Skip to main content

Advocacy for Minority Contractors

Lively discussion at the first meeting of the year for the National Association of Minority Contractors, Oregon chapter (NAMCO). Thanks to Faye Burch, co-founder and vice president, for inviting OMB to witness the group’s meeting with Matt Garrett, executive director of the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

Pictured above, from left: James Posey, NAMCO president; Faye Burch, vice president; Noni Causey, secretary; and Matt Garrett, ODOT.

More than 20 NAMCO members and prospective members attended the event, which offered an opportunity for a frank discussion about contracting issues with the state agency. “It was a good meeting because it helped open the lines of communication. We’re headed in the right direction, and NAMCO is eager to find ways to work with ODOT to address our concerns,” said Burch.


John Jackley (pictured below), interim Policy and Public Affairs Manager for the Portland Development Commission, announced the agency’s support of the organization by becoming a NAMCO sponsor.In addition, Pete Savage, Regional Director for the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, provided information about upcoming public and private construction projects.


NAMCO was re-established last fall to serve an advocacy role for minority contractors. According to co-founder and president James Posey, NAMCO founders heard from African American businesses in construction and trucking, and recognized the need to re-organize a chapter that can speak directly to the issues of marginalized participation by African Americans and other minorities on public projects.

On March 16, the local chapter will host delegates from the national organization. Local chapter officers will be installed at that time: Stacey Drake Edwards, executive administrator; James Posey of Workhorse Construction, president; Faye Burch, FM Burch and Associates, vice president; and Noni Causey, City of Roses Drop Box Services, secretary. Directors include: Alvin Hall, Rock and Road Construction; Mark Mathews, PacificMark Construction; and James Cason, NOSAC Construction.

Photos below courtesy of Faye Burch

Plans also are under way to put in place activities that will enable the group to achieve the following goals for 2007.

  • Build the technology capability of our membership
  • Participate in community based workforce programs to provide staffing.
  • Work to develop options for prevailing wage projects so that non-union members can fully participate.
  • Provide technical support and training programs where needed to build capacity
  • Develop new and continuing existing partnerships with local business organizations and minority chambers.
  • Recognize general contractor partners that are working well with local minority business enterprises.
  • Ensure that minority contractors have a voice in local state and federal issues that impact small businesses.

For more information on NAMCO please contact founders James Posey, 503-936-0277; or Faye Burch, 503-936-6898. E-mail NAMCO: namcoportland@yahoo.com.

Popular posts from this blog

Minding the Wealth Gap

As a Black investor and startup founder, Cliff Goins IV brings firsthand experience and sharp insight to one of America’s most urgent issues: the racial wealth gap. Having navigated the worlds of finance and entrepreneurship, Goins has seen up close the systemic disparities in wealth creation, access to capital, and asset management. From unequal opportunities in homeownership and education to persistent challenges in business funding and employment, the historical gaps are perpetuated in present-day practices. In "Minding the Wealth Gap," Goins skillfully blends data, lived experience, and the insights of experts to illuminate the deep-rooted economic disparities facing Black Americans. More importantly, he highlights the power of collective uplift. Through the voices of nine dynamic “gap closers,” Goins shows how real change happens when Black investors and leaders open doors for others. Each success “play” or strategy underscores the ripple effect of support. Selena Cu...
Read more

A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga

The modern practice of yoga in Western culture is often criticized for disconnecting from its cultural, historical, and spiritual roots. In many studios and gyms, yoga is reduced to a fitness routine—focused on stretching rather than its original purpose of enlightening the mind. In "A Beginner’s Guide to the Roots of Yoga," celebrated practitioner Nikita Desai reconnects readers with yoga’s ancient Indian origins. Drawing on her Indian heritage, Desai explores the deeper meanings behind yoga’s forms, postures, and intentions, offering a rich historical and philosophical context for those seeking a more authentic practice. Desai shares her personal journey of reclaiming yoga’s essence, inviting readers to do the same by integrating cultural awareness into their practice. Her tone is welcoming and nonjudgmental, making the book accessible to readers of all backgrounds. Although I do not practice yoga, my meditation roots lie in Zen Buddhism. Through conversations with prac...
Read more

Wash

Ebony Stewart’s "Wash" is a powerful, unflinching poetry collection that draws the reader into a world of raw emotion, deep introspection, and lyrical brilliance. As I read through the poems, I found myself captivated by Stewart’s honest reflections on identity, love, loss, and healing. Her voice is unapologetically bold, revealing the complexities of being a Black womxn navigating relationships, societal expectations, and hard-fought victories toward self-worth. Yet, her themes are universal, resonating with anyone who has grappled with their own identity and relationships. What struck me most was Stewart’s emotional transparency: each poem feels like a cleansing, a shedding of shame, doubt, and grief, revealing the triumph of knowing one’s value in a world that often seeks to diminish it. Stewart doesn’t shy away from exploring the pain of extractive love or the vulnerability of desire, but she also leaves room for empowerment and resilience. As a celebrated spoken word ...
Read more