08 Nov BLUEPRINT SCHOOLS MENTOR PROTÉGÉ PROGRAM UNDERWAY
The Prince George’s County Education & Community Partners (PGCECP) in conjunction with Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) recently launched the Blueprint Schools Mentor Protégé Program.
The program provides several important benefits to the protégé and allows minority and county-based businesses an opportunity to create capacity by tapping into Gilbane’s knowledge and resources in a variety of different ways to improve its business.
The first cohort consists of 15 firms (12 located in Prince George’s County).
Protégés receive financial, technical, and management assistance from Gilbane mentors and other subject matter experts in obtaining and performing contracts or subcontracts, or serving as suppliers under such contracts or subcontracts.
The eight, two-hour weekly sessions are centered around the following topics:
- Introduction to Gilbane/Prequalification
- Winning Work
- Managing for Success
- Mitigating Risk
- Developing Financial Strength
- Leveraging Technology
- Business Development & Networking
The overall content is designed to increase the competency of each firm to work on Gilbane projects, as well as, enhancing the capabilities of protégés. The program will also improve their ability to successfully compete for both government and commercial contracts.
Additionally, program participants are also assigned a Gilbane project executive as a mentor. This ensures the end of the eight-week training program is only the beginning of our work together. Mentorship spans at least one year and consists of:
- Initial meet and greet with Mentor (one hour)
- Monthly check-in meetings
- Site visit to a Gilbane project
- Assistance with Gilbane processes
Lastly, participants will learn how to do business with the PGCPS Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Through the PGCPS CIP, educational facilities are planned, designed, renovated and constructed based on the prioritization of needs established in the Educational Facility Master Plan (EFMP).
The following firms are participating in the first cohort:
- Bengal Engineers
- Bright Horizon Ventures d/b/a Banneker Ventures
- Celsue Construction Services, Inc.
- Clean Sweep
- Conquest Solutions
- Global Consulting Inc
- HQ Financial
- D. Clark Professional Services
- Janus Contractors
- Josy Properties DBA Karmic
- KB Squared Technologies
- KOBA & Associates, LLC
- Lewis Custom Wiring, Inc.
- Minority Environmental Solutions and Services
- Ready Temps USA, Inc