In memory of a person the MWDBE Governmental Committee considered a true champion of their cause; a loving and caring human being, they recently dedicated their 14th Annual Conference for Minority, Women, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises to the late Faye Obregon Ritter.
“Faye was an icon in the community, a business mentor to many and a kind and genuine lady,” said Duvall Aiken chair of the organization. Also, Ritter along with Keith B. Key, CEO of Keith B. Key Enterprises and Omni Management Group were inducted into the 2015 MWDBE Governmental Committee Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame, according to Committee members recognizes individuals and or organizations that have demonstrated a strong commitment to the quest of improving the economic climate for historically underutilized business enterprises.
Established in 1992, Ritter was the founder and owner of The Allegheny Group a division of Allegheny Fabricating and Supplies. The business offers a complete line of contract shop and office furniture, construction materials, industrial and electrical supplies, healthcare products, food packaging and paper products, lockers and shelving.
Considered an independent thinker, Ritter became an entrepreneur at the age of 20 and provided guidance, customer service and quality products to a wide-range of industry businesses. She grew her company throughout the years by introducing products and solutions that were most sought after by the company’s client base.
For more than 30 years, until her death in February of this year, Ritter was an active member and volunteer and served on numerous committees. She played a significant role in the African American Chamber of Commerce of Western Pennsylvania, the Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council and Light of Life Ministries.
Accepting the award for Ritter was her husband Eugene and niece Amalia who will take over the business operations.
Key, a Pittsburgh native has become a major economic force in his hometown. A graduate of the former Peabody High School, Key received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Ohio State University. Upon graduation he entered the banking field where he gained experience in the areas of Trust, Investments, Commercial Real Estate Lending, Small business Lending and Mortgage Banking. After a successful banking career Key and a partner established the Omni Management Group that worked with banks and private corporations, engaging in real estate development and became one of the largest African American real estate development firms.
With KBK Enterprises mission to provide exceptional real estate development services through creative financing, community participation and public/private partnerships he has been involved with over $1billion dollars of real estate development inclusive of residential, commercial and religious-oriented projects. Other than Pittsburgh his multi-dimensional business has offices in Columbus, Ohio, New Orleans, Louisiana and Washington, D.C.
Keith B. Key Enterprises Pittsburgh project portfolio includes Garfield Commons, Skyline Terrace (formerly Addison Terrence), Larimer Scattered Sites and the Larimer School.
Like previous years, the conference was designed to open doors for businesses and to provide an opportunity for them to market their business to participating organizations offering a large spectrum of experience. This year’s theme was Business Opportunities Today and Tomorrow. Presentations pertained to potential business opportunities relating to the Almono Project, the Hazelwood Initiative, the Lower Hill Development Project, the Northside Leadership Conference and the Hill Community Development Corporation.
For over 60 years the Regional Industrial Development Corporation has been developing properties for companies. Through crafting site plans, preparing land and building roads, RIDC is getting space ready for the region’s growth. Listed as the third largest commercial property manager in metropolitan Pittsburgh with 7,400,000 gross leaseable square feet the corporation, according to Sarah Stroney its development and policy analyst they own 1,000 plus acres, have constructed 65 buildings and assisted in creating 5,600 jobs throughout the region.
One of their current projects is the 178 acres former J and L Mill site the Almono Project. RIDC is serving as general partners of the planned mixed-use urban neighborhood consisting of 2,700 housing units and 2.6 million square feet of office, commercial and light-industrial. Stroney pointed out that there is a 35 percent WMDBE participation goal on the project with the infrastructure work planned to start in early summer.
The slogan of the Hazelwood Initiative is, Together We Can Make a Difference. According to executive director Jim Richter, the mission of the Hazelwood Initiative as a community-based community development corporation, is to be community driven, providing a shared stronger voice for Greater Hazelwood by gathering community input to build a sense of hope, harmony, and promise, by supporting human, spiritual and continuing community development. The organization has been focusing on developing opportunities for business startups within their community.
During his presentation Richter indicated that home-based businesses such as food oriented business initiatives like catering, specialty food items inclusive of baked products, canned items have been a focus. Other specialty type entities include products produced from urban agriculture projects that can be sold at the Second Avenue Farmers Market. Food trucks and the establishment and operation of a community kitchen are also targeted for the area.
Working with funding groups like Bridgeway Capital and Kiva Zip, Richter says enables such businesses to be established as well as businesses like landscaping and event planning.
Kimberly L. Slater-Wood, Director of Outreach for the Pittsburgh Penguins and Clarence F. Curry, Senior Diversity Coordinator explained the Lower Hill Development Project for the Sports and Exhibition Authority.
Situated between Downtown Pittsburgh and the Hill District, the 28-acre former Civic Arena site is expected to be converted into a mixed development consisting of a hotel, commercial and office space, and residential and open park space. Also the world headquarters of US Steel is expected to be the first development completed on the site.
Since the opening of the Consol Energy Center in 2010 the Penguins, SEA and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh has been working with community leaders in the Hill District through a Community Collaboration Implementation Plan to develop a framework for the development to provide jobs, economic and other wealth building opportunities for the Hill District community. The CCIP will aid the groups in working toward meeting their MBE and WBE goals in all aspects of the project.
Also working on the Lower Hill Development is St Louis based Marks and Associates that will serve as Diversity Coordinator for Clayco, developer of the USS Headquarters Building. Arthur M. Porter is serving as the local representative.
Jonathan Huck, Real Estate Director of the Northside Leadership Conference describes his group as a coalition of Northside community-based organizations, committed to addressing mutual concerns through a united approach in order to promote and enhance the vitality, quality of life and image of Pittsburgh’s Northside. The group is involved in commercial and residential development and helps it partners in hiring general contractors and introduces subcontractors to general contractors.
A subsidiary of The Northside Leadership Conference is the Northside Community Development Fund, which provides an array of financing and technical products and services to promote community development and healthy businesses on the Northside.
According to Mark P. Masterson, Executive Director of the Community Development Financial Institution it has loan and investment assets of approximately $13 million, has financed more than 250 small businesses ranging from restaurants, developers to contractors and finances, working capital, equipment, real estate acquisition, improvements, and leasehold improvements.
Marlene Landrum of the Hill Community Development Corporation explained the role of the Hill CDC as acting as a community partner, connector and innovator. The group is a part of the CCIP with the Lower Hill Development and involved in various projects within the Hill. Projects include the Addison Project with KBK Enterprises, the Dinwiddie Project, the Centre Avenue redevelopment, the New Granada Theatre Block as well as the Hill District 100 Project consisting of rehabilitating older structures and the building of new homes.
Another major component of the conference for MWDBEs is the trade fair. With government purchasing agents and a variety of other agencies on hand participants were provided the opportunity to market their business, to learn what bidding opportunities are available and how to do business with them.
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