ABOUT RASC

An Organization That Helps the Growth of Small Contractors

About RASC

The Regional Alliance for Small Contractors (RASC) was the 1989 brainchild of visionary public agencies, the Port Authority of NY & NJ principal amongst them, and major private construction corporations that resolved to improve the competitiveness of small, minority, and women contractors in the region. RASC was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1991. The Regional Alliance for Small Contractors has been led since then by a virtual “Who’s Who” of construction industry leaders, including Peter M. Lehrer, Lehrer, McGovern Bovis (Lend Lease (U.S.) LMB, Inc.; John L. Tishman, Tishman Construction Corp. (an AECOM Company); the late Frank Ross Sr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HRH Construction Corp.; Kurt A. Goddard, Executive Vice President, Bechtel Infrastructure Group.; Milo Riverso, P.E. Ph.D, President STV Construction, Inc.; and presently Jay Badame, President & Chief Operating Officer, Tishman Construction Corp. NY, NJ & PA.

About RASC

The Regional Alliance for Small Contractors (RASC) was the 1989 brainchild of visionary public agencies, the Port Authority of NY & NJ principal amongst them, and major private construction corporations that resolved to improve the competitiveness of small, minority, and women contractors in the region. RASC was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) in 1991. The Regional Alliance for Small Contractors has been led since then by a virtual “Who’s Who” of construction industry leaders, including Peter M. Lehrer, Lehrer, McGovern Bovis (Lend Lease (U.S.) LMB, Inc.; John L. Tishman, Tishman Construction Corp. (an AECOM Company); the late Frank Ross Sr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HRH Construction Corp.; Kurt A. Goddard, Executive Vice President, Bechtel Infrastructure Group.; Milo Riverso, P.E. Ph.D, President STV Construction, Inc.; and presently Jay Badame, President & Chief Operating Officer, Tishman Construction Corp. NY, NJ & PA.

WELCOME

Since 1990, the Regional Alliance for Small Contractors (RASC) has assisted the growth of small, minority, women, disadvantaged and local business enterprises in construction and associated industries. We achieve this objective by promoting the advancement of minorities, women, the disadvantaged, and small local business entrepreneurs in their development and management. We also promote policies and practices that improve the competitive position of S/M/W/D/LBEs and expand the capacity of these firms to undertake contracts of increasing size and complexity.
The more than 20,000 firm owners and employees that have taken advantage of our programs, over the years, now participate on numerous public and private sector construction projects throughout the area. The construction industry is one of the primary economic growth engines in the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut tri-state region and provides tens of thousands of contracting opportunities and hundreds of thousands of jobs annually.
The Regional Alliance is proud of the role it has played assisting S/M/W/D/LBEs to expand their ability to provide services, and looks forward to continuing to provide high quality programs during this decade so they can earn a bigger portion of the pie.
Yours truly,
Jay Badame, RASC Chairman
President & COO,
Tishman Construction Corp. of NY, NJ & PA
Donna Tucker, RASC Acting Executive Director

Welcome_Badame_Jay_Tishman

Jay Badame,
RASC Chairman
President & COO,
Tishman Construction Corp. of NY, NJ & PA

Donna Tucker
RASC Acting Executive Director

MISSION

RASC Mission Statement

  • Provide necessary contract compliance services to construction managers and owners to ensure that they comply with their projects’ federal, private or public sector M/W/DBE and EEO obligations. The Regional Alliance has developed comprehensive contract compliance programs which include a data tracking system and outreach and monitoring procedures to maximize M/W/DBE participation on major construction projects. RASC also manages M/WBE programs for project owners, inclusive of program design, regular reportings, and community relations.
  • Support the development of small, minority, women-owned and disadvantaged construction and construction related firms through our innovative and intensive professional training program, Managing Growth®. The Regional Alliance has designed and developed more than 30 business and construction management training classes focusing on practical applications to problems frequently encountered at the jobsite and in the office. A partial list of the courses offered includes: Construction Management, Blueprint Reading, Contract Administration, Estimating, Project Management, Project Planning and Scheduling, Fundamentals of Construction Materials & Methods, Construction Law, and OSHA 30hr. and 10hr. courses.
  • Expand the capacity of small, minority, women-owned, and disadvantaged businesses to undertake contracts of increasing size and complexity and to support their further development.
  • Strengthen the regional construction industry by promoting policies and practices that improve the competitive position of small, minority, women-owned, disadvantaged, and local businesses.
  • Increase the number and size of contracts awarded to participating businesses and expand the range of their business opportunities.
  • Provide marketing, networking and business development programs and services for S/M/W/D/LBEs, with public and private sector clients and associates.

BOARD

Board_Room

RASC Board of Directors
Chair of the Board
Jay Badame
President & Chief Operating Officer
Tishman Construction Corp of NY, NJ & PA
Acting Executive Director
Donna Tucker

Nayan Parikh, B.E.
President
Ashnu International Inc.

Bennie L. Hadnott, CPA, MBA1
BCA, Watson Rice LLP

Deborah L. Bradley
President
Deborah Bradley Construction & Management Services, Inc.

Michael M. Clay
Senior Director, Resource Acquisition, Opportunity Programs Group
Dormitory Authority of the State of NY

Nelson Ferreira
President
Ferreira Construction CO., Inc.

Jitendra Hirani
President
Hirani Engineering

B.J. Jones
President & CEO
Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority

Ralph Esposito
Executive Vice President
Lendlease (US) Construction LMB, Inc.

Joseph J. Lhota
Chairman & CEO
Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Kevin Corbett
Executive Director
NJ Transit

Lorraine Grillo
President & CEO
NYC School Construction Authority

Rick Cotton
Executive Director
Port Authority of NY & NJ

D. Savi Prashad
President
RISA Management Corp.

George Toma
Vice President
STV

Robert McCloud
President
The McCloud Group, LLC

1. Treasurer

PROJECTS

The Regional Alliance for Small Contractors provides support services to project owners and construction managers by developing and administering their Affirmative Action/EEO programs for implementation during the course of the construction project.

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Delta_Rendering

Delta | JFK IAT Terminal Project

In late 2010, Delta Air Lines and JFK|IAT initiated a $1.2 billion program at John F. Kennedy International Airport to expand and enhance the International Arrivals Terminal (IAT - Terminal 4). As part of Delta Air Lines commitment to diversity, the Regional Alliance was retained to recruit and monitor M/W/LBE participation as well as help ensure minority and women labor force compliance on the project.

Phase 1A, completed at the end of 2012, expanded Concourse B with nine new international gates, providing additional Headhouse area for new baggage handling systems, renovated Customs and Border Protection areas, expanded and centralized passenger screening and added dual taxiway capability for improved on-time performance.

Phase 1B; saw the demolition of Terminal 3 and the development of new aircraft parking facility.

Phase 2; is currently underway with the construction of 11 new gates at the end of Terminal 4’s Concourse B, making way for Delta Air Lines to move its regional jet operations out of Terminal 2.

Riverside_Center

Riverside Center Project

The Regional Alliance has become part of the Riverside Center Project Team, overseeing contract compliance for M/WBEs. Riverside Center Building 2 (21 West End Avenue) is the first phase of Riverside Center; an approximate 8-acre fully approved master development on Manhattan’s West Side. Project description:

  • 43-story high-rise residential rental building
  • Anticipated LEED certification
  • 616 rental apartments; 20% are low-income units
  • 30,000 SF of amenities
  • 113,349 SF four-story New York City Public School
  • 23,725 square feet of retail space.

Los Angeles World Airport (LAX)

In 2013, Delta Air Lines expanded the role of the Regional Alliance to help provide contract opportunities for small, minority, and women-owned businesses for their $225 million Terminal 5 Renovation Program at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Features of the Terminal 5 Project include: a double-sized ticketing lobby and federal security screening checkpoints, an exclusive Sky Priority service area with separate lobby and checkpoint, a private VIP check-in lobby, renovation of the Delta Sky Club, new baggage carousels, new interior finishes, and 15 new restaurants and shops.

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Project_LAX

LaGuardia Airport Project

In 2012, Delta Air Lines assigned RASC to identify and direct M/W/LBEs to contract opportunities for their $160 million LaGuardia Terminal Expansion project. The project features a new 630 ft. connector bridge linking Terminals C & D, a new Delta Sky club in Terminal C and expanded security lanes in both. The new bridge will allow Delta customers to walk between terminals behind security, providing easy access to departures and arrival gates and facilitating convenient connecting flights.

AWARDS

Award

Awards and Citations

The Regional Alliance for Small Contractors, Inc. (RASC) is proud of its accomplishments in the field of MBE and WBE advocacy over the years. The organization has been the recipient of several prestigious honors and awards in this field. Members of staff have also been recognized for their distinguished service and lifetime achievements. Below are just a few of these citations:

In the 1993 report "Case Studies of State Minority Business Assistance Programs," commissioned by the U.S. Department of Commerce and presented to the Council of State Development Agencies, the Regional Alliance's technical assistance program was cited as "demonstrably effective in positively impacting the behavior of recipient firms and one which deserves to be emulated throughout the country."
In 1994, the Regional Alliance was a finalist ($25,000 award) in the Ford Foundation and John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University Innovations in State and Local Government Program.
In 1994, the Regional Alliance received a citation from the Office of the Hudson County Executive (New Jersey) for developing courses to meet the needs of the minority and women-owned business enterprises, many of which were start-up firms.
In 1996, the Regional Alliance received Proclamations from Governor Christine Whitman and Governor George E. Pataki of New York commending the Regional Alliance for its programs and participation of volunteers on behalf of small, minority and women-owned construction firms.
In 2000, the Regional Alliance received the U.S. Small Business Administration Vision 2000 Model of Excellence Award for its minority business development program achievements.
In 2011, Earle J. Walker, RASC Executive Director, received statewide recognition with selection as Minority Small Business Champion of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration, NYS District.