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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Jake Wheatley |
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State schools, contractors to testify at Monday hearing
HARRISBURG, June 26 – State Rep. Jake Wheatley, D-Allegheny, has scheduled a public hearing Monday of his select House committee that is reviewing whether enough is being done to ensure participation in state contracts and purchasing from minority-owned, women-owned and disadvantaged-owned businesses.
As chairman of the House Select Committee on Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Inclusion, Wheatley set the next hearing for 10 a.m. Monday, June 29 in Room G-50 Irvis Office Building in the state Capitol complex. Scheduled witnesses include representatives of state-related universities and prime contractors.
Live streaming video of the hearing will be available at www.pahouse.com/mediacenter/PAHouselive.asp.
The panel was created by a resolution (H.R. 78) Wheatley introduced, which the House adopted unanimously March 25. His resolution requires the committee to report its findings and any recommendations within six months. Testimony from the committee's previous hearings is available on Wheatley's Web site: www.pahouse.com/Wheatley .
Wheatley said the committee is mainly focusing attention on understanding barriers to participation, best practices for ensuring maximum diversity inclusion in government and industry, and recommending approaches to overcome identified barriers to adequate participation of minorities, women and disadvantaged business enterprises in contracts and employment in state government agencies, authorities and departments.
As part of its work, the select committee is reviewing state contracting from 2000 through 2008.
The other members of the committee are Reps. Karen Beyer, R-Lehigh; Ron Buxton, D-Dauphin; Babette Josephs, D-Phila.; Mark Mustio, R-Allegheny; Curtis Sonney, R-Erie; and W. Curtis Thomas, D-Phila.
Agenda
House Select Committee on Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Inclusion
Public Hearing
Monday, June 29, 2009
G-50 Irvis Office Building, State Capitol Complex, Harrisburg
10:00 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks
10:05 a.m. Panel One – Various Prime Contractors:
· Myrna Toro, President/CEO – Synterra Ltd.
· John G. Smith, Client Executive – Computer Aid Inc.
· Larry Myers, Sales Representative – Northeast T.A.C. Energy Solutions
10:50 a.m. Panel Two – Construction Prime Contractors:
· Andrew Notarfrancesco, Manager – Gilbane Building Company
· Jeff Kimball, President/CEO – Kimball Corporation
· Kathy Agostino, Diversity Coordinator – Mascaro Construction Company
· Eric Gass, Senior Purchasing Agent – Turner Construction Company
11:50 a.m. Panel Three – State-Related Universities:
· Duane Bullock, Manager of Supplier Diversity and Environmentally Responsible Purchasing – Penn State University
· University of Pittsburgh Testimony Submitted for Record
12:15 p.m. Closing Remarks