Through the 25 current prime professional services and delivery contracts, the IAH Terminal Redevelopment Program (ITRP) at George Bush Intercontinental Airport employs more than 526 companies in its day-to-day operations. Among the outstanding professional services organizations are currently more than 180 minority, women-owned and small business enterprises (M/W/SBEs) whose efforts have proven integral to the success of the ITRP.
The City of Houston is one of the fastest-growing, most diverse cities in the nation with a metro area population of 6.7 million people, no ethnic majority and where nearly one in four residents are foreign-born. The City encourages business practices and arrangements that are inclusive of utilizing M/W/SBEs and historically underutilized businesses.
Donna Williams, a Vice President at Parsons Corporation and the Program Management Support Services Project Manager for the Parsons-H.J. Russell Joint Venture, agrees with Sanderfer’s assessment.
“It’s not rocket science…when individuals with different worldviews work together, you’re going to get a wide variety of perspectives and ideas for solving problems or finding new, more efficient ways of doing things,” Williams said. Williams has been with the program for five years and leads her JV’s efforts in sourcing and hiring quality staff for the ITRP. “I’m proud to share that the Office of Business Opportunity recognizes contractors annually via the Annual Champions of Diversity Award program and in 2019 the PHJR Team received the City of Houston Professional Services Contractor of the Year Award,” Williams said.