FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 3, 2021
MARTA NAMED
GEORGIA HISPANIC CONSTRUCTION ASSOCIATION “GOVERNMENT PARTNER OF THE YEAR
Authority Recognized for Support of Hispanic Construction
Businesses, Creating Equal Opportunity
ATLANTA - The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid
Transit Authority (MARTA) has been named “Government Partner of the Year” by
the Georgia Hispanic Construction Association (GHCA). Partners since 2016,
MARTA supports the GHCA and its membership in a variety of ways, including
posting construction job opportunities and other materials in Spanish and
hosting Spanish-only workshops on MARTA property.
“MARTA is honored by this award and proud
to partner with GHCA to advance opportunity within the Hispanic community,”
said MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker. “Our Offices of Diversity
& Inclusion, Recruiting, and Procurement work to ensure minority members of
the construction community in this region have equal access to our varied
projects and that MARTA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goals are not
only met, but exceeded.”
"For many years, MARTA has been a true
partner of GHCA and its members, affording opportunities and always having an
open-door policy to the needs of the Hispanic construction community in
Georgia. We are celebrating our 10th anniversary, and we could not be prouder
to have this strong and synergetic alliance with MARTA. MARTA is the recipient
of the “Government Partner of the Year” Award, not only because of the history
we've built together but because of the growth that both entities will continue
to build by working side by side,” said Rafael Villegas, Executive Director -
Georgia Hispanic Construction Association.
MARTA regularly sends job and procurement
opportunities directly to GHCA’s members, flagging positions that require a
bilingual candidate such as Customer Service Representative. These items, along
with MARTA project news, are placed in GHCA’s newsletter and on its membership
message board.
This fall, MARTA collaborated with GHCA to
present a “Doing Business with MARTA” webinar to mark Hispanic Heritage Month
and held a successful workshop for GHCA to educate members on how to become DBE
certified. Additionally, GHCA has held Spanish-only safety workshops for
members at MARTA headquarters.
“Partnering with GHCA has allowed MARTA to
further expand diversity in the public transit industry through both employment
and contracting opportunities ensuring that our workforce and practices reflect
the communities that we serve,” MARTA Executive Director of Diversity &
Inclusion Paula Nash.
MARTA will receive the award at GHCA’s
annual Building Georgia 10th Annual Awards Gala on Friday, Dec. 3.
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