The Rives E. Worrell Co., a JE Dunn Construction Company, held its annual Minority Contractor Business Development (MCBD) Program graduation today for nine area companies. The program, which first began in Savannah in 2011, provides a venue for minority- and woman-owned firms in construction-related fields to participate in a training program to enhance business acumen and interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
The companies that graduated from the MCBD program included: Douglas Construction; Ex Nihilo Management, LLC; Helix Enterprises, Inc.; Cyntechs; Glover Masonry; Unlimited Masonry Construction; Raymond Jennings Painting Company; Omni Systems, Inc.; and Homes Assistance Unlimited, Inc.
“The Rives E. Worrell Co. is pleased to recognize these graduating companies for their outstanding achievements. Participants have successfully completed a rigorous curriculum of topics ranging from estimating to relationship and business development, marketing, accounting, legal, safety, communication and leadership,” said Cherelle Cortez, diversity manager. “It is our goal to substantially increase interpersonal and business operations skills that are so necessary for sustainability and growth.”
Rives E. Worrell Co. has awarded 24 projects totaling more than $23 million to local minorityand woman-owned businesses. More than $9 million of that went to MCBD program participants. One such MCBD program graduate, John Glover, is a second generation mason from Savannah whose family business, Glover’s Masonry, Inc., hit a brick wall when the economy stalled several years ago. He said the program has proven to be invaluable to his business.
“The more I learn, the more I realize I don’t know. I’m learning how to work the business as a business and not let it overwhelm me — it’s been great for my development,” Glover says of his participation in the program. “I’m grateful for this opportunity, to be honest. The education I’m receiving, a lot of people would pay for. So I don’t take it for granted.”