Small staff gives affirmative customer service while promoting equal access

Director Velma Laws

The Affirmative Action and Contract Compliance staff is committed to providing certification, compliance, business development, and training programs with customer service that exceeds expectations. We work to make our clients say, “Wow!” It’s a tall order for a staff of 35, but every day these employees show they’re up to the task.

Our charge is to promote equal access, employment and economic opportunity at every level of city government, and to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal mandates.

The business development and certification staff helps make sure that small, minority, and disadvantaged business owners have the opportunity to participate in city contracts with MWDBE goals. They also resolve disputes with prime contractors and help businesses understand various regulatory requirements and master the maze of city contracting.

The contract compliance staff ensures city construction workers are paid fairly and prime contractors make good faith efforts to meet their MWBE goals. That means auditing thousands of certified payrolls each year, visiting construction sites, and monitoring MWBE participation on about 1,300 contracts.

The Training, Equal Employment Opportunity and Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance staff trains employees and supervisors on equal employment opportunity topics and provides workshops and seminars for S/MWDBE business owners. The ADA coordinator ensures citizens with disabilities can access city programs, services, and facilities. In addition to publishing the quarterly online newsletter, “The Source for Small and MWDBE News,” this team provided training for more than 3,500 city employees and 2,500 business owners last year.

The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities serves as an advocate and liaison to the disability community and helps citizens with disabilities access the programs and services they need. Last year, they assisted more than 4,400 citizens, worked closely with the Houston Commission on Disabilities, and participated in the Health and Wellness Town Hall meeting with the Parks and Recreation Department.

In 2007, we will continue to work smarter, more courteously, more cooperatively, more efficiently, and more thoroughly to provide our clients with the highest level of customer service.

We love to hear them say, “Wow!”