Minnesota Department of Transportation

511 Travel Info

Civil Rights

Ensuring equal opportunity for all businesses and personnel on our projects

Events


November 2023


DBE Business Academy: Becoming successful– 103 Running a business

This beginner-level class provides an overview of key components of running a business. Discuss operational strategies and barriers facing a DBE. Learn to "think like an owner."

Youth Outreach Committee meeting

This Collaborative subcommittee identifies recruitment strategies and educational opportunities.

December 2023


DBE Business Academy: Making money – 104 Accounting fundamentals part I

Gain a basic understanding of accounting terms and practices including review of financial statements, financial repair, and break-even analysis.

Results and Transparency Committee meeting

The Results and Transparency workgroup reviews and monitors the projects, workforce goals, and progress in hiring women and people of color on highway construction projects.

DBE Business Academy: The art of bidding and estimating – 100 Reading plans and specs

This beginner-level class for construction provides an overview of reading plan sets and specifications.

Worksite Cooperation Committee meeting

This Collaborative subcommittee identifies worksite issues related to workforce diversity. It develops recommendations to ensure construction worksites are respectful and welcoming to all.

  • Dec. 7, 2023
  • 9 – 10:30 a.m.
  • Meet online: The link to the Worksite Cooperation Committee meeting will be posted closer to the meeting date
  • Questions: nmiller@ultcmn.org

DBE Business Academy: Building a viable business  – 106 Break-even analysis

Examine the theory of break-even analysis for an investment in a business, a capital investment, and an expansion of business operations. In this class we cover the life cycle of the investment, cash flows, expenses and more. This is a beginner-level class.

DBE Business Academy: Strategic visibility – 108 Value of marketing

Learn the importance of marketing. Discuss ways to build your brand, market your company and create an elevator pitch. Gain a basic understanding of different marketing techniques.

January 2024


DBE Business Academy: The art of bidding and estimating – 101 Basics of bidding

The DBE Business Academy teaches from the perspective of running a business as an owner. Learn how to apply strategic thinking and practical math to bidding and estimating. Recognize “red flags.” Understand the effect the market has on pricing and take a systematic approach to your bids.

DBE Business Academy: Staying out of trouble – 107 Prevention

This beginner-level class is taught from the perspective of running a business as an owner. Become familiar with legal components and ramifications in the construction industry. Learn different parts of a contract, subcontractor clauses, bid qualifiers and more.

DBE Business Academy: Becoming successful – 203 Implementing operation strategies

This class provides information regarding management systems and processes to reach business goals. Topics focused on SWOT analysis, human resources, marketing, accounting, production, operational structures and the contents within a business plan.

Full DBE and Workforce Collaborative meeting

The DBE and Workforce Collaborative is an advisory group of stakeholders from various industry groups interested in DBE and workforce diversity. The Collaborative’s goal is to increase the diversity of firms and people of color and women participation in the construction industry to reflect the demographics of the State of Minnesota by: Building the future workforce, expanding existing business and workforce skills, ensuring transparency, and connecting people and firms with each other. It is an open group that welcomes the participation of all who support the goal. Any organization or individual committed to the goal may participate by attending a Collaborative meeting.

  • Jan. 17, 2023
  • 9 – 11 a.m.
  • Attend in person: location to be announced
  • Attend online: link will be provided closer to the event
  • Questions: bbjorklund@zanassoc.com

DBE Business Academy: Winning MnDOT work – 102 Positioning your company

Gain an understanding of project delivery. Recognize the effect market conditions have on pricing. Learn to take a systematic approach to estimating. Hear from DBE guest speakers.

DBE Business Academy: Making money – 204 Accounting fundamentals part II

Enhance your accounting skills with emphasis on financial management and best practices.

DBE Business Academy: Making money – 304 Maximizing profit

Evaluate your business's financial position and generate projections. Gain an understanding of buying vs. leasing, balance sheets and how to conduct a financial statement analysis. Learn how financial statements are created. Review what makes up a general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, fixed assets, job costing, tax preparation and income statements. This class also presents different accounting methods including cash accounting, accrual accounting and percentage of completion contracts. 

February 2024


DBE Business Academy: The art of bidding and estimating – 201 Bid preparation

Prepare for bidding MnDOT work. In this intermediate-level class, we cover all bid documents, bidding strategies and the effects of economic factors. We explain the differences between bidding on horizontal and vertical construction.

DBE Business Academy: The art of bidding and estimating – 301 Responding to a request for proposal

Learn how to successfully respond to requests for proposals (RFPs) and the importance of reviewing all material. Special emphasis is placed on organizing the response around a clearly identified theme to create a standout brand. Discuss the importance of brevity, focus and framing your own credentials in terms of benefits to the client.

DBE Business Academy: Strategic visibility – 208 Integrating marketing strategies

This class focuses on types of marketing strategies and how to integrate them. Discuss and prepare a marketing plan and learn the value of using multiple strategies.

DBE Business Academy: Mastering QuickBooks – 205 Accounting with QuickBooks

Gain a basic understanding of QuickBooks.  Learn how to conduct sales, accounts receivable and accounts payable.

DBE Business Academy: Staying out of trouble – 207 Contract protection

This intermediate-level class focuses on laws that affect the construction business and how to reduce business liabilities. Gain an understanding of business law, change orders, subcontracts liability, bonds and more.

March 2024


DBE Business Academy: Building a viable business – 206 Cash flow and workflow forecast

Examine cash flow forecasting and develop required tools to understand workflows and critical paths. This class will cover various business situations and emphasis will be placed on understanding the need to assess both human and asset capital capabilities.

DBE Business Academy: Winning MnDOT work – 202 Preparing the tools

In this intermediate-level class, learn from MnDOT experts as they discuss useful tools and valuable lessons. Topics include alternative MnDOT contracting methods, small business contracting opportunities, prevailing wage, bid opportunities and how to do business with MnDOT.

Full DBE and Workforce Collaborative meeting

The DBE and Workforce Collaborative is an advisory group of stakeholders from various industry groups interested in DBE and workforce diversity. The Collaborative’s goal is to increase the diversity of firms and people of color and women participation in the construction industry to reflect the demographics of the State of Minnesota by: Building the future workforce, expanding existing business and workforce skills, ensuring transparency, and connecting people and firms with each other. It is an open group that welcomes the participation of all who support the goal. Any organization or individual committed to the goal may participate by attending a Collaborative meeting.

  • March 20, 2023
  • 9 – 11 a.m.
  • Attend in person: location to be announced
  • Attend online: link will be provided closer to the event
  • Questions: bbjorklund@zanassoc.com

DBE Business Academy: Winning MnDOT work – 302 A successful submittal

Gain an understanding of the components of a successful bid and review the submittal process. This advanced-level class includes presentations from prime contractors. Llearn from their experience and what they look for from their subcontractors.

April 2024


DBE Business Academy: Staying out of trouble – 307 Construction law and contracts

This advanced-level class provides different legal components of a MnDOT contract, specifications, performance bonds and MnDOT forms.

DBE Business Academy: Becoming successful – 303 Sustainability

Prepare operational action plans. Discuss the need for implementing strategies to achieve action plan goals, how to navigate the ups and downs of owning a business, and the transitional phase from the DBE program. This is an advanced-level class.

DBE Business Academy: Strategic visibility – 308 Action plan

Create marketing goals and an action plan to achieve them, discuss the value of analyzing results, a marketing cycle and how to adjust your marketing strategy as your company grows. This is an advanced-level class.

May 2024


Full DBE and Workforce Collaborative meeting

The DBE and Workforce Collaborative is an advisory group of stakeholders from various industry groups interested in DBE and workforce diversity. The Collaborative’s goal is to increase the diversity of firms and people of color and women participation in the construction industry to reflect the demographics of the State of Minnesota by: Building the future workforce, expanding existing business and workforce skills, ensuring transparency, and connecting people and firms with each other. It is an open group that welcomes the participation of all who support the goal. Any organization or individual committed to the goal may participate by attending a Collaborative meeting.

  • May 15, 2023
  • 9 – 11 a.m.
  • Attend in person: location to be announced
  • Attend online: link will be provided closer to the event
  • Questions: bbjorklund@zanassoc.com

June 2024


There are no events scheduled yet for this month.

July 2024


Full DBE and Workforce Collaborative meeting

The DBE and Workforce Collaborative is an advisory group of stakeholders from various industry groups interested in DBE and workforce diversity. The Collaborative’s goal is to increase the diversity of firms and people of color and women participation in the construction industry to reflect the demographics of the State of Minnesota by: Building the future workforce, expanding existing business and workforce skills, ensuring transparency, and connecting people and firms with each other. It is an open group that welcomes the participation of all who support the goal. Any organization or individual committed to the goal may participate by attending a Collaborative meeting.

  • July 17, 2023
  • 9 – 11 a.m.
  • Attend in person: location to be announced
  • Attend online: link will be provided closer to the event
  • Questions: bbjorklund@zanassoc.com

August 2024


There are no events scheduled yet for this month.

September 2024


Full DBE and Workforce Collaborative meeting

The DBE and Workforce Collaborative is an advisory group of stakeholders from various industry groups interested in DBE and workforce diversity. The Collaborative’s goal is to increase the diversity of firms and people of color and women participation in the construction industry to reflect the demographics of the State of Minnesota by: Building the future workforce, expanding existing business and workforce skills, ensuring transparency, and connecting people and firms with each other. It is an open group that welcomes the participation of all who support the goal. Any organization or individual committed to the goal may participate by attending a Collaborative meeting.

  • Sept. 18, 2023
  • 9 – 11 a.m.
  • Attend in person: location to be announced
  • Attend online: link will be provided closer to the event
  • Questions: bbjorklund@zanassoc.com

October 2024


There are no events scheduled yet for this month.

November 2024


Full DBE and Workforce Collaborative meeting

The DBE and Workforce Collaborative is an advisory group of stakeholders from various industry groups interested in DBE and workforce diversity. The Collaborative’s goal is to increase the diversity of firms and people of color and women participation in the construction industry to reflect the demographics of the State of Minnesota by: Building the future workforce, expanding existing business and workforce skills, ensuring transparency, and connecting people and firms with each other. It is an open group that welcomes the participation of all who support the goal. Any organization or individual committed to the goal may participate by attending a Collaborative meeting.

  • Nov. 20, 2023
  • 9 – 11 a.m.
  • Attend in person: location to be announced
  • Attend online: link will be provided closer to the event
  • Questions: bbjorklund@zanassoc.com