Sixty-five minority owned firms and advocacy groups working to build the future home of the Texas Rangers were honored in a pre-game ceremony on Monday night as part of Jackie Robinson Day.
The Texas Rangers joined all of Major League Baseball in honoring Jackie Robinson Day, and that included recognizing members of Minority and Women Business Enterprises (M/WBE).
"As construction reaches its peak, we are projected to have over 1,500 workers on-site daily. As Globe Life Field continues to grow, it's especially important to us as an organization to recognize the M/WBE firms contributing to this wonderful project on a day in which we celebrate Jackie Robinson's contribution to Major League Baseball," Texas Rangers Senior Vice President of Project Development Jack Hill said.
M/WBE businesses are involved in several different trades throughout the construction site, including everything from steel vendors to masonry and interior finish outs. There are 113 M/WBE firms and ten advocacy groups working on the Globe Life Field project, half of those companies were represented during the pre-game ceremony.
"The City of Arlington and the Rangers organization understand the importance of a diverse workforce in the development of Globe Life Field," Hill added. "Our goal is to include a substantial amount of Minority and Women Owned Business (MWBE) participation in all aspects of the development including design, engineering and construction."
Small-business management firm, Acari Management, is responsible for connecting M/WBE firms with the Globe Life Field project. The Rangers partnered with Acari during the early phases of the project, emphasizing an importance of identifying M/WBE firms to help the growth of the Globe Life Field project.
"The pre-game ceremony is a one of a kind event that has never happened before. These firms that are working here can understand that it's not just about the work and the projects, but they're truly appreciated in the work that they do," Acari President and CEO Jollyn Mwisongo said.
All of the firms were given game tickets, and also a commemorative plaque, celebrating the company's involvement in the Globe Life Field project.
"I've been involved in many projects, but nothing like this, where the owner puts this much and this kind of recognition to the small firms that are working on the project," Mwisongo added. "Being here tonight, and even getting to shake hands of all the M/WBE's working, it's beyond anything that I've done in my 20 years of working in this industry, it is a great opportunity."
The Arlington based firm helped bring The Cleaning Lady to the Globe Life Field project, only six months after the company's establishment. The Cleaning Lady provides cleaning and janitorial services to the contractors building Globe Life Field, including management of the cleaning services at the construction offices.
"I am super excited for my name to be attached to the new ballpark. This has been a wonderful experience, it's been great all together and I am so very thankful for the opportunity," Tarvia Bills, founder of The Cleaning Lady, said.
M/WBE Project Manager for Globe Life Field Petrina Bonnick-Higgins tracks the statistics and monitors the overall impact the businesses have on the Globe Life Field project. Taking part in the pre-game ceremony solidified her two years of work in connecting minority and women owned businesses to the Globe Life Field project.
"Tonight represents an honor and pure joy. This is a culmination of all the hard work I've been doing for the last two years on the project," Bonnick-Higgins said. "This is a legacy I'm sharing with my kids, what we have done as M/WBE firms in the way of forging ahead opportunities like this."
The participation of M/WBE businesses is vital to success of the Globe Life Field project. The goal of the Rangers organization it to include a substantial amount of Minority and Women owned businesses in all aspects of the development, including design, engineering and construction.
"It is vitally important to the Rangers organization that M/WBE companies provide a significant portion of the services performed on the Globe Life Field project," Hill added. "We will not be satisfied to simply meet the participation percentages. Our outreach program is more than that."
Another goal behind the M/WBE's participation in the Globe Life Field project is to develop the firms and help them expand their capabilities. Through the partnership with Acari, the Rangers hope these firms will leave the Globe Life Field project in 2020 with an expanded network and resources.
"We want to see smaller firms develop and grow. We want MWBE firms to form new relationships and show how a project is better through diversity," Hill said.
This article was originally published on the Globe Life Field website.
Texas Rangers, Ballpark Project
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