Florida Department of Management Services



Conference Call MeetingMeeting MinutesWednesday, August 3, 2016Welcome & Introductions:IN ATTENDANCE: Chair Cheryl Gonzalez (University of North Florida), Janet Harris-Lange (National Women Business Owners Corporation), Mariana Lugaro (United Data Technologies), Barbara Rhodes Melvin (First Florida Integrity Bank), Steven Rosa Pagan (Re/Max Premier Associates / The Steven Rosa Group, LLC), Augusto Sanabria (Hispanic Business Initiative Fund), Deborah K. Thompson (Deborah K. Thompson Consultants), and Brian A. Williams (Martin, Hild, PA).NOT IN ATTENDANCE: Michelle Andrewin (Palm Beach School District), Julius Davis (VoltAir Consulting Engineers), Sherod Halliburton (Manatee County Federal Credit Union), Rhett Frisbie (The Florida Bar), Johnny Helms (Lumbee Resource Management Group), Eduardo Gonzalez Loumiet(Uber Operations), Christine McMillon (ENSYNC Diversified Management Services), Jay Narang (GDKN Corporation), Paul Roldan (Allgen Financial Services), Ray Spaulding (FAMU Veterans Affairs), and Christine Yerkes (President/CEO, Yerkes South, Inc). From OSD: Hue Reynolds (Executive Director), Donna Williams (Marketing Coordinator), Allison Rudd (Stakeholder Relations Coordinator), Samantha Ferrin (External Affairs Manager), and Carmen M. Claudio (Admin. Assistant). The minutes were recorded by Carmen Claudio.Call to Order: Following roll call, Chair Gonzalez determined that the Council did not have a quorum to take any action on the agenda items. No members of the public joined the call. New Members:New Council members Steven Rosa Pagan and Janet Harris-Lange introduced themselves to the Council members who were present. Mr. Pagan is a veteran and a real estate broker with Re/Max Premier Associates. He is also owner of the Steven Rosa Group, LLC. Ms. Harris-Lange is the national President of the National Women Business Owners Corporation, which certifies women- and veteran-owned businesses. Both new appointees look forward to serving as Council members.Florida Department of Management Services:OSD Executive Director Hue Reynolds provided a brief report on the following items:Two new team members joined the OSD staff, including Marketing Coordinator Donna Williams and Stakeholder Relations Coordinator Allison Rudd. Both will be vital to the ongoing outreach efforts by OSD. Director Reynolds also welcomed newly appointed Council members Steven Rosa Pagan and Janet Harris-Lange. The Council now has the full 19 members the Secretary wanted to fulfill when Director Reynolds came on board. Director Reynolds shared that OSD will be participating in an upcoming event in Jacksonville, where Thad Fortune will serve on a panel discussion with the SBA and Jacksonville Jaguars on August 25. Additional details will be shared with Council members after the meeting.OSD began publishing a newsletter to provide information that will be helpful for small business development. Director Reynolds will share this publication to Council members in the near future.OSD has scheduled a Supplier Diversity Exchange in Orlando on November 3 at the University of Central Florida. Two Council members, Paul Roldan and Augusto Sanabria, will serve on the event’s planning committee.Director Reynolds also introduced new External Affairs Manager Samantha Ferrin, who will serve as the liaison between Council members and DMS moving forward.Stakeholder Commentary:Joe Follick, Communications Director, Florida TaxWatchMr. Follick provided an overview of Florida TaxWatch, an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit taxpayer research institute that has been in existence for more than 30 years. He shared the TaxWatch recently opened an office in Miami. Mr. Follick shared his appreciation of the work that the Council and the Office of Supplier Diversity are doing on behalf of small businesses, and is available to assist in any way.Chair Gonzalez and Mr. Follick had a discussion about activity between Florida Taxwatch and small and minority businesses. Mr. Follick informed the Council that he plans to discuss small and minority business issues with his researchers. They also had a discussion pertaining to the budget.Closing Comments:Chair Gonzalez asked to send any information to Director Reyolds for inclusion in the Annual Report, such as awards received, job changes, photos, and headshots, etc. Chair Gonzalez congratulated Brian Williams on his recent article and Barbara Rhodes-Melvin on her numerous accolades. Augusto Sanabria provided updates about Enterprise Florida, including recent staffing changes and a shift towards three primary focus areas: 1. Business development; 2. Marketing Florida; and 3. International Trade. Next Scheduled Council Meeting: September 7, 2016 ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download