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NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORATION
2019 Disparity Study
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235 Peachtree Street, NE Suite 400Atlanta, GA 30303
Phone: (404) 584-9777
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ABOUT GRIFFIN & STRONG, P.C.
Firm Specializes in disparity research,
contract compliance,
program development,
training & supplier diversity consulting:
The most qualified team in the industry:
• 4 Juris Doctors
• 2 PhD Economists
• PhD Statistician
• PhD Candidate in Anthropology
• all with expertise in disparity research.
No study conducted by Griffin & Strong, P.C. has ever been
challenged or overturned in court.
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PROJECT TEAMProject Team Roles and Responsibilities
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LOCAL PARTNER
BLWall Consulting
Principal Consultant, Bridget Wall-Lennon
Role: to conduct procurement policy review, anecdotal interviews, public hearings, project outreach and surveys.
• Experience: Specializes in public policy, business, economic development and management.
• Provides DBE Certification & Support Services for the NCDOT Office of Civil Rights.
• Was responsible for establishing the NC HUB office and served as vice president and legislative chairperson of the NC MWBE Coordinators network.
2/1/2019 4
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
Michele Clark-Jenkins
Sr. Director of Consulting Group
Role: Project Manager
PMP Certified Project Manager and Certified Contract Compliance Administrator
Experienced legal researcher, writer, and business consultant. Has expertise in contracts, negotiation and business structure.
Over 10 years experience managing Disparity studies with expertise in database management. Over 30 years experience in corporate business management, strategic planning and business development.
Project manager over 20 GSPC studies, 4 goal-settings for Georgia DOT, 3 goal-settings for Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta Inter’l Airport, and 3 benchmarks for Metro Nashville Government
Graduate of Princeton University and NY Law School, Certificate in Negotiation from Harvard University
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
Dr. J. Vincent Eagan
Principal Investigator
Role: Principal Investigator, Policy Analysis
Professor, Economics, Morehouse College
One of the foremost national experts, serving on over 120 disparity studies.
Successful expert witness in 6 cases involving minority business programs. In two cases, Dr. Eagan’s testimony upheld disparity studies at the federal circuit court level.
Member of Bloomberg BusinessWeek Academic Advisory Panel for 12 years
Has a J.D. from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Economics from Georgia State University.
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
Dr. Gregory Price
Senior Economist
Role: Private Sector Analysis
Professor, Economics, Morehouse College.
Skilled Econometrician and Applied Theorist, Experienced in Economic Forensics. Has provided analysis for 12 GSPC studies including for Georgia Department of Transportation.
Over 15 years of experience in conducting economic analysis of discrimination and disparity.
Widely published in the areas of labor, employment, private sector contracting, lending, public contracting, self-employment, credit markets, and health disparities.
Previously served as Chairman of the Department of Economics at Morehouse College and interim Dean of Business School at Langston University.
Has both a PhD. And M.A. in Economics from the University of Milwaukee-Wisconsin.
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
Dr. B. Rom Haghighi
Chief Statistician
Role: Quantitative Analysis
Dr. Haghighi is a senior statistician with over thirty years of experience in managing and analyzing large databases.
In 2008, Dr. Haghighi was recruited by the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to oversee the largest disparity study ever conducted in the nation. The study included 149 state agencies, 9 medical and health science centers and 52 state universities, representing over 2.6 million cases.
Ph.D. with a concentration in data mining, data modeling and statistical analysis, Sam Houston State University (1985); M.A., Public Administration, Midwestern State University (1978); B.A., Political Science, College of Political Science (1975). Additional training in SPSS Programming, dBase IV, Mainframe Computers, SPSS Multivariate Programming.
Former board member for SPSS
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
David Maher, Partner
Legal Analyst
Role: Legal Analysis
Experienced Attorney and Partner with Griffin & Strong’s legal division. Provides general counsel and legal review.
Litigation specialist with over 20 Years of Experience
Extensive experience across a wide variety of practice areas, including corporate defense, litigation support, civil appeals and general counsel
Recognized as a Georgia Top Rated Lawyer in Appellate Law and Labor and Employment Law. Admitted to practice in U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh and Seventh Circuits; and the U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida and the Northern District of Georgia.
Drafted legal analysis for 6 disparity studies
Earned Juris Doctorate w/ High Honors from Florida State University College of Law
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
Sterling Johnson
Director of Public Policy
Role: Deputy Project Manager and Community Engagement Coordination
Has significant experience in project management, community economic development and policy analysis and program consulting.
Has served as Deputy Project Manager for nine (9) Disparity Studies. Including engagements for the Georgia Department of Transportation and the City of Greensboro, NC.
Currently serving as Project Manager for 4 engagements, including the Living Cities City Accelerator 4, the City of Chattanooga Disparity Study and engagements for the City of Charlotte and Louisville Water Company
Holds B.A. in Sociology from Furman University and M.P.A. with focus in Economic Development and Planning from Georgia State University.
Certified Contract Compliance Administrator
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
Imani Strong-Tucker
Anecdotal Research Analyst
Role: Anecdotal Evidence Analysis
Has worked with GSPC’s consulting division in data collection, project management, and anecdotal analysis on more than 16 major public contracts.
Responsible for review and revision of anecdotal data and processes and drafting of the anecdotal evidence chapter.
Skilled in anecdotal analysis, planning, reporting, writing project narratives, and social media outreach.
Trained in the social sciences at Mount Holyoke College (BA, summa cum laude) and the University of Oxford (MSc. Social Anthropology). Current Ph.D. candidate at London School of Economics.
Certified Contract Compliance Administrator
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
Susan Johnson
Director of Project Development
Role: Project Administration
Top notch contract compliance professional with extensive public and private sector experience.
Significant history in public contracting with the City of Atlanta.
Responsible for contract administration with GSPC for 14 years. Also experienced in project management.
Holds two Master’s degrees from Georgia State University, in Human Resource Management and Urban Government Administration
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MANAGEMENT TEAM
Rodney K. Strong, Esq
Chairman and CEO
Role: Project Executive
Former Director of Contract Compliance for the City of Atlanta, GA
Nationally recognized expert in area of disparity research & supplier diversity program development.
Project Manager for the first major municipal post-Croson disparity study
Principal architect of the City of Atlanta’s EBO Program, which became the national model for post-Croson MWBE programs
Invited to testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship
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METHODOLOGY AND APPROACH
Process for Study Execution
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Disparity Studies Form the Factual Basis for Remedial Programs
➢City of Richmond v. J.A. Croson Co., 488 U.S. 469 (1989)
Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena.515 U.S. 200 (1995)
H.B. Rowe v. Tippett, 615 F.3d 233 (4th Cir 2010)
• Strict Scrutiny for race-based programs • (Intermediate for gender-based programs)
• Must have a factual predicate
• Methodology dictated by Case Law
• Must have narrowly-tailored remedy (to avoid over- or under-inclusion)
WHY DO WE DO DISPARITY STUDIES?
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PURCHASING POLICIES AND PRACTICES
GSPC framework in conducting a detailed policy review:
Detailed Policy Review
Do any policies present a barrier to M/W/DBE inclusion?
Do procurement personnel understand policies as written?
Do procurement practices match NCDOT’s written policies?
What policies could be modified to promote M/W/DBE inclusion?
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OUR PROCESS
Legal AnalysisPolicy, Practices, and Procurement
Review
Collect and Clean Data
Relevant Market Analysis
Utilization & Threshold Analysis
Availability Analysis Disparity AnalysisPrivate/Public Sector
Analysis
Anecdotal Evidence Collection and
Analysis
Final Report with Recommendations
Post Study Implementation
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ANECDOTAL ANALYSIS
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Informational Meetings
Series of public engagements designed to bring awareness to study and educate on study process.
Anecdotal Interviews
In depth 1 on 1 interviews with business owners
Survey of Business Owners
Telephone & Online Survey to gather both quantitative and qualitative feedback.
Public Hearings Strategically placed engagements across the metro area to gather public testimony on record.
Focus Group A small group meeting by business owners selected by random sample
Organizational Meetings
We will identify and engage all relevant stakeholders (including Civic, Social and Industry Groups)
Email Comments & Website
Ensures that everyone has an opportunity to be heard
Formal Complaints
Review of formal complaints in the form of bid protests, or other administrative or legal proceedings.
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FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS
GSPC’s program development, management, and implementation expertise sets us apart.
Findings & Recommendations
• Review of Efficacy and Identification of Race/Gender Neutral and Race/Gender Conscious remedies
• Recommendations informed by study findings to guide narrow tailoring
• Both Best Practices and Innovative Approaches for Race/Gender Neutral or Race/Gender Conscious Remedies.
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•Participate if contacted (by random selection) for:• Anecdotal Interview.
• Survey of Business Owners
• A Focus Group
•Attend a Public Hearing and provide input (early summer)
•Send an email comment to [email protected]
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
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•Find us on Facebook
•Tweet Us & Follow the Conversation @GriffinStrong on Twitter
•Check out NCDOTDisparityStudy.comfor latest information and public hearing dates
HOW TO STAY INVOLVED
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NCDOT STUDY WEBSITE
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DISPARITY STUDY PROJECT ARC
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Fall, 2018KickoffLegal Review.
Winter, 2019
Informational MeetingsOrganizational Meetings. Policy Review. Data Assessment.Data Collection.
Spring/Summer, 2019
Survey of Business Owners. Anecdotal Evidence Collection. Private Sector Analysis. Preparation of Databases.Disparity Analysis.
Fall, 2019
Anecdotal Evidence Analysis.Findings and Recommendations. Draft and Final Study
Report.
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FIND US ON THE WEB AT WWW.GSPCLAW.COM
@GriffinStrong
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