HOUSTON, March 11, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) today announced the promotion of Gilda Ramirez to Director of Small Business Development. She will direct the operation of PHA's goal-oriented, race- and gender-neutral program that targets small businesses and requires contractors to make good faith efforts to utilize approved small businesses.
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"As a world-class organization, the Port of Houston Authority recognizes that a vibrant entrepreneurial spirit is vital for leadership in global trade and commerce," stated H. Thomas Kornegay, PHA executive director. "Gilda is personally dedicated to assuring that small businesses play major roles in all port business. We applaud her unwavering commitment and look forward to great results from her expanded leadership role."
A native Houstonian, Ramirez joined the PHA in January 2002. She had previously worked at METRO for 18 years, advancing through the ranks in positions of increasing responsibility, including Director of Community Outreach and Government Affairs while simultaneously serving as the chair of the 2025 Millennium Mobility Plan Education Team.
Ramirez holds a B.A. in Public Administration and Boston College's Certification in Corporate Community Relations. She is also a graduate of Leadership Houston Class XIII and the United Way's Project Blue Print. Ramirez has served on various boards and is an active member of several chambers of commerce. She is currently the chair-elect of the Houston East End Chamber of Commerce.
PHA's Small Business Development Program
Participation in the SBDP is open to all certified small businesses located in greater Houston and the surrounding areas including Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Waller, Liberty, Chambers and Brazoria counties. An individual small business owner's personal net worth must not exceed $750,000 (excluding the business and homestead).
To participate in the SBDP, a company must complete and submit an application and vendor information form. The application must be accompanied by a copy of the company's small business certification. A company can be certified as a small business by the city of Houston, Houston Minority Business Council, METRO, U.S. Small Business Administration 8(a) and the Women's Business Enterprise Alliance. Upon PHA staff review and approval of a company's application and small business certification, a company becomes eligible to participate in the program.
Most contracts valued at more than $25,000 are considered SBDP eligible. The exceptions include contracts for sole-source items, federally funded contracts, contracts with other governmental entities and certain contracts that are otherwise prohibited by applicable law from inclusion in the SBDP. Professional service contracts are SBDP eligible contracts to the extent permitted by law and/or Port Commission policies. The SBDP also provides small business technical assistance and outreach by:
-- Encouraging the formation of joint ventures, alliances and
mentoring relationships among small and large businesses and
individuals.
-- Organizing training workshops and conferences led by advisors
with special expertise in the requirements for successfully
completing small business bids and proposals at the port.
-- Participating in community-based events for small, minority- and
women-owned businesses.
-- Using targeted media to advertise notifications of bid and
proposal opportunities at the port.
-- Requiring all prospective port contractors to submit written
assurances of meeting small business participation goals.
-- Facilitating ways to ease the costs associated with obtaining
insurance and surety bonds needed to qualify for contract bids.
About the Port of Houston Authority
The Port of Houston Authority owns and operates the public facilities located along the Port of Houston, the 25-mile long complex of diversified public and private facilities designed for handling general cargo, containers, grain and other dry bulk materials, project and heavy lift cargo, and other types of cargo. Each year, more than 6,600 vessels call at the port, which ranks first in the U.S. in foreign waterborne tonnage, second in overall total tonnage, and sixth largest in the world. The Port Authority plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety along the Houston Ship Channel, which has been instrumental in Houston's development as a center of international trade. The Barbours Cut Container Terminal and Central Maintenance Facility are the first of any U.S. port facilities to develop and implement an innovative Environmental Management System that meets the rigorous standards of ISO 14001. Additionally, the port is an approved delivery point for Coffee "C" futures contracts traded on the New York Board of Trade's Coffee, Sugar & Cocoa Exchange. For more information, please visit www.portofhouston.com
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