Skip to main content

TJJD’s First Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Vendor Fair

Texas Juvenile Justice Department’s Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program held its inaugural HUB Vendor Fair on Friday, June 17, 2016 in the Lone Star Conference Room at the Austin office.  The event is designed to allow HUB vendors to meet face to face with agency personnel.  In addition, the meet-and-greet was designed to allow the end users to see who they are buying products and services from.
 
Many of the vendors at the fair were vendors who contract with TJJD or have products purchased for the agency. Included in the list of vendors at the event were new HUB vendors, looking to start their small business and hoping to make that business connection here at TJJD.  A business is considered a HUB if it is:
  • A for-profit entity that has not exceeded the size standards prescribed by 34 TAC §20.23, and has its principal place of business in Texas; and
  • At least 51% owned by an Asian Pacific American, Black American, Hispanic American, Native American, American Woman and/or Service Disabled Veteran, who reside in Texas and actively participate in the control, operations and management of the entity’s affairs.
 
At this first TJJD-hosted event, vendors with varying types of businesses included: Elumicor, Cima, Tex-Am Construction, Steel Branding, Urban Circle, Flores and Associates, Victorious Life, Spectrum Technologies, Scooter Rabbit Motivations, and AHI Enterprises.  In addition, TXDMV, DIR, TCEQ and DPS HUB Coordinators attended to support TJJD’s HUB Program.


The event showcased a new vendor – Scooter Rabbit Motivations, owned by Mr. Alexander Wright.  Mr. Wright is a former professional football player who played for many teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders, Saint Louis Rams and was a scout for the New England Patriots in 2000.


Mr. Wright still holds the Cowboy’s record for the longest kickoff return for a touchdown – 102 yards. Coach Wright no longer plays football but he is very involved in sports including being a certified educator, motivational speaker and a minister at Cornerstone Ministries in San Antonio, Texas.


The TJJD HUB Program is committed to providing opportunities for HUB’s to allow them to grow and prosper in Texas. TJJD staff will strive to improve this event for next year.  If you have any suggestions or comments, please forward them to Danny.Vasquez@tjjd.texas.gov.


PHOTO: Danny Vasquez, HUB Program Specialist and Kenneth Ming, Director of Business Operations and Contract.

Popular posts from this blog

McFadden Sends Youth Home with Backpack of 'Hope'

By Y. Denise Caldwell Community Resource Coordinator, Northern District Parole Office FLOWER MOUND, Texas - Larry Bossaler, McFadden volunteer  McFadden Ranch Volunteer Larry Bossaler enjoys his assignment: Making sure that every youth who leaves the McFadden halfway house knows that people are praying for him and wishing him the best in his future. He is the man who brings them their “Good-Bye” backpack.    When he delivers the backpacks, he makes sure to do three things – visit with the youth, show the contents of the backpack (because staff put them in the lockers until the youth leaves),   and lastly close the visit with a heartfelt prayer. The youth enjoy and appreciate the backpack, the visit and the prayer. Many are a little anxious and scared to leave but knowing that the McFadden volunteers care enough to send them off in this special way, helps them feel a bit less worried. “I always bring an extra backpack,” Larry said. ...
Read more

IN MEMORY AND APPRECIATION: Trayce Haynes Alexander

Trayce Haynes Alexander, of Cat Spring, Texas passed away in April.  She was a JCO IV at the Giddings State School and began her employment with the Texas Youth Commission on January 5, 2009, as a JCO III.  She was promoted to a JCO IV on April 1, 2010.  Trayce was a hardworking, loyal and dedicated staff member and friend.  Her number one priority was the youth in her dorm and she would drive one hour and forty minutes everyday (even in ill health) to try to make a difference in the lives of the youth she worked with. She was well respected by both staff and youth due to her extraordinary work ethic.  The boys could always depend on her to hold them accountable. She is survived by her husband Geoff Alexander and two daughters, Kristyn and Robyn Alexander. Trayce was born on September 3, 1952.  She earned a BS from Southwest Texas State University in Law Enforcement.
Read more

Canyon Lake Evening Reporting Center

When Comal County Juvenile Probation Chief Kris Johnson joined the department in March 2011, he brought with him a long-term vision to open an Evening Reporting Center (ERC) in the county.  ERCs, which require youth offenders to report to specified locations during evening hours for programming, skills building and community service, were first used in Chicago, where juvenile justice advocates needed after school programs to keep their higher risk kids from getting involved in the gang scene.  They also serve as an alternative to detention pending a youth’s hearings.  ERCs have become common detention alternatives in many communities throughout the United States and are based on research and best practices recognized by the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Johnson believed implementing an ERC in Comal County would reduce juvenile crime by providing supervision during the hours crime is most likely to occur.  Additionally, it could significantly reduce the cost of deten...
Read more