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Elke Campbell, Lester Woods, Jr., MoDOT External Civil Rights Director, John Nations, and Don Hillis, MoDOT Assistant Chief Engineer Photo Courtesy: MoDOT

Metro President and CEO John Nations and Metro Supplier Diversity Program Manager Elke Campbell received honors at the 2013 Equal Employment Opportunity Contract Compliance Workshop in February.

The Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Contract Compliance assists Missouri  Department of Transportation (MoDOT) partners in achieving a diverse workforce, by promoting workforce development that is inclusive of minorities and females.

The  “Best Partnership Effort of The Year” Awards recognized Metro Transit for outstanding partnership with MoDOT and for being a major participant in implementing initiatives to ensure more diversity and inclusion in the Heavy Highway Construction and Transportation Industry.

Nations who was the featured speaker at the awards luncheon at the workshop said, “Metro has consistently attained our Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE) goals even though much of the available work is highly specialized.”

John Nations President & Chief Executive Officer of the Bi-State Development Agency

Nations went on to say, “Metro will be adding a Small Business Enterprise component to our program within the next few months. This will increase the opportunity for all small businesses, including DBE’s to participate on Metro contracts.”

Metro collaborates extensively with MoDOT and other Missouri Regional Certification Commission partners to develop training programs, seminars, discussion forums, and community outreach to build successful firms and relationships.

Elke was also awarded the “Best Partnership Effort of The Year” in recognition and appreciation of her working partnership with MoDOT, in conjunction with the Missouri Regional Certification Committee (MRCC).   The Missouri Regional Certification Committee (MRCC) oversees the Unified Certification Program for the state of Missouri.

As a MRCC partner, Elke works collaboratively in identifying “best practices” as it relates to Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) supportive services programs, outreach initiatives, and the implementation of other projects and strategies to assist DBEs in Missouri.

“I was very shocked and honored to be recognized for my efforts because what I do is not done for the accolade,” Elke said. “As an advocate at heart and in practice, I am humbled by the responsibilities entrusted to me as I continue to work with the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program and other such Business Diversity Programs.”