Last month, Tabor 100 recognized SDOT’s Bobby Forch with their 2009 Crystal Eagle Award for Business Development. He serves as the women & minority business enterprises (WMBE) contracts advisor, working to ensure contracts are equitably awarded for SDOT and other City of Seattle projects. Tabor 100 is a grassroots economic development coalition dedicated to ensuring opportunity for minority businesses. Bobby, who has worked for the City for over 20 years, was recognized for his role in creating economic development opportunities for underrepresented businesses.
Working to promote productive and inclusive principles is something he has done during his time with the City. His work has focused on our contracting standards and our outreach to the Seattle business community. Among his contributions are his work on a city ordinance, which passed, requiring equity in contracting, and his work to develop tools that help SDOT project managers use wider pools of contractors that include minority businesses. While in his current role, SDOT has seen its utilization of women and minority businesses increase over 50% in the past three years.
Outside of SDOT, he is an active member of the community, working with the Northwest Children’s Fund to raise grant funds for charities benefiting youth and serving on the board of the Seattle Management Association, among other activities.
Influenced by the positive impact of economic equity on Seattle’s minority businesses, Bobby continues to work on improving our community engagement efforts and our contracting processes. We are proud to have him on our team!