the OJT program including recruitment, placement, supervision, retention etc. so that it is more effective as a path to longer term careers in construction
Assess how workforce participation is being tracked (trucking/operations, processes etc.) to see if there are improvements or modifications that might better reflect the full participation rate of minority and women in the event that some participation is not being captured.

Workforce Results and Transparency – Chair Ralph Wyman

One reason for the progress made to date is the accountability and transparency provided through the work of the existing Results and Transparency Team. The group reviews monthly MnDOT projects, goals, and progress on meeting those goals on dozens of major projects both in the metro area and outstate. The group should:

Continue its work of review
Provide consultation and support to contractors and MnDOT as needed when goals are not being met

Small Business Results and Transparency – Chairs Barb Lau and Bob Perry

Similar to the Workforce Results and Transparency Team, the Small Business Team will regularly review and assess progress on meeting DBE, Veterans, and TGB goals by project. It will then assist and provide advice and support to prime contractors that are not meeting goals. The Team will also:

Determine data needed to ensure sufficient information
Review monthly progress by project on meeting goals
Assess how to increase the number of DBEs, Veterans-owned business, and TGBs in meetings goals.
Receive and review periodic reports and progress from the new Small Business Resource Center.

Communication – Chair Barbara Raye

This team will improve the effectiveness of the communication both within the Collaborative project teams and members, between MnDOT and the Collaborative, and between the Collaborative and a broader community of stakeholders. The Project Team will:

Provide a liaison for legislature updates
Communicate the work and progress of the Collaborative to stakeholders
Serve as ongoing vehicle for reports or other communication the Collaborative might choose or be obligated to provide (ex. Annual report to the Commissioner)
Help distribute work of Project Teams that has value/application for other members of the Collaborative