SAN BERNARDINO

Photos by Van Howard - Small Business Enterprise Officer Sam Wallace shakes hands with 65th Democratic Assembly District candidate Wilmer “Amina” Carter as Frank Stallworth looks on.

This week Sam Wallace, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's appointee for the newly created position Small Business Enterprise Officer, spoke to minority business leaders at an event initiated by State Senator Nell Soto and hosted by Arrowhead Credit Union in San Bernardino.

He spoke passionately of the opportunities now available to small and minority businesses in building the state's infrastructure through Executive Order S-11-06. The order increases competition by bringing more players to the table, he explained to the room full of entrepreneurs and business education leaders. By changing the dynamics of the bid process and bringing together prime and sub-contractors throughout the state, the outreach effort hopes to increase the number and diversity of businesses that bid for the $14 billion worth of projects the state solicits from private firms.

Photo by Van Howard - Arrowhead Credit Union Larry Sharp and Sam Wallace recognize local business team Pet H20.

The order, signed by the governor in July of this year, calls for 25% small business participation across each state agency. It also embraces and actively promotes mentor-protégé programs that will link successful and willing prime contractors with eager sub-contractors in the small business sector.

Photo by Van Howard - l-r: Larry Sharp, Sam Wallace, and Frank Stallworth, Nell Soto’s office.

Photo by Van Howard - Participants listened to Sam Wallace explain the opportunities available for small and minority businesses.