Supplier Diversity / Workforce Development

A COMMITMENT TO SUPPLIER DIVERSITY

The members of the School Board and leadership of the District are committed to making every effort to ensure that diverse suppliers are utilized on the projects that were approved by voters of the District in 2016 and 2020. This page is designed to provide a transparent view of those efforts and their results.

Following the passage of the first referendum in 2016 and an additional referendum in 2020, the School Board passed a resolution highlighting and reinforcing the District’s commitment to supplier diversity.

To meet the expectations laid out in this resolution, the District then retained the services of the Winston/Terrell Group. The Winston/Terrell Group offers considerable experience in vendor relations and coordination, public outreach supplier diversity and workforce development to assist in that effort.

MAKING SUPPLIER DIVERSITY A PRIORITY

Your District leadership understands that fostering a diverse supplier community requires intentional action and ongoing effort. Since the passage of the first referendum in 2016, several initiatives have been developed to achieve this goal. Here are some examples of these activities.

VENDOR PORTAL
The work began with the establishment of the MSDWT Vendor Portal, an online location where potential suppliers can easily submit their information, including any minority business certifications, experience with relevant projects, and history of meeting or exceeding projections on prior projects.

OPEN MIC
In 2017, the District launched the Open Mic program. Utilizing audio and video conferencing technology, this program offers direct access to District leaders by potential vendors. This provides an opportunity for vendors to get immediate answers to questions, and allows leaders to address concerns that might prevent a diverse supplier from participating in district projects.

PUBLIC MEETINGS
Access and transparency are key components to any successful supplier diversity program. With that in mind, the District has employed open Supplier Diversity Meetings, where suppliers and the public can seek answers to questions and voice any concerns regarding the process.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Building on the success of our supplier diversity initiatives, the District recently launched an innovative workforce development program with the professional partners involved in our referenda projects. This program provides valuable on the job experience to our students, while simultaneously increasing awareness of the partnership opportunities in our District.
You can read more about this program in this article featured in the Indianapolis Recorder.

STUDENT INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Washington Township Students intern at construction and architecture firms for workforce development.

Washington Township students to intern at construction, architecture firms for workforce development program

 

DELIVERING RESULTS 

Our efforts are yielding positive results. The District has selected partners with a demonstrated record of developing relationships with diverse suppliers who reflect the professionalism needed to make these projects a success. In addition, this work has already resulted in significant savings to the taxpayers of the District.

OUR PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS INCLUDE

America’s Office Source (MBE)
Anthony Anderson (WBE)
Atlas Excavating Inc. (WBE)
Banta Electric Co. (MBE)
Bill Lawrence (WBE)
Blasdell Solutions (WBE)
BrainSpaces (WBE)
CadVantage (MBE)
C-CAT (WBE)
Commercial Air (MBE/VBE)
Context Design (WBE)
CorGroup (MBE)
Cornerstone (MBE)
Davis & Associates (MBE)
Design 27 (WBE)
Delta Services (MBE/WBE)
Difiniti Group (MBE)
Diverse Industries (MBE)
Don Purdy Masonry (MBE)
Eastern Engineering (MBE)
Essential Architectural Signs (WBE)
F.A. Wilhelm Construction (MBE)
Fox Contractors (MBE)
Geiger Peters (WBE)
Georgia Direct (VBE)
Gibraltar Construction (MBE/WBE)
Gibson Lewis (MBE)
Grunau Company of Indianapolis (MBE)

HCO (MBE)
James Babcock Inc (MBE/WBE)
Jessie J. Wilkerson and Associates (MBE)
J. M. Rowland Construction (WBE)
JPS (MBE)
JQOL (MBE)
KBSO (WBE)
Limited Engineering (MBE)
Midwest Concrete (MBE)
M.J. Schuetz (WBE)
MonaVation (WBE)
Moore Restoration (MBE)
Mr. Davids Flooring (MBE)
Paul I Cripe (MBE)
Performance Contracting (MBE)
Powers & Sons (MBE)
Putnam Industries Inc. (MBE)
Repro Graphix Inc. (WBE)
R & M Electric (WBE)
RM Consulting (MBE)
Robert Haines (MBE)
Ryan Fire Protection (MBE)
Shrewsberry (MBE/DBE)
Specialty Contracting (MBE/WBE)
Thor Construction (VBE)
Tri-Ax Inc. (WBE)
Team Cruiser Supply (MBE)

These suppliers account for a significant portion of the expenditures on the projects funded by our referenda. Each month, the District reviews the total diversity commitments on these projects, and we will continue to share the latest numbers with you here.

OUR WORK CONTINUES

We encourage you and others to participate in this innovative effort to recruit and utilize diverse and qualified suppliers. If you know of a firm that should participate, please encourage their representatives to go to http://msdwtvendorregistrationform.com/

If you have any additional questions, please contact Supplier Diversity Coordinator Robin Winston robin@winstonterrell.com

PARTNERSHIPS THAT WORK

Professional Partners for our Referendum Construction Projects Include:

Alfie Hernandez: Master Facility Planning Consultant
MBM Construction Services: Marvin Murdock Capital Projects Consultant
Vision Construction Group: Jeff Schroeder Capital Projects Consultant with Monavation LaTisha Pirtle
Winston/Terrell Group: Supplier Diversity Coordinator

Early Learning Center (Hilltop Preschool) (2016 and 2020 Referendum)
Architect: Schmidt Associates with CadVantage (MBE), Cripe (WBE), Design 27 (WBE), JQOL (MBE), Repro Graphix (WBE)
Construction Manager: Smoot Construction with The Carpenter’s Son (MBE)

Allisonville Elementary (2016 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Cornerstone Engineering (MBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE)
Construction Manager: Smoot Construction (MBE)
Allisonville Elementary (2020 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE), JPS Consulting Engineers (MBE)
Construction Manager: Smoot Construction (MBE) with The Carpenter’s Son (MBE)

Crooked Creek Elementary (2016 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Cornerstone Engineering (MBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE)
Construction Manager: Smoot Construction (MBE)
Crooked Creek Elementary (2020 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE), JPS Consulting Engineers (MBE)
Construction Manager: Smoot Construction (MBE) with The Carpenter’s Son (MBE)

Spring Mill Elementary (2016 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Cornerstone Engineering (MBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE)
Construction Manager: Smoot Construction (MBE)
Spring Mill Elementary (2020 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE), JPS Consulting Engineers (MBE)
Construction Manager: Smoot Construction (MBE) with the Carpenter’s Son (MBE)

Fox Hill Elementary (2016 and 2020 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Cornerstone Engineering (MBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE), JPS Consulting Engineers (MBE), KBSO (WBE)
Construction Manager: Shiel Sexton Construction with Harmon Construction (MBE) and Zurbach Consulting (WBE)

Greenbriar Elementary (2016 and 2020 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Cornerstone Engineering (MBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE), JPS Consulting Engineers (MBE), KBSO (WBE)
Construction Manager: Shiel Sexton Construction with Harmon Construction (MBE) and Zurbach Consulting (WBE)

Nora Elementary (2016 and 2020 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Cornerstone Engineering (MBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE), JPS Consulting Engineers (MBE), KBSO (WBE)
Construction Manager: Shiel Sexton Construction with Harmon Construction (MBE) and Zurbach Consulting (WBE)

Eastwood Middle School (2016 Referendum)
Architect: Schmidt Associates with Design 27 (WBE), KBSO (WBE), Schneider Engineering (WBE), Shrewsberry (MBE/DBE), Team Cruiser Supply/Precision Point (MBE)
Construction Manager: Hagerman Construction with Powers & Sons Construction (MBE) and CorGroup (MBE)
Eastwood Middle School (2020 Referendum)
Architect: Schmidt Associates with CadVantage (MBE), Cripe (WBE), Design 27 (WBE), JQOL (MBE), KBSO (WBE), Repro Graphix (WBE)
Construction Manager: Powers & Sons Construction (MBE) with CorGroup (MBE)

Westlane Middle School (2016 Referendum)
Architect: Schmidt Associates with Design 27 (WBE), KBSO (WBE), Schneider Engineering (WBE), Shrewsberry (MBE/DBE), Team Cruiser Supply/Precision Point (MBE)
Construction Manager: Hagerman Construction with Powers & Sons Construction (MBE) and CorGroup (MBE)
Westlane Middle School (2020 Referendum)
Architect: Schmidt Associates with CadVantage (MBE), Cripe (WBE), Design 27 (WBE), JQOL (MBE), KBSO (WBE), Repro Graphix (WBE)
Construction Manager: Hagerman Construction with CorGroup (MBE)

Northview Middle School (2016 and 2020 Referendum)
Architect: Schmidt Associates with CadVantage (MBE), Cripe (WBE), Design 27 (WBE), JQOL (MBE), KBSO (WBE), Reprographix (WBE)
Construction Manager: Powers and Sons Construction (MBE) and Messer Construction

North Central High School / Central Campus (2016 and 2020 Referendum)
Architect: Schmidt Associates with CadVantage (MBE), Cripe (WBE), Design 27 (WBE), JQOL (MBE), KBSO (WBE), Repro Graphix (WBE)
Construction Manager: The Skillman Corporation with Davis & Associates (MBE)

Willow Lake Elementary School (2016 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Cornerstone Engineering (MBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE), Jesse J Wilkerson & Associates (MBE), JPS Consulting Engineers (MBE), KBSO (WBE)
Construction Manager: Smoot Construction (MBE)

Clearwater Elementary School (2016 Referendum)
Architect: CSO Architects with BrainSpaces (WBE), Context Design (WBE), Cornerstone Engineering (MBE), Design 27 (WBE), Infrastructure Engineering (MBE), Jesse J Wilkerson & Associates (MBE), JPS Consulting Engineers (MBE), KBSO (WBE)
Construction Manager: The Skillman Corporation