October 1, 2024

By Lane Kimble

WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — The timing of a federal court ruling against the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program four days earlier was purely coincidental, but it generated buzz among people gathered in Wisconsin Dells for an industry conference Sept. 27.

About 100 people attended the Construction Business Group’s “DBE Roundtable 4.0” seminar.

The all-day conference included DBE program updates from WisDOT staff, economic and funding guidance, a presentation from Southeast Region Director Bob Gutierrez and more.

A WTBA-member panel made up of Josh Wade (Arbor Green), Mike Hahn (Lunda), and Taylor Tauer (Walbec/Northeast Asphalt) offered advice and perspective from contractors.

CBG Executive Director Robb Kahl urged attendees to get engaged and stay engaged.

“What we want is for you to walk away from this meeting feeling empowered, informed, and ready to do more with your business. That’s the whole point of this,” Kahl said.

The federal court ruling Sept. 23 temporarily blocked application of the DBE rule for contract awards, but its scope is currently limited.  It only applies to the two companies who filed the lawsuit in two states: Kentucky and Indiana.

It does not currently have any effect on WisDOT’s DBE program goals or implementation.

“There’s a lot of work,” WTBA Exec. Director Steve Baas said during his opening remarks.  “We need everybody engaged to be able to do that work, to be able to do it well and be able to do it competitively… We’re all better and we all win when we have a broader talent pool, when we have more people engaged, and when we’re all working together in partnership.”

The conference also featured a Women in Construction panel with Integrity Grading & Excavating Project Manager Becky Woller sharing her advice.