For 20 years Diana Candelaria Reyes, Owner of Candelaria Reyes Consulting LLC (CRC), has worked hard to transform her dream into a thriving business. She brings her passion for developing people and helping organizations to her business every day.

Before opening CRC, Diana gained experience in academia through university career counseling and teaching. She then transitioned to the corporate world of talent development, serving as a Global Director at General Electric Company. While in this role, she led a team of 50 people, travelling internationally and serving customers all while gaining vast experience in organizational development at all levels.

In 2013, she seized the opportunity to launch her own small business Candelaria Reyes Consulting. This allowed her to have closer relationships with and better serve her clients. She has dedicated her firm to driving organizational effectiveness through innovative and knowledgeable training, consulting, and business improvement services customized to align people with business strategy.

Working in tandem with her clients, she maintains a relentless focus on measuring success. Diana states, “my clients feel certain that I am someone who gets it because I’ve walked in their shoes.”

Although Diana started the business by herself, she has grown to hire staff and become recognized as one of Houston’s Top 10 Businesswomen by Fortune and Forbes Magazine. In her eighth year of owning and operating CRC, Diana’s passion has pushed her to lead people and organizations into the 21st century.

Gilda Ramirez, the Senior Director of Business Equity at Port Houston says “We are fortunate to have a powerhouse such as Diana Candelaria Reyes enrolled as one of our small and woman-owned businesses. Diana Candelaria Reyes is a well-respected leadership coach, facilitator and organizational development consultant with over 20 years of experience in aligning people with organizational strategies. She seizes opportunities to execute corporate strategy through people and project management. We are proud to have her in our program.”

Diana and her team have worked tirelessly to transform executive leadership teams of all industries and sizes. Her hands-on coaching services focus on organizational performance improvements, strategic change and employee alignment, and diversity, equity, and inclusion training.

Carolyn Ashley, the Director of Employee Development & Engagement at Port Houston states “Candelaria Reyes Consulting, LLC. developed and delivered two quality and impactful development programs to Port Houston’s Administrative Support Team. Diana personally listened to input from senior admin professionals, designed and delivered programs that engaged employees and created personal growth opportunities. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive. We look forward to working with Diana and her team on future development opportunities.”

Diana’s firm is accepting clients into the 2022 year. Check out more on Diana and the Candeleria Reyes Consulting team https://candelariareyesconsulting.com/.

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Business Growth with Port Houston

In her journey of growth, Shanita connected with Port Houston staff to learn more about the Port Houston Small Business Program and how it could help her business when applying for contracts with the port. She attended training classes, workshops, events and networked as much as she could to spread the word about her venture.

“The port small business team helped me by first confirming the areas where I was ready, and the program gave me the tools to strengthen our responses to requests for proposals (RFPs),” Johnson said. “For example, the mentor-protegee program has a workshop on responding to RFPs. This helped me to better understand the importance of each RFP component.”

Shanita’s persistence and hard work would pay off in 2017 when she became a subcontractor, supporting the Port Houston information technology team to perform IT project management services. Then in 2019, she was awarded her first prime contract with Port Houston and in 2021 she again received a prime contract award for coordination services. Johnson states “We are currently handling the project coordination services for the NextGen ERP Phase II project. With this award we were able to hire a full-time employee to perform the services.”

Moving the Business Forward

Leveraging the connections made through the program, Shanita now holds certifications from the City of Houston, METRO, the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council, Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance, and the State of Texas HUB Program and is registered as a small, minority- and women-owned business with Port Houston.

Through the program, Shanita has expanded her network and reach to continue providing cutting edge information technology management solutions for growing businesses around the country. She has used her 20 years of information technology experience to lead multi-million-dollar projects for Fortune 500 clients and knows her team can deliver large scale IT projects thanks to their passion for excellence.

“Get involved with Port Houston’s Business Equity team and the Small, Minority- and Woman-Owned Business program because they are here to help us succeed,” Johnson avows. “They offer many opportunities like Port University and the Mentor Protegee program to help us better understand Port Houston’s procurement process, how to do business with the various departments within the Port and most importantly they help us get prepared. To the MBEs looking to win contracts with Port Houston, my advice to help you succeed is to prepare, persevere, show up and show out, understand the business culture, and prepare again!”

Learn more about BKJ Global Management Consulting, LLC by clicking here.

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Port Houston is focused on developing the workforce and helping drive success of small businesses in the Houston region. In 2019, the port held a small business industry forum on doing business with port maintenance services.

“We are an operating port with more than 3,000 assets and pieces of equipment, which is where small businesses support us when we have projects at our terminals,” said Mike Gignac, general manager for maintenance services for Port Houston’s Turning Basin terminal. Port Houston purchases maintenance-related products and services ranging from wharf cranes to technology and paper products.

Our small business development staff also shared the port’s procurement system and registration requirements to become eligible to bid on Port Houston work.

“This event is designed to help local small businesses meet some of the buyers and decision makers to learn about the port’s needs for goods and services in specific departments,” said Gilda Ramirez, senior director of small business and education outreach for Port Houston. 

The post Port Houston Educates Small Businesses on Maintenance Opportunities appeared first on Port Houston.

Port Houston’s Senior Director of Small Business and Education Outreach Gilda Ramirez provided a port and small business update at the Hispanic Houston Chamber of Commerce’s December Networking Breakfast and Business Development Forum.

The chamber’s annual forum event program features keynote speakers sharing current market trends and product innovations with attendees.

The chamber’s president recognized the port with opening remarks. “Port Houston is the running model for growing small business programs. They do excellent engagement,” said Dr. Laura G. Murrilo, President and CEO.

Ramirez highlighted the port’s significance as an economic engine for the region. “We continue to grow because tremendous investment has been and continues to be made in our ship channel region, to produce or distribute goods that are destined to be imported or exported through our port,” said Ramirez.

The port’s small business development program is designed to help contractors made good faith efforts to include small business participation in a variety of contracts.

This year marks the program’s 15^th year of actively supporting the community’s workforce and Port Houston has reached a new milestone: providing over one half billion dollars in awards and commitments to small businesses.

“The port’s education efforts also well align with our small business development efforts since job creation is such a key aspect of both,” noted Ramirez.

The event was held at the Amergy Bank Building in the Houston Galleria.

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Port Houston held its quarterly Small Business Advisory Council meeting recently, with Senior Director of Small Business and Education Outreach Gilda Ramirez and staff providing an update on port small business engagement activities and events.

Port Commissioner John Kennedy, chair of the group, noted that Port Houston had no major impact as a result of Hurricane Harvey.

Kennedy also commended the Houston Astros for winning the Major League Baseball World Series Championship.

Paul Puente, Executive Secretary of the Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council, provided a presentation on local workforce and apprenticeship opportunities. “Houston has one of the best economies in the world,” said Puente.

The Houston Gulf Coast Building and Construction Trades Council helps build an exceptionally trained and skilled workforce for the commercial and industrial construction trade industry.

Other port representatives highlighted the port’s procurement process, policies and advertising initiatives.

In 2016, Port Houston awarded $272 million commitments and awards to small businesses. 

The Port Houston Small Business Advisory Council is a citizen group created to assist program council members to achieve goals, carry out procedures and make operations improvements.

The 16–member council represents a broad spectrum of leaders in small business, contracting, minority and women-owned business associations, community and labor groups.

The post Port Houston’s Small Business Advisory Council Meets; Building Partnerships appeared first on Port Houston.

Port Houston held its semi-annual Port University workshop Oct. 11-Nov. 1. Port University, a four week training course, is an outreach program designed to educate small businesses about procurement opportunities at the port. The workshops are presented in collaboration with the University 0f Houston Small Business Development Center.

More than 30 small business representatives attended the class, where they learned about port procurement opportunities, port facilities small business program, contracting language, bonding, insurance requirements and the port’s BuySpeed Procurement System. Since inception in 2003, more than 650 small business owners have graduated from Port University.

Port Houston staff from the procurement, legal, risk management, environmental and project and construction management departments provided insight on doing business with the port.

“These staff driven workshops are a great resource for small businesses looking to find contracts and projects with the port,” said Pedro Gonzales, Port Houston Small Business Program Manager. “It provides an overview of how these businesses can be successful throughout the process.”

In addition to the course, the Port Authority offers a small business mentoring program for companies enrolled in the port’s small business program. Since the beginning of the program, awards and commitments to small businesses have totaled more than a half a billion dollars.

The Port Authority Small Business and Education Outreach department participates in roughly 200 events every year through the collaboration with various chambers of commerce, economic development organizations and private/public agency partners.

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Hurricane Harvey took a toll on many Texans as flooding affected homes and businesses and brought a demand for various recovery related services.

Port Houston’s small business and education outreach department has recently participated in several events around Harris County related to the storm.

Port Houston staff participated in a Hurricane Harvey Recovery Town Hall Meeting for small businesses at The Power Center Sept. 11.

The event included many other participating local and state agencies, such as the City of Houston's Office of Business Opportunity, Houston METRO, Houston First and the U.S. Small Business Administration.

The agencies shared information about how to prepare for business opportunities after a natural disaster as well as current procurement projects in the region.

Small Business Administration Procurement Center Representative Valerie Coleman shared past experiences and challenges that she saw businesses face during Hurricane Ike in 2008. A resident of Dickinson, her goal is to help small businesses rebuild.

Port Houston is also a gold level sponsor for “Greater Houston Rebounds,” a half day event presented by the Houston East Chamber of Commerce Sept. 19.

“We are here to provide access and support to local businesses impacted by the storm,” said Gilda Ramirez, senior director of small business and education outreach at Port Houston. 

“The port did not have much of any damage from the flooding, and we will continue moving forward helping other companies and organizations who were not so fortunate,” added Ramirez.

The post Port Houston’s Small Business Team Helping Houston Get Back to Business appeared first on Port Houston.

In July, Port Houston’s small business department hosted a graduation reception for the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program 2017 class on the M/V Sam Houston.

With the guidance of local agencies, twenty-one protégés are now on the path to discovering new resources and taking their companies to new heights after completing the program.

Port Houston is a partner and sponsor of the program with several other local agencies – the City of Houston, METROHouston, Houston First Corporation, Houston Independent School District and Houston Community College.

The program provides massive opportunity to small businesses who are ready to grow and achieve success through connecting with these organizations, and exists to strengthen effective working relationships and foster long-term stability between established companies and local agencies.

The goals of the program are for the participants to enhance business skills, create relationships and understand financial requirements for small businesses.

“This program is a great partnership that provides leadership and education for small business owners in the Houston area,” said Gilda Ramirez, Port Houston senior director for small business and education outreach.

The Interagency Mentor Protégé Program partner organizations recently received the “Community Partner of the Year” Award at the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity Champions of Diversity Awards ceremony in December 2016.

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