April

WOMEN BUILDER’S COUNCIL
Public Policy Committee (PPC) Meeting Minutes, Virtual Meeting

In Attendance at the meeting were: Theresa Bebber, Chris Boccia, Jayne Czik Felice Farber, Roxanne Guerrerio, Tatiana Kotlove, Nayaga Lugji, Shannon Miller, Gina Pantony, &Tanya Pope

Subcommittees-Dates to meet, Chair in bold

1. Certification Subcommittee – Felice Farber (STA), Joanna Karageorgiou (Kleinberg), Roxanne Guerrerio (KCM), Danielle Pemberton (Sweet Construction)
   Roxanne Guerrerio has agreed to serve as Chair of the Certification Sub-committee

   ACTION: The sub-committee will draft an email to be sent to all members of WBC on Certification Guidance
   ACTION: Confirm is NYC performs site visits on 100% of certification applicants.

2. DBE Program Litigation – Felice Farber, Roxanne Guerrerio (KCM)
   Felice Farber has agreed to serve as Chair of the DBE Program Litigation Sub-committee

   ACTION: The Chair of the PPC and Executive Director will send an email to all WBC members asking that they share DBE news and updates with Felice.

3. NAICS Code Size Standard/Personal Net Worth -- Krissy DiNapoli (KND), Roxanne Guerrerio (KCM)

   ACTION: It was suggested that we ask Krissy DiNapoli to serve as Chair of the NAICS Code / Size Standards / .Personal Net Worth sub-committee. The Chair will make the request.
   ACTION: Confirm if Angela Provisoto’s NAICS code issue is still pending.
   ACTION: Reach out to Tynesha Dyer, Deputy Commissioner at SBS to understand if and how NYC matches NAICS codes to contracts for MWBE vendor assignment.

4. Disparity Studies - Deborah Bradley, Tanya Pope, Nayada Lugji, Debra Inwald

   • Pursuing presentation from ESD Counsel

   Tanya Pope has agreed to serve as Chair of the Disparity Studies sub-committee

   ACTION: Confirm with NYC SBS if the Disparity Study being conducted by CUNY is also considering changes in the certification process for greater efficiency.
   Felice shared that a bill has been proposed in Albany to expand the Mentor Protégé program to more meaningfully include sub-contractors. See link here..A7235

WBC has two successes in Advocating for recertification

1. WBC reached out to ESD on two certification issues members were having. Both firms were re-certified.

2. Reminder that while WBC as an organization can be an advocate with the agency reps. Owner under review or appeal may not address questions directly to ESD. due to pending administrative hearings or litigation. We ask you to be mindful.

   ACTION: Someone asked about the Design/Build Committee. Confirm with Tatiana which Committee it will exist under. Don’t think we have either room or resources on PPC.

Webinar on NYS Disparity Study

1. Tanya reached out to Jenny Low (ESD) and she is getting available dates for a presentation

   ACTION: Still awaiting date for webinar presentation from NYS ESD on Disparity Study. Tanyas to follow up.
   ACTION: Roxanne confirmed she obtained a copy of the NYS ESD Certification Training Manual. Will share confidentiality with Committee.
   ACTION: NYS MWBE Advocacy Day scheduled for May 21st. Tanya has agreed to attend, need at least three other members to attend. Please register at the link here or QR code below.

   We will work to get appointments with:

   • Assembly member Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn, - Chair of Subcommittee on Oversight of Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (MWBEs)

   • Assembly member Marianne Buttenschon - Chair of Small Business Committee

   • Assembly member Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes – Member, Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus

   • Assembly member Amanda Septimo - Member, Task Force on Women's Issues, Black Task Force, Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus

   • Senator James Sanders, Jr. - Chair, Select Majority Task Force on Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprises Member, Procurement and Contracts

   • Assembly member Rebecca Seawright - Committee of Ways and Means

Think Tank and AIM—March 27, 2025

1. Successful Panel Presentation

2. Good opportunity for WBC to interface with Agency representatives

EO 3/14/25 “Continuing the Reduction of the Federal Bureaucracy

1. Eliminated Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) (established 3/5/69 by Nixon by

2. (EO 11458) Reduced funding to minimum required by statute. CDFI: By offering tailored resources and innovative programs that invest federal dollars alongside private sector capital, the CDFI Fund serves mission-driven financial institutions that take a market-based approach to supporting economically disadvantaged communities.

3. Includes Capacity Building Initiative, Bond Guarantee Programs, Small Dollar Loan Program, etc.

4. Suggested to have a guest speaker, Ray Saliberrios, to discuss the impact of the EO on small business loans by CDFI – Need to reach out

New Business/Open Discussion