Title
To commend and thank Director Melinda Carter for her outstanding years of service to the City of Columbus.
Body
WHEREAS, Melinda Carter has served as the Executive Director of the Equal Business Opportunity Commission Office (EBOCO) since receiving a mayoral appointment in December 1996; and
WHEREAS, Director Carter earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Ohio University and a Juris Doctor from the Capital University Law Center; and
WHEREAS, Director Carter implemented a number of outstanding initiatives designed to assure access to minority and women owned businesses which include a bid specification and procurement review, EBO Roundtables, ACCESS Newsletter, Equal Business Opportunity Award Ceremony, the Minority Business Showcase and "Director to Business" forums; and
WHEREAS, Director Carter was responsible for the acquisition and implementation of BizTrak, an automated minority business tracking system; and
WHEREAS, under Director Carter's exemplary leadership, the City has achieved a historical utilization rate and has paid more than $200,000,000 in contract payments to minority and female owned businesses; and
WHEREAS, Director Carter has worked tirelessly to ensure that major projects such as the Professional Program Management Project (PPM) are inclusive. The current participation rate of minority and female businesses is over 30%; and
WHEREAS, Director Carter worked to launch the first ever City Small Business Conference and the first ever New Americans Business Outreach Forum; and
WHEREAS, Director Carter has actively reached out to the community through "Director to Business Forums," Business partnerships, EBO's Website, The "Access to Business Opportunities" Television Show and the Access electronic newsletters to ensure that the City of Columbus continues to be inclusive; and
WHEREAS, Director Carter has had a long and distinguished career in public service that will serve as an example for others. He...
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