Alan Green is very clear what his first priority is as the new director of Supplier and Workforce Diversity for the State of Missouri: a gubernatorial executive order calling for statewide inclusion goals of 25 percent (Minority Business Enterprises) and 5 percent (Women Business Enterprises) in all State offices and on all projects doing business with the State of Missouri.
“I hope to have it ready for the governor to sign in 30 days or less, if God is good,” Green told The American.
Last week Office of Administration Commissioner Kelvin Simmons announced that Gov. Jay Nixon had appointed Green to the new post. Simmons said Green will be responsible for managing department staff and programs “in developing best practices for Missouri small business growth programs.”
Green now manages a staff of six, but as important are the 16 department directors who will be asked to comply with the executive order once it is in place. Green said he has been actively “building relationships” with these department directors as part of his work in crafting the executive order.
He also has been researching examples of other directives issued by governors in other states.
“Indiana is doing really good, Virginia is doing really good,” Green said.
“Virginia is a very conservative state, but it’s doing very progressive stuff in this area, which is a good sign for Missouri.”
Green also has been working with state attorneys working on lawsuits that pertain to workforce and contractor diversity, and meeting with directors of other state and regional agencies, such as MoDOT, Metro and the Airport Authority at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.
As Green works to develop the new executive order and form the relationships that will help him to enforce it, he also is getting a feel for what he describes as the three functions of the office: procurement (contracts with vendors), employment (workforce diversity) and compliance (keeping data to chart improvement).
On all three fronts, he reports to Simmons who reports to the governor. Simmons worked on Nixon’s election campaign and has been encouraged with the initial evidence of the new governor’s intentions for minority inclusion.
“What I have seen from Jay has been very progressive,” Green said. “There will be some good things happening here.”
Green comes to the Office of Administration from St. Louis County Public Works where he worked on various projects that included neighborhood preservation and minority business participation. Green’s work experience includes the St. Louis County Executive Office, where he served as the liaison to various county boards and assisted not-for-profit organizations and social service agencies.
He points to his work as board member for the Association for Construction Careers, Education and Support Services (ACCESS) Center as a stepping stone to his current position as State diversity czar.
The ACCESS Center uses data collection, policy analysis and advocacy to engage in agenda setting and oversees activities that monitor, measure and improve the region’s performance regarding minority workforce and business development.
Green left that board last month, but inherits new responsibilities in Jefferson City. He will serve on the Personnel Advisory Board, Minority Business Advocacy Commission and Contract and Compliance Committee.
Green has a MBA from Lindenwood University and an additional 39 hours toward a master’s in Management and Development of Human Resources from National Louis University, Evanston, Ill. He is a divorced father of four children, ages 15, 18, 20 and 26. He has moved to Jefferson City but plans to spend weekends at home in St. Louis.
“I want to increase the numbers of minority business, increase the amount of minority participation and increase access to the contracts that tend to go to a few companies,” Green said.
“But once you get the contract, it’s up to the company to do the work – to do quality work. I want to get quality minority businesses in here doing quality work.”
For more information, contact the office at 573-751-8130 or visit www.oswd.mo.gov.
Update:
It was reported in this feature that the statewide inclusion goals of 25 percent (Minority Business Enterprises) and 5 percent (Women Business Enterprises) in all State offices and on all projects doing business with the State of Missouri. Those numbers apply to city-wide inclusion goals for St. Louis, but the statewide inclusion goals for Missouri are 10 percent (Minority Business Enterprises) and 5 percent (Women Business Enterprises).
