By Office of Business Services staff
Earlier this year, the 20th Annual State Agency Recognition Awards (SARA) were held in Sacramento. The ceremony honored state departments those who advocate for contracting with small business (SB) and disabled veteran business enterprises (DVBE).
For Fiscal Year 2018/2019 (FY18/19), the CDCR exceeded the 25% SB and 3% DVBE participation goals by achieving 25.67% SB ($209,671,383) and 4.21% ($46,655,707) DVBE participation.
Advocate of the Year
This award recognizes three SB/DVBE Advocates throughout the State of California for exemplary work and success through outreach efforts, performance measurements, and notable improvements.
- Gold Award – Yolanda Flores, North Kern State Prison
- Silver Award – Lauren Boehuke and Mike Fairbanks, California Institution for Men
- Bronze Award – Brandon Chastain, Avenal State Prison
Agency of the Year
The Agency of the Year Award honors three agencies or departments for their best practices, creativity and outstanding achievements to advance the State’s SB/DVBE programs. The winners of this year’s agency of the year award demonstrated their commitment and success across the areas of outreach efforts, performance measurements, and notable improvements.
- Bronze Award – California Institution for Men
Small Business & DVBE Contracting Award (New)
This new award was given to two individuals who, as buyers for the State of California who conduct procurements with SBs and DVBEs, awarded contracts to the largest variety of businesses.
- Tammy Kirkwood, Mule Creek State Prison
Advocate Steering Committee Recognition (New)
The leadership of the Advocate Steering Committee was recognized for their dedication, hard work, and support of more than 200 small business and DVBE advocates throughout the State of California.
- Nina Martinez, Office of Business Services
Angel Carrera Leadership (New)
This new award is in memory of Angel Carrera Jr., Chief of the Certification and Outreach Branch at DGS who passed away in 2019. The award recognizes and celebrates a leader in state procurement who, like Angel, supports SBs and DVBEs in state procurement and is a tremendous leader.
Finalists:
- Edris Diaz, Avenal State Prison
- Lisa Tackett, California Men’s Colony
- Maribel Garcia, Wasco State Prison-Reception Center
- Nina Martinez, Office of Business Services