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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.

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