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Karen Becerra

Karen Becerra, Chief Operating Officer, COO, of the Principle Partnering Group, LLC. (PPG) and PPG/B2GCLOUD.COM Inc. Karen led and directed both firm’s activities in business development, and program planning and implementation. The firm is a premiere management consulting  organization with an unsurpassed track record in helping companies of all sizes establish, manage, and maintain successful business-to-business collaborations. Karen was a major part of the design team that created and developed B2GCLOUD.COM, launched in 2009. PPG offers objective solutions, effective project management, and strategic support services across all business segments. PPG insures that all stakeholders are informed about the progress of any given projects and programs. As a Principal, Ms. Becerra also serves as a liaison between the Prime Contractor and the actual and potential sub contractors in establishing and monitoring performance in pursuit of the MWSDBE objectives. Ms. Becerra has developed and directed a team to insure the development and implementation of outreach, compliance, and training programs designed to provide a holistic approach to assisting in attaining the overall   MWSDBE goals while providing a much healthier MWSDBE community sustainable environment. Ms. Becerra has over 38+ years of experience in business development, community relations, public involvement, policy development, education, workforce development, and outreach across all business segments.

Mrs. Becerra has served as Program Manager and Advisor for numerous Design Build projects, such as Parsons Transportation Group Program Advisor in support of the METRO Light Rail, a $1.6B project that her firm  was responsible for developing program policies and procedures for the implementation of the METRO SBE/DBE Program in support of the prime Contractor, Parsons Transportation Group and SBE/DBE management team. Mrs. Becerra attributes her success to business-to- business relationships that have grown over the years. These relationships have allowed the development of programs and plans that assist small businesses and the business community in creating economic opportunities for longevity and success. She’s assisted in developing programs and plans using project management best practices that have reached hundreds of potential subcontractors, hosted/participants in numerous community outreach events, delivered hundreds of training classes and assisted companies in pursuing local and state certifications. As well as teaming small and large businesses together to share knowledge and processes to create economic development. Additionally, her other core services and competencies include but are not limited to:

•Client Relationship Management

•Client Data Management

•Contracting Support

•Economic Development

•49 CFR, Parts: 23, 26, 181, 182

•Governance, Risk, Compliance

•Procurement Support

•Program and Project Management

•Performance and Risk Management

•Outreach, Public Involvement and Community Development

•Small Business Program Management

•Supplier Relationship Management

•Supplier Diversity Program Support  

•Stakeholder Management

Ms. Becerra has more than 38+ years of experience in business development, community relations, and outreach. She was recognized by Mayors Bob Lanier, Bill White and Anise Parker of Houston through her appointments to chair many committees as the Mayor’s Transition Planning Committee for Transportation, Hispanic Advisory Board (HAB), Economic Development Task Force, and the $25 million Houston Small Business Development Board. Ms. Becerra has also served on Harris County’s Workforce Development Commission. She has served as the State Chair of Tejano Center for Community Concerns (TCCC), a 501 (C) organization with a $30M annual budget TCCC’s housing program received over $2.5 million in funding from the City of Houston.

Professional Experience

HISD (Houston Independent School District) 2014 Bond $2.6B Project, Houston TX, AECOM

Ms. Becerra served as the Sr. Project Manager. She was responsible for directing the implementation of

PPG’s SBE/DBE program for AECOM. Her team interacted with AECOM’s small businesses and provided assistance to them in retaining their SBE/DBE’s. She oversaw the delivery of PPG’s Compliance Monitoring and Reporting Program. Ms. Becerra also maintained contact with AECOM’s SBE/DBE’s to assure their retention throughout the contract.

HCCS (Houston Community College) 2014 $450M Bond Project, Houston TX, Turner Construction

Ms. Becerra served as the Sr. Project Manager. She was responsible for directing the implementation of

PPG’s SBE/DBE program for Turner. Her team interacted with Turner Construction small businesses and provided assistance to them in retaining their SBE/MBE’s. She oversaw the delivery of PPG’s Compliance Monitoring and Reporting Program. Ms. Becerra also maintained contact with Turner Construction project managers and Turner’s SBE/MBE’s to assure their retention throughout the contract.

METRO Light Rail Project Phase I, Houston, TX, Parsons Transportation Group

Ms. Becerra served as the Sr. Project Manager. She was responsible for directing the PPG team effort in managing 49 CFR, Part 26 compliance, monitoring and reporting of more than 400 first and second tier sub- contractors. PPG duties included managing commercial useful function, mediation, tracking and retention activities. Ms. Becerra oversaw the analysis of all foregoing activities and directed the development and delivery of special results reports for submission to HRT and Houston METRO.

METRO Light Rail Project Phase II, Houston, TX, Parsons Transportation Group and the HRT JV (Joint Venture: Parsons, Granite Construction, Stacy Whitbeck, and Kiewit)

Ms. Becerra served as the Sr. Program Functional Manager. She was responsible for directing the implementation of PPG’s SBE/DBE program for Parsons and Houston METRO. Her team interacted with small businesses, primes and suppliers while providing assistance to them in gaining their SBE/DBE certification. Ms. Becerra oversaw the successful development and delivery of PPG’s outreach programs that were designed to inform the community and small businesses of the Houston METRO’s project opportunities,  where her team oversaw 2800+ contractors that served as 1st tier and 2nd tier sub contractors as well as suppliers, the project ended with a 97% retention  and completion rate and graduated six firms from the SDBE program with a 43.7% goal on a 35% required goal which provide building capacity to the tune of $346M.

Galveston-Clear Lake Rail Project, Houston, TX, the Goodman Corporation (TGC)

Ms. Becerra directed the development of a strategic action plan to produce effective and detailed information delivery to businesses, government entities and private residents along a newly proposed commuter rail corridor. This commuter rail will cost between $380 million and $415 million, reviving passenger service on the 140-year-old Galveston-Houston and Henderson rail corridor that parallels Interstate 45. PPG also conducted extensive public involvement outreach activities in support of commuter rail line expansion for the Goodman Corporation.

METRO Light Rail Project – University Corridor, Houston, TX, AECOM

Ms. Becerra served as the Sr. Project Manager. She was responsible for directing the implementation of

PPG’s SBE/DBE program for AECOM. Her team interacted with AECOM’s small businesses and provided assistance to them in retaining their SBE/DBE’s. She oversaw the delivery of PPG’s Compliance Monitoring and Reporting Program. Ms. Becerra also maintained contact with AECOM’s SBE/DBE’s to assure their retention throughout the contract.

 


Affiliations

  • Chair, National Association of Minority Contractors Houston TX Chapter (NAMC)

  • Vice Chair, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HSMDC) Construction Industry Group, (CIG)

  • Board Member, Covenant Capital Community Development

  • Board Member of the National Association Minority Contractors National Chapter US (NAMC)

  • Committee Member, American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Small Business Committee

  • Committee Member, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC) Minority Advisory Council (MAC)

  • Committee   Member, Houston   Minority Supplier  Development Council  (HMSDC) Legislative Committee

  • Committee Member, American  Public Transportation Association  (APTA) Business Development Committee

  • Advisory Board Chair of Hispanic Women In Leadership (HWIL)

  • Advisory Board Member, National Hispanic Professional Organization (NHPO)

  • Advisory Board Member, Comerciantes Latinos de Houston (CLDH)

  • Advisory Board Member, Latino Professional Business Network (LPBN)

  • Former Chair, Diversity Committee, Greater Houston Convention Visitors Bureau

  • Former Chair, Mayor White, Economic Development Task Force Chair

  • Former Chair, Tejano Center for Community Concerns (TCC)

  • Former Chair, Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans (AAMA)

  • Former Chair, Hispanic Women In Leadership (HWIL)

  • Former Chair, Tejano Center for Community Concerns Advisory Board (TCCC)

  • Former Chair, Transit Small Business Program for Mayor Parker Transition Team

  • Former Vice Chair of Fund Development Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HHCC)

  • Former  Vice Chair  of Fund Development,  Texas Association of Mexican  American Chambers (TAMACC)

  • Former Vice Chair, Fund Development, American Leadership Forum (ALF)

  • Former Vice Chair, Women Issues Republican National Hispanic Association National (RNHA-US)

  • Former Board Secretary, National Association Minority Contractors (NAMC)

  • Former Board Treasurer, Republican National Hispanic Assembly Harris County (RNHA-HC)

  • Former Board Treasurer, Republican National Hispanic Assembly Texas (RNHA-TX)

  • Former Board Member, Talento Bilingue de Houston (TBH)

  • Former Board Member, Houston Galveston Area Council  Development Board (HGAC)

  • Former Board Member, Keep Houston Beautiful

  • Former Board Member, Mayor Parkers Hispanic Advisory Board (HAB)

  • Former Board Member, of Navidad En El Barrio (NEEB)

  • Former Board Member, Tejano Center for Community Concerns (TCCC) Economic Development Committee

  • Former Board Member, The Economic Alliance

  • Former Board Member, Mayor Whites Hispanic Advisory Board (HAB)

  • Former Committee Member, Mayor Parkers HAB, Economic Development Committee

  • Former Advisory Board Chair, Hispanic Women In Leadership – 1989

  • Former Executive  Vice Chair, National Association of Minority Contractors (NAMC)

  • Senior Fellow, American Leadership Forum, Class XVI

  • Project Blueprint Grad, Class VI


Awards

• Houston’s Top 30 Most Influential Women

• Inducted in Hispanic Women in Leadership Hall of Fame, HWIL

• Humanitarian of the Year by National Hispanic Professional Organization, NHPO

• Inducted in Texas Women Empowerment Forum, TWEF

• Recognized as Latina on the Move, HHCC

Education

Houston Community College – Houston, TX

Business Administration 1977

University of Houston – Houston, TX

Marketing and Public Relations 1983

Villanova University – Online

Project Management Certificate 2012