JEFFERSON CITY – The Office of Administration today announced the completion of the Missouri Disparity Study by contractor Colette Holt & Associates. The disparity study was designed to determine whether the State of Missouri is fully utilizing minority- and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBE) in government contracts. Throughout the course of the study, the public’s insight and experience with the state and its contracting process was sought and used to identify potential program improvements.
“I look forward to working with our Disparity Study Oversight Review Committee over the next several months while they analyze the study and put forth their recommendations as to how we can increase minority- and women-owned business involvement,” Office of Administration Commissioner Doug Nelson said. “We appreciate this thorough examination of our diversity efforts in state government contracts.”
The State of Missouri last commissioned a disparity study in 1994, which was completed in 1996. Gov. Nixon first requested funding for a Disparity Study in Fiscal Year 2011. During the 2014 Legislative Session, the General Assembly appropriated the necessary funds to support the current study.
In 2014, Gov. Jay Nixon signed Executive Order 14-07 to establish the Missouri Disparity Study Oversight Review Committee. The 15-member committee, appointed by the Governor and led by Commissioner of Administration Doug Nelson, will develop a report that will analyze the Missouri Disparity Study and recommend ways to increase M/WBE participation, directly or indirectly, in state contracts.
Members of the Missouri Disparity Study Oversight Review Committee include:
- Rhonda Carter Adams, Executive Director, St. Louis/Eastern Missouri Area Mid-States Minority Supplier Development Council
- Lisa Althoff, Executive Director, Missouri Women’s Council
- Dr. Valerie Blackmon, Adjunct Professor and Management Consultant
- Anna Crosslin, President and Chief Executive Officer, International Institute of St. Louis
- Charlotte Hardin, Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Foundation Board
- Redditt Hudson, Regional Field Organizer, NAACP Region IV
- Michael Middleton, Deputy Chancellor, University of Missouri-Columbia
- State Representative Tommie Pierson, District 66, Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus
- Karlos Ramirez, Executive Director, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis
- Lyle Randolph, Vice President and General Manager, Isle Casino Cape Girardeau
- Nia Richardson, Director of Business Development and Marketing, DuBois Consultants Inc.
- Theresa Garza Ruiz, Political Director, Laborers’ Local #264
- William “Bill” Thornton, General Counsel, Missouri Department of Higher Education
- Leonard Toenjes, President, Associated General Contractors of St. Louis
- John Truesdell, retired Vice President of State and Local Government, Rose International
Gov. Nixon has remained dedicated to promoting an equal opportunity workforce in Missouri. In 2010, Executive Order 10-24 was signed to promote a more inclusive and diverse state workforce and to ensure that discrimination in employment practices, state services and facility operation would be identified and eradicated. To carry out the Governor’s order, the Office of Equal Opportunity has continuously worked to eliminate any potential discriminatory barriers to employment, while enhancing the state’s efforts to provide equal employment opportunity and improve workforce diversity.
To view the Missouri Disparity Study please visit oa.mo.gov/disparity-study-information.