Upcoming meetings
November 19, 2025
1:30pm-3:00pm
December 17, 2025
1:30pm-3:00pm
Committee members
Co-Chairs: Lekha Fernandes, Santosh Kuruvilla, Irene Reyes
- Robert Blain, Benton County
- Frank Boykin, MBDA
- Stephanie Caldwell, Absher Construction
- Lekha Fernandes, OMWBE, Chair
- Bobby Forch, CPARB DBE Representative
- Diane Gard, WSDOT OEO
- Shelly Henderson, Mukilteo School Dist. (K-12 Schools)
- Aleanna Kondelis, Hill International
- Santosh Kuruvilla, Exeltech (Engineers), Co-Chair
- Keith Michel, Forma Construction (GC)
- Brenda Nnambi, Sound Transit
- Irene Reyes, Excel Supply Company, Co-Chair
- Cathy Robinson, University of WA (was City Rep)
- John Salinas II, Specialty Contractors
- Young Sang Song, Song Consulting
- Chip Tull, Hoffman Construction
- Jerry Vanderwood, AGC
- Olivia Yang, WA State University
- Janice Zahn, Port of Seattle
- Vacant, DES
Updated May 14, 2024
Purpose:
Focus efforts around the following:
- Utilize Strategies from the BE/DBI Report to inform potential Legislative Changes.
- Create consistency in contract language to reduce barriers in policy and eventually statute.
- Evaluate and advocate to bring forth opportunities for firms to successfully compete and build capacity.
- Identify metrics for measuring accountability.
Committee resources:
Upcoming meetings
Meetings to occur the third Wednesday of every month from 1:30 - 3 p.m.
- October 15, 2025
- November 19, 2025
- December 17, 2025
Committee workgroup meetings
Please note the Change Order Workgroup and Retainage Workgroup meetings in August and September are canceled. Meetings will resume their regular schedule in October.
Change Order Workgroup
Schedule: 1st Monday of every month from 3-4 p.m.
Platform: Via Zoom
Meeting URL: https://des-wa.zoom.us/j/99020585325?pwd=727GkF0yEgbspWIpa1zvpba8Z4efpP.1
Meeting ID: 990 2058 5325
Meeting Passcode: 634239
Call in information: 888 788 0099 US Toll-free
Primary Contacts: Steve Russo - srusso@umci.com
Irene Reyes - glovelady@excelsupplycompany.com
Retainage Workgroup
Schedule: 2nd Monday of every month from 1-2 p.m.
Platform: Via Zoom
Meeting URL: https://des-wa.zoom.us/j/94750529704?pwd=MQx4clqZqn5YYn5Ibo8wzbvfQvvZm3.1<
Meeting ID: 947 5052 9704
Meeting Passcode: 078635
Call in information: 877 853 5247 US Toll-free
Primary Contacts: Cindy Magruder - magruder@uw.edu
Maya Huff - maja_huff@wsu.edu
Change Order Workgroup
Schedule: 3rd Monday of every month from 3-4 p.m.
Platform: Via Zoom
Meeting URL: https://des-wa.zoom.us/j/93256180886?pwd=VeJovNEn5oWl0u4z0jSLicPkfuvYLs.1
Meeting ID: 932 5618 0886
Meeting Passcode: 720039
Call in information: 877 853 5247 US Toll-free
Primary Contacts: Steve Russo - srusso@umci.com
Irene Reyes - glovelady@excelsupplycompany.com
Retainage Workgroup
Schedule: 4th Monday of every month from 1-2 p.m.
Platform: Via Zoom
Meeting URL: https://des-wa.zoom.us/j/95233768244?pwd=hUPFVbKxXaHb2OsmardXkh4gCixr88.1
Meeting ID: 952 3376 8244
Meeting Passcode: 125106
Call in information: 877 853 5247 US Toll-free
Primary Contacts: Cindy Magruder - magruder@uw.edu
Maya Huff - maja_huff@wsu.edu
2022 BE/DBI Report to the Legislature
- BE/DBI Report Reference Material
-
- 4.1 BEDBI Matrix 8/23/2021
- 4.2 DBDEI Barrier Statements Compiled (Rev3)
- 5.0 BE/DBI Survey Results 3/3/2022
- 7.1 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 4/1/2021
- 7.2 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 5/28/2021
- 7.3 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 6/25/2021
- 7.4 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 7/23/2021
- 7.5 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 8/27/2021
- 7.6 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 9/24/2021
- 7.7 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 10/22/2021
- 7.8 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 10/29/2021
- 7.9 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 11/19/2021
- 7.10 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 12/17/2021
- 7.11 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 1/28/2022
- 7.12 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 2/25/2022
- 7.13 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 3/4/2022
- 7.14 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 3/25/2022
- 7.15 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 4/1/2022
- 7.16 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 4/22/2022
- 7.17 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 5/6/2022
- 7.18 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 5/27/2022
- 7.19 BE/DBI Committee Minutes 6/3/2022
- 8.0 Compiled BE/DBI Report Feedback
- 14.4 PEAR One-Pager 3/21/22
- 16.2 Mentor-Protege Capacity Building Mentorship Program (CBMP) Best Practices 10.4 MBDA
- 16.3 CBMP C3-C4 Survey Report 2021-2022
- 16.4 WA Small Business Resource Guide