The keynote speaker for the luncheon will be Will Kempton, Caltrans director of operations. Kempton will discuss the best methods for businesses that are small or women-, disabled- or minority-owned to contract and develop long-term working relationships with Caltrans.
    Tickets for the luncheon are $100 per person. Proceeds support the Oakland Black Board of Trade & Commerce scholarships and Black Wall Street district area scholarship funds.
    “We are delighted to have Kempton speak to small, medium and minority-owned firms about the potential of doing real and sustainable business with the Caltrans agency,” said Ed Dillard, president of the Oakland Black Board of Trade & Commerce and Black Wall Street Merchants Association.
    “Our business community should to be aware of the numerous opportunities this agency has to offer,” he said.
    Appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in November 2004, Kempton is responsible for managing the dayto- day operations of California’s state transportation system, including more than 50,000 lane miles of state highways stretching from Mexico to Oregon and from the Pacific Ocean to Nevada and Arizona.
    As leader of Caltrans, Kempton oversees an annual operating budget of more than $9 billion, 22,000 employees and $7 billion worth of transportation improvements under construction.
    For those interested in participating in the California Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, the Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) Program and the Women Business Enterprise (WBE) Certification Program, call (916) 324-1700 or (866) 810-6346, or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/bep/i ndex.htm.
    Firms interested in certification as a Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (DVBE) should contact the Department of General Services, Procurement Division, Office of Small Business and DVBE Certification (OSDC) at (800) 559-5529 or (916) 375-4940.
    For more information about the luncheon call (510) 706- 9005, email edillard@blackwallstreet.org or visit www.blackwallstreet.org.