The Inclusive Partnership Mixer: Meet XBE Firms & Go Beyond Just Checking the Box!
Event Recap

On Wednesday, May 18, 2022, SMPS Oregon held their first in-person networking event in two years. Sponsored by the JEDI Committee, the inaugural Inclusive Partnership Mixer was designed to help firms build relationships with DMWESB-Certified, Self-Certified and BIPOC-led firms. Through shared AEC industry connections, SMPS Oregon aims to strengthen partnerships between XBE* and prime firms by sharing opportunities and creating genuine relationships. The goal of this mixer was to help underutilized firms market their services and access new business opportunities while providing a fulfilling experience for everyone involved on a project.

The event was held at Redfox Commons in Northwest Portland; recently opened, this adaptive re-use project transformed two former industrial structures into a beautiful new home for creative office – many attendees commented on how great the space was. Katy Byers, a marketing coordinator with the Native American-owned Wenaha Group, kicked off the event by providing a Land Acknowledgement.

 Next, Thy Daniels – the outgoing Director of the JEDI Committee who provided vision for this event – welcomed everyone and thanked sponsors including Bora Architecture & Interiors, Bassetti Architects, Emerick Construction Co., Opsis Architecture, KPFF, SERA Architects, GeoEngineers, 3J Consulting, Harder Mechanical Contractors, Catena Consulting Engineers, LEVER Architecture, R&H Construction, and Leeb Architects.

Once housekeeping was out of the way, Thy introduced Nami Bigos with IRCO (Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization), a local non-profit. From their website: “IRCO serves the holistic needs of Oregon's immigrants, refugees and mainstream community members. As a community-based organization, we empower children, youth, families and elders from around the world to build new lives and become self-sufficient by providing more than 200 culturally and linguistically specific social services.” Nami talked about some of IRCO’s programs, focusing on removing barriers to self-sufficiency and helping communities thrive.

Next up, Daniel Jackson with Business Oregon’s Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) provided an overview of how firms can get registered. COBID’s goal, “is to level the playing field by providing certified firms a fair opportunity to compete for government contracts regardless of owner ethnicity, gender, disability, or firm size.” Daniel stayed on site for the event to answer any questions and help firms with their certification.

The rest of the event featured meeting and networking with 33 XBE firms, ranging from architects to acoustical engineers, from construction management to community engagement. Food and beverage was provided by another XBE vendor, Miss’ipi Chef. Proceeds from the event were donated to IRCO, to a sum of $1200! 

It was the JEDI Committee’s ultimate hope that by facilitating representation from diverse project partners, our industry can deliver projects that more closely reflect our own communities. From the feedback received, attendees were excited and found this event to be a good use of their time. The Committee hopes many connections were made and that we’ll have an even bigger and better event next year.

For more information on the XBE firms, please click here.  

Contributed by Kate Walker of the JEDI Committee.

*XBE encompasses Minority- or Women-Owned Business Enterprises, Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses, Historically Underutilized Businesses, Disability-Owned Business Enterprises, Small Business Enterprises, and LGBTQIA+ Business Enterprises. We also welcome firms that are not yet certified, self-certified, non-profits, or BIPOC-led.