Department of Management Services
11/14/08 DMS Office of Supplier Diversity Certifies First Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, NOV. 14, 2008
CONTACT: LINDA MCDONALD, (850) 921-5266
TALLAHASSEE-The Florida Department of Management Services (DMS) Office of Supplier Diversity (OSD) finalized state certification for the first service-disabled veteran-owned business this week. Gary Harris, CEO of American Building Inspectors Corporation in Fort White, Florida, came to Tallahassee to work with the OSD staff to complete the certification. Governor Charlie Crist signed the Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises Act in June for launch on Veterans Day.
"Certifying American Building Inspectors Corporation in the same week the law took effect is a great success and demonstrates the commitment of Florida government to support service-disabled veteran-owned businesses," said bill sponsor Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey. "I wish Mr. Harris all the best with his business and look forward to seeing more of his fellow veterans become certified minority business enterprises."
The Act put into law a preference in state contracting for businesses owned by service-disabled veterans. OSD provides business development and certification for minority- and women-owned businesses and the Department of Veterans' Affairs provides outreach to veterans and veterans' groups statewide. Florida has 257,000 veteran-owned small businesses of which 18,000 are owned by service-disabled veterans.
"As a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve, I sponsored the bill in the House of Representatives because I have an abiding interest in providing all possible support to our service-disabled veterans here in Florida," said Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine. "I commend my fellow legislators and Governor Crist for taking these steps to support veterans like Mr. Harris."
Harris and his wife, Delayna, established their business in November 2007. OSD works with the Department of Veterans' Affairs to implement the preference and to connect service-disabled veteran business enterprises to state contracts and other business development resources.
"We are proud to certify American Building Inspectors Corporation as our first service-disabled veteran-owned business, officially launching the good work that Governor Crist, Sen. Fasano and Rep. Proctor started through the Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises Act," said DMS Secretary Linda H. South. "Mr. Harris served our country during Desert Storm/Desert Shield and more recently in both Afghanistan and Iraq. It's an honor to take this step toward advancing his business success."
State certification gives those business owners tools and resources to develop their business opportunities with government in Florida, as well as private sector opportunities. Certified businesses receive first-tier referrals when they fit a solicitation's criteria, they are listed in the OSD online directory, are eligible for the mentor-protégé and loan mobilization programs and much more. Certification creates another asset for entrepreneurs in their business development.
"This is a great step for me and my business, and more importantly for Florida service-disabled veterans starting their own businesses," said Harris. "American Building Inspectors looks forward to our first government project and I will continue my work advocating for service-disabled veteran business owners alongside the Office of Supplier Diversity and the Florida Department of Veterans' Affairs."
More than 500 of Florida's minority-, women- and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses gather with government and private purchasing professionals Nov. 19-21 in Orlando for the annual OSD MatchMaker Conference and Trade Show. MatchMaker is Florida's premier business conference to connect vendors with spenders. Governor Crist is scheduled to speak at Thursday's luncheon. Thursday's schedule includes business development workshops and the trade show opens Friday morning.
The Office of Supplier Diversity certifies nearly 4,000 women-, minority- and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses in Florida. The first step to certification is to register with MyFloridaMarketPlace at www.dms.MyFlorida.com/mfmp. To learn more about the Office of Supplier Diversity, call (850) 487-0915 or visit www.osd.dms.state.fl.us.
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