APTAC Human Impact Award 2014 Greg Kolean, Lea Anne Burke, Kylene Binder, Daucey Brewington, APTAC President Jason Porch, Marnie Tyson. Not pictured: Trish Johnson, Bryan Allen, Barbara Allen

APTAC Human Impact Award 2014
Greg Kolean, Lea Anne Burke, Kylene Binder, Daucey Brewington, APTAC President Jason Porch, Marnie Tyson, not pictured: Trish Johnson, Bryan Allen, Barbara Allen

On March 26, 2014, the Native Procurement Technical Assistance Center (Native PTAC) was recognized and presented with the Human Impact Award from the Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers. The Human Impact Award was created to recognize a PTAC that has made a positive contribution to a PTAC client business(es) or to the community. This award recognizes a PTAC going above and beyond the normal PTAC duties, making a difference in the lives of others and in the communities we call home. This serves as a reminder that PTAC successes are not always measured in dollars and cents.

Hosted by Two Rivers CDC, a Native American 501(c)3, the Native PTAC is a free, grant funded, community resource, committed to helping individual and tribally owned Native firms to become more successful in contracting with federal, tribal, state and local governments. Native PTAC’s Service area includes 274 Tribes, reservations and village corps, 13 regional Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) and over 175,000 tribal members, covering over 918,000 square miles in the Alaska and Northwest BIA Regions.

Native PTAC was recognized in particular for their work on behalf of minority and women owned businesses in Washington State. Washington State Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprises (OMWBE) has been facing a critical lack of OMWBE certified small firms to perform on Federal and local transportation projects. Native PTAC staff directly engaged OMWBE, to address and clarify many of the issues Native and Tribal business face with State contracting opportunities.

With excellent lines of communication open and ideas flowing, this has directly led to the development of the state-wide “Let’s Get Certified!” campaign. Native PTAC has played a key role in helping to organize and facilitate hands-on certification workshops, bringing OMWBE staff directly into Washington State Indian Country.

Native PTAC is honored by this recognition and excited to continue our work to support our Native community and businesses.