Mayor de Blasio Announces New Senior Advisor for Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Program

June 15, 2016

Jonnel Doris will help lead the City’s efforts to award $16 billion in M/WBE contracts by July 2025

NEW YORK–– Mayor Bill de Blasio today announced Jonnel Doris as the new Senior Advisor for the City’s Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise program. Doris has over 15 years of experience in corporate and government sectors. Prior to his appointment, Doris oversaw the Office of Diversity and Civil Rights at the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, where he directed policy and implementation of the M/WBE Program. Jonnel Doris will play a key role in meeting the City’s OneNYC goal of awarding $16 billion in M/WBE contracts by July 2025. In the first year, OneNYC agencies awarded $1.6 billion to M/WBEs.

In his new role, Doris will be responsible for identifying strategic policy guidance, programs, services and accountability mechanisms to increase the number of awards given to qualified M/WBEs. In addition, he will work with agencies to improve utilization of the City’s M/WBEs and advise Counsel to the Mayor Maya Wiley on subjects pertaining to M/WBEs and awarding City contracts.

“Jonnel Doris has a wealth of experience working directly with minority and women-owned businesses. He knows firsthand why it’s important for cities across the nation to diversify the way they do business – because when all businesses thrive regardless of race, gender or ethnicity, whole communities thrive as well. I’m confident Doris will play an essential role in this Administration as we continue to reach our goal of awarding $16 billion in M/WBE contracts,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.

“Businesses founded by Black, Latino and Asian entrepreneurs and women of all races are among the fastest growing in the nation. They create jobs and they contribute mightily to reducing income inequality. New York City is open for business, and I am thrilled that Jonnel Doris joins our M/WBE team to make sure these businesses get a fair chance to help us get the City’s work done,” said Maya Wiley, Counsel to the Mayor and Director of the City’s M/WBE program.

“This Administration continues to push for equity in public procurement. We know that the success of dynamic, minority and women-owned businesses contributes to the success of diverse communities around the City. Throughout his career, Jonnel Doris has been a strong advocate for these firms in both the public and private sector. The City will gain from his depth of experience making sure that M/WBEs continue to get a fair shot now and into the future,” said Michael Owh, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Contract Services.

“Jonnel Doris is a terrific addition to the team, who is fully dedicated to M/WBE issues and understands the challenges given his extensive history of leadership in this area,” said Gregg Bishop, Commissioner of the Department of Small Business Services. “Leveling the playing field for M/WBEs to compete for City contracts is a priority at SBS, and I’m confident that Jonnel’s expertise will not only make us stronger, but help us to meet our goals even faster.”

“DDC shares the Mayor’s commitment to increase opportunities for MWBEs for the city’s small business community. Our OneNYC projects have resulted in almost $250 million in M/WBE awards for Fiscal year 2015. Our Office of Diversity and Industry Relations looks forward to collaborating with Jonnel Doris to create an equitable and competitive business environment that facilitates procurement opportunities and innovative best practices for the City’s M/WBE community,” said Dr. Feniosky Peña-Mora, Commissioner of the Department of Design and Construction.

Jonnel Doris previously served as the Chief Diversity Officer for the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR), where he oversaw New York State's $4.4 billion recovery allocation for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. These programs included the Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprises, Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), Section 3 Program, ADA, and the 504 and LEP initiatives.

At GOSR, Doris developed and implemented strategic initiatives resulting in increased utilization of State and Federal M/WBEs and Section 3 businesses. He pioneered and developed the GOSR’s Local Workforce Opportunities Program and Web Portal, two resources which continue to increase employment, business opportunities and enable hundreds of M/WBEs, small businesses and local residents to participate in New York’s rebuilding efforts.

Jonnel Doris also worked with the Public Service Enterprise Group- Long Island (PSEG) focusing on key supplier diversity initiatives. He successfully coordinated the implementation of multi-million dollar sourcing initiatives and programs for the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). Working collaboratively with internal cross-functional groups, he defined and implemented processes to execute the utility’s supplier diversity compliance, strategy and goals. In his new role, Doris will be responsible for identifying strategic policy guidance, programs, services and accountability mechanisms to increase the number of awards given to qualified M/WBEs. In addition, he will work with agencies to improve utilization of the City’s M/WBEs and advise Counsel to the Mayor Maya Wiley on subjects pertaining to M/WBEs and awarding City contracts.

Jonnel Doris is a Guyanese-American; he and his family migrated to Brooklyn, New York almost three decades ago. Doris holds several degrees and certificates including: a Master of Divinity from Oral Roberts University; both a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Analysis and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Sociology from Stony Brook University; and Turner Construction Management Trainee Certificate Program. He currently resides in Queens with his wife Aisha Doris and two young children.

“I would like to congratulate Jonnel Doris on his new appointment as Senior Advisor to the City's Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise program," said Assembly Member Rodneyse Bichotte. “Given his diverse experience in M/WBE related issues, most recently overseeing the Office of Diversity and Civil Rights at the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, and as a result of his intimate understanding of issues facing a wide range of stakeholders, he is uniquely qualified to advise on these issues. I look forward to an ongoing partnership.”

“I commend the administration for its leadership in naming Jonnel Doris as the New Senior Advisor for the City’s Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise program. This is an important step in meeting the OneNYC goal of awarding $16 billion in M/WBE contracts by July 2025. Through prioritizing M/WBEs, we will transform the Bronx and the entire City by providing opportunities to our businesses and allowing us to tap into the wealth of talent that our City has to offer,” said Assembly Member Michael Blake.

“Throughout the City of New York, minority and women-owned business enterprises (M/WBEs) have been integral to our economic growth and development through job creation. Despite their many contributions, these enterprises are underrepresented in the procurement process. As Chair of the Committee on Women’s Issues and co-Chair of the Women’s Caucus, I want to commend Mayor de Blasio for prioritizing these underrepresented enterprises and designating Jonnel Doris as a senior advisor. I look forward to working closely with the administration on short and long term goals that will bring new opportunities to our communities,” said Council Member Laurie A. Cumbo.

“As a business owner and an advocate for M/WBEs across the city, I recognize how important it is to have a strong team within City Hall driving the M/WBE program. This administration has set more ambitious goals and gone further than any before it. That it continues to build the strength of the program is testament to its commitment to ensuring that women and minorities receive a fair chance at doing business with the City,” said Sandra Wilkin, Founder and President of Bradford Companies.

“Mr. Doris is an enthusiastic, proactive, tireless supporter of diversity in procurement He will be a tremendous asset in realizing the vision of meaningful M/WBE inclusion in New York City,” said Elizabeth Velez, President and Chief Contract Administrator of the Velez Organization.

“Leading a successful M/WBE program requires someone that is strategic, credible and committed to being a change agent that will have a positive impact on future generations. Jonnel Doris is a visionary and an excellent hire to lead this program,” said Carla Hunter Ramsey, Global Senior Director of Supplier, Diversity and Sustainability at the National Grid.

“As the former COO for the New York State Governor's Office of Storm Recovery, I worked closely with Jonnel who built a robust program that focused on ensuring the participation of M/WBEs in the post-Sandy rebuilding effort. Jonnel is a fierce advocate of equitable participation in government funded procurement opportunities. He recognizes that successfully engaging M/WBEs is the result of a relentless will and determination to make it happen. I have personally witnessed Jonnel's innovation at work in the many forums he has held that brought together government, private sector business and M/WBEs to engage in mutually beneficial opportunities around the rebuilding effort. Most importantly, Jonnel gets results. When he started at GOSR there were only a handful of M/WBEs participating and now there are several hundred,” said Melvin Galloway, Executive Vice President and COO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America’s Planned Parenthood Action Fund.