Building on the first-year success of an innovative mentoring program designed to support diverse-owned small businesses in the Tampa Bay region, the University of South Florida, in partnership with Skanska, is expanding the program to include more local companies in 2022.
The mentor-prot茅g茅 program provides businesses with training, development and partnership opportunities to help them grow their capacity and become more effective with competitive bidding processes.
The free, 10-week program coordinated through USF鈥檚 Office of Supplier Diversity provides guidance on a variety of subjects, such as environmental health and safety, field management, as well as marketing and business development.
This year鈥檚 cohort consists of 12 businesses:
- BSM Rescreen and Repairs LLC
- Cablelytics LLC
- Carter Companies LLC
- Chosen Industries, LLC
- Citrus Roll Off Dumpster, LLC
- Essential Janitorial Solutions
- Lenox Millennial Cleaning LLC
- Mary Butler, LLC
- MJ Renovation Group dba MJ Renovation
- Optional Solutions, LLC
- Pinder Construction & Construction Management Services LLC
- Smiley's Restoration & Painting Services, LLC
鈥淯SF is thrilled to partner with Skanska again for the second year of the mentor-prot茅g茅 program. Participants receive a wealth of information and resources, which better positions them for success with a wide range of projects across the construction industry,鈥� said Terrie Daniel, USF Office of Supplier Diversity assistant vice president. 鈥淭his program is an important part of USF鈥檚 overall commitment to supplier diversity, which continues to grow and result in more partnerships with small, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses in the Tampa Bay region.鈥�
Participants in last year's program say they benefitted greatly from the business expertise provided by USF faculty and staff, along with Skanska and other industry professionals. Upon completion, participants also receive a construction mentor from Skanska and a graduate student mentor from USF鈥檚 Muma College of Business.
鈥淥ur team at Skanska is extremely pleased with the results from the inaugural cohort that participated in the mentor-prot茅g茅 program,鈥� said Tracy Hunt, senior vice president at Skanska USA. 鈥淭he participating small and diverse businesses were able to receive training and guidance to scale their operations and become more successful in the bidding process for construction work. As we welcome the next cohort, we look forward to continuing to mentor local businesses while fostering diversity within the construction industry and helping to strengthen Tampa Bay鈥檚 business community.鈥�
Diverse firms are selected based on recommendations from community partners, which include the Hillsborough County NAACP, Prospera, the Women鈥檚 Business Enterprise Council Florida, Inclusive St. Pete and the Manasota Black Chamber of Commerce. To qualify, companies must be in the construction industry and in business for at least one year.
This year鈥檚 program officially kicks off with the first session on Aug. 25.