GILDA RAMIREZ

Houston · 713-***-****

ad1dyn@r.postjobfree.com

CAREER OVERVIEW

A multi-talented professional with broad leadership experience and expertise in several areas including Small and Minority-Woman Owned Business Enterprise (S/MWBE) Development, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advocacy, Maritime Education, Procurement, Employee Volunteer Programs and Community Relations. EXPERIENCE

2002 – 2022

BUSINESS EQUITY SENIOR DIRECTOR

PORT HOUSTON

• Developed and maintained strong key stakeholder relationships supporting Port Houston’s vision, mission, and core values.

• Managed a 2-year Disparity Study process through successful completion, including utilization of diversity, equity, and inclusion principles to analyze the Study’s findings and recommendations.

• Provided leadership and guidance for implementing the Business Equity-Minority-Woman Owned Business Enterprise Program promoting equity, enhancing procurement opportunities.

• Served as primary liaison to the Business Equity Advisory Council, a 26-member group selected by Port Commissioners. The Council’s partner members provide valuable feedback and act as ambassadors of the Business Equity program.

• Collaborated with Procurement, Community Relations, Marketing, Government Relations, Media, and external stakeholders to facilitate and support Business Equity and DEI objectives. Deliverables included various outreach means and methods including “Doing business with the Port Houston” and one-on-one sessions, participation in expos, representation on boards or advisory councils and attendance at various events.

• Established and recommend key metrics and accountability to assess, evaluate, measure, track, and communicate results of Business Equity participation. Promoted diversity, equity, and inclusion both internally and externally.

• Developed tracking strategies to monitor and evaluate the impact of initiatives; developed reports on program effectiveness and recommended program enhancements and improvements.

• Implemented and led award-winning Port Houston Small Business Development Program (SBDP). Responsibilities included oversight of the Program and the seven-member staff.

• Since inception of the Program in 2002, exceeded aggressive 35% small business goal participation with approximately $714 million dollars or 36% of all eligible dollars being committed to local small businesses. Port Houston’s program is one of Houston’s most dynamic and community oriented small business programs—often referred to as the model for the region. 2

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY & HIGHLIGHTS (CONT.)

• Responsible for numerous partner service agreements and contracts with area chambers of commerce and economic development organizations totaling approximately $350,000.

• Developed Port University, a training and mentoring program to educate vendors on Port Houston’s procurement process, operations, and opportunities. Topics included understanding Port Houston’s procurement solicitations, interpreting contract terms, insurance and bonding requirements, submitting appropriate small business forms, and tours of major Port Houston terminals. To date, over 700 students have graduated from Port University.

• Collaborated with area school districts and local community colleges and universities, created a Maritime Academy Program and served as President for a related 501(c)(3) non-profit organization the Port of Houston Partners in Maritime Education (PHPME). Worked closely with various school districts and area high schools to identify opportunities for maritime workforce development and job creation. Encouraged students to pursue career opportunities in the maritime transportation fields including logistics/freight, security, and environment. Benefits of the program include dual course classes, field experiences, internships, scholarship opportunities, and access to maritime industry experts. Over 1,000 students are currently participating in the program at five area high schools, two community colleges, and three universities.

• The Small Business Development Program and the Maritime Education Program each received the Greater Houston Partnership’s highest award, the Our Great Region Excellence Award.

• Initiated partnership with the City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity, Houston Independent School District, Houston Community College, Houston First, and METRO on an Interagency Mentoring Program. Program was designed to provide emerging businesses the opportunity to gain insight from established firms. This program provides information on bonding, insurance, financial statements, marketing initiatives, business plans, and preparation of responses to procurement solicitations. Today there are over 100 graduates. 1984 – 2002

DIRECTOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH & LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, CHAIR OF MILLENNIUM MOBILITY PLAN EDUCATION TEAM, EMPLOYEE TRAINER METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY (METRO)

• Led an education campaign focused on the benefits of METRO's Mobility Plan taking the Houston region into the 21st Century.

• Served as Chair of the Millennium Mobility Plan Education Team, trained and selected employees to educate the public, and identified speaking engagement opportunities for the Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, and the executive team members.

• Coordinated over 450 external meetings/presentations conducted to inform the public, reaching approximately 85,000 individuals in a ten-month span prior to bond referendum. Responsibilities included forecasting projected budget and overseeing allocation of resources.

• Directed eleven-member Community Outreach and Government Affairs staff with a $1.5 million- dollar operating budget.

• Managed lobbying and other professional services contracts. Acted as primary liaison to local elected officials, various businesses, and community groups.

• Responsible for public relations outreach campaign for "The Downtown Turnaround," a $220 million-dollar redevelopment street construction project. 3

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY & HIGHLIGHTS (CONT.)

• Coordinated METRO's Ambassadors, an employee volunteer outreach program. Trainer/facilitator for METRO's customer culture training and employee re-orientation program: The Disney Approach to Quality Customer Services.

EDUCATION

BACHELOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY THE CENTER FOR CORPORATE COMMUNITY RELATIONS, BOSTON COLLEGE MBA CANDIDATE, PRAIRIE VIEW UNIVERSITY

HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY, MIB CANDIDATE

SKILLS

• Fluent in Spanish

• Leadership experience

• People skills

• Collaboration talent

• Problem-solving abilities

• Interpersonal Skills

ACTIVE MEMBER AND PARTICIPANT OF VARIOUS NATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

• American Association of Port Authorities

• Conference of Minority Transportation

• Harrisburg TIRZ 23

• Galleria Chamber of Commerce

• Greater East End Management District

• Greater Heights Chamber of Commerce

• Houston Area Urban League

• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

• Houston Black Chamber of Commerce

• Houston East End Chamber of Commerce

• Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo

• Houston Minority Business Council

• Indo American Chamber of Commerce

• Mayor’s Hispanic Advisory Council (City of

Houston)

• League of Women Voters

• Native American Chamber of Commerce

• Near Town Association

• Northeast Community College Advisory Council

• Officials, Public Relations Society of America

• Small Business Administration Advisory Council

• Southeast Community College Advisory Council

• Southeast Maritime and Transportation Institute

• Third Ward Redevelopment Council, Inc.

• United Way Hispanic Marketing Committee

• Upper Kirby District Association

• West Houston Association

• Westchase Business Council

• Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance

ADDIITONAL TRAINING

• American Contract Compliance Association

Mater Compliance Administrator

• American Leadership Forum Fellow Class XXV

• Center for Houston’s Future Fellow

• Anti-Defamation League Facilitator – Promoting

Diversity and Eliminating Hate

• American Leadership Forum Graduate

• Assertive Training for Achievers

• Baker Communications Exceptional

Presentations

• Boston College, The Institute on Corporate

Community Relations

• Crime Prevention through Environmental Design

• Developing Operational Plans for Community

Relations

• Disney University "The Disney Approach to

Quality Customer Service"

• Effective Management in Transportation

• Effective Supervision in Transportation

• Leadership American Public Transit Authority

• Leadership Houston, Graduate Class X111

• Model-Netics Instructor Training

• Powerful Business Writing

• Supply Management Certified Purchasing

Manager Training

• Texas A&M Traffic Engineering Basics

• The Ammerman Experience

• Training the Trainer

• United Way’s Project Blueprint, Class X

AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS

• American Contract Compliance Association

Mater Compliance Administrator

• Houston Woman’s Magazine –One of Houston’s

50 Most Influential Women

• Houston Independent School District –

Partnership Hall of Fame

• Houston Minority Supplier Development Council

– Minority Business Enterprise Procurement

Award

• Houston Chapter of the Women’s

Transportation Seminar – Rosa Parks Diversity

Leadership Award

• Corporate Minority Advocate of the Year

• Sam Houston Area Council Boy Scouts of

America – Charter Partner of the Year

• Houston Community College – Magnolia Park

Role Model

• Houston’s Citizens Chamber of Commerce–

Pinnacle Small Business Advocate of the Year

• Texas Southern University – Partner of the Year

• Education Impact Award

• Women on the Move

• Governor’s Small Business Forum – Small

Business Program Award

• Texas Business Alliance – One Woman Soaring

Heights Award

• Talento Bilingue De Houston – Corporate

Executive of the Year

• Hispanic Chamber of Commerce– Hispanic

Executive of the Year

• Government Procurement Connections – Small

Business Advocate of the Year

• Women Empowerment Training Institute –

Community Service Award

• Recognition & Awards (Cont.)

• Great Houston East End Chamber of Commerce

– Outstanding Service Award

• Indo American Chamber of Commerce – Small

Business Initiative

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