Our cohort reached the halfway point of the Port of Seattle Business Accelerator Program. The cohort members, mentors, NWMMSDC team and Port Executives gathered at the Port of Seattle Headquarters for a mid-session event.
This session gave cohort members the chance to go beyond the kickoff introductions and into the realities of how Port work moves: who decides what, what is being prioritized, and where small, women-owned, and minority-owned firms can partner on projects.
Port Priorities and Strategic Opportunities
The mid-session offered a comprehensive look at how the Port is shaping its future and where opportunities exist for emerging firms. Across maritime, engineering, procurement, and risk, the Port is increasingly focused on initiatives that deliver both financial performance and measurable community and environmental impact. Environmental and infrastructure projects are becoming central to the Port’s vision and understanding how these priorities translate into real opportunities is critical for businesses looking to engage.
Engineering and project delivery emphasize collaboration, strategic timing, and the importance of knowing where expertise is most needed. Procurement and risk management highlighted the value of transparency, clear evaluation standards, and aligning business capabilities with Port needs. For firms seeking to work with the Port, this means being prepared, adaptable, and proactive, as well as building relationships, demonstrating value, and positioning themselves strategically within the Port’s evolving initiatives. By approaching opportunities with a strong sense of how to contribute meaningfully, these businesses can maximize their impact and potentially establish themselves as trusted partners for future Port endeavors.
The Panel
After presentations, Fernando Martinez, a mentor, and owner of Sante Fe Street Consulting, moderated a live panel discussion with mentors and Port representatives.
The conversation grounded everything we heard into real decision-making: where firms should invest their time, how to approach primes, and how to get into the subcontractor stack strategically. This provided insight into the stages of government projects, from the prime contractors down to the subcontractors. The cohort learned that knowing their unique capabilities and how they solve contractors’ challenges is key.
Why this moment matters
The mid-session is designed as the transition between being introduced to how to do business with the Port to diving into the detailed processes. The kickoff was about connection and context. Mid-session is about direction. Now cohort members know what the Port is focusing on, what information actually signals opportunity, and what steps they can take to become a name that gets pulled into teams, scopes, and partnerships. They also had the opportunity to network with mentors from various corporations in architecture, engineering and construction, many who have worked with the Port themselves. This session was valuable to their journey throughout this program as it was a pivotal moment in understanding how to take their business to the next level.
Meet Our Mentors
David Molina
Molinas Construction Company
Bio Pending
Kate Kleyman
McKinstry
Kate Kleyman is the Vendor Diversity Program and Building Good Manager at McKinstry, where she develops and leads initiatives to foster inclusion of MWBDEs and grow diverse business enterprises. She serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (NWMMSDC) and holds board positions with the Association of Women and Minority Businesses and the Women’s Business Enterprise Council – West. Kate previously launched and led Guggenheim Partners’ first Vendor Diversity Program, where she implemented global inclusion processes and initiatives recognized with multiple supplier diversity awards.
Patrick McQueen
PCL Construction
Patrick McQueen is an experienced Project Executive at PCL Construction with a proven history of success in the construction industry. He is skilled in business development, recruiting, employee engagement and development, pre-construction, and client relationship management. Patrick holds a BS in Construction Management from the University of Washington and an Executive Development Program Certificate from the Michael G. Foster School of Business. He is passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the construction industry.
Enrique Alvarez
PCL Construction
Bio Pending
Brad Cooper
Hoffman
Bio Pending
Kurt Trevan
nClude Capital
Kurt Trevan is Managing Partner at nClude Capital, where he provides strategic operating partner services to drive value creation for B2B lower middle market firms through go-to-market and M&A strategies. A proven private market investor, founder, and operator, Kurt has extensive experience across private capital, real estate, middle market, and venture investments. Previously, he co-founded and served as CEO of Gun Lake Investments, a private capital firm owned by the Gun Lake Tribe, where he led the firm’s growth to 16 investments and hundreds of employees across multiple sectors.
Danny Keim
Mortenson
Danny Keim is a Project Executive at Mortenson with 20 years of experience managing complex, fast-track renovation and campus expansion projects, including the construction of Climate Pledge Arena. He brings extensive GC/CM contracting expertise and is actively involved in both preconstruction and construction, overseeing project delivery, safety, procurement, schedule, cost, and quality control. Known for his collaborative approach, Danny focuses on aligning project goals with stakeholder expectations to deliver successful outcomes and exceptional customer value.
Robin Strom
Mortenson
Robin Strom is Senior Community Empowerment Manager at Mortenson with almost 20 years of experience in the construction industry. She has led design-build projects up to $2.5 billion and specializes in vendor inclusion programs that create equitable opportunities for small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. Robin’s expertise in procurement strategies, community engagement, and workforce development has made a lasting impact on the industry. She also serves on the Board of the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (NWMMSDC).
Nelson Reyneri Jr.
NRG Energy
Nelson Reyneri is the Director of Strategic Alliances and Policy for NRG and co-founder and president of the nonprofit Future of American Energy, focused on advancing diversity and inclusion in the energy sector. He has over two decades of leadership experience in the energy industry, including scaling Liberty Power from a startup to one of the largest minority-owned energy companies in the U.S., where he served as Senior Vice President for Sales and External Affairs. Nelson also has extensive public sector experience, including senior leadership roles in the Clinton Administration and a presidentially nominated position on the Board of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC). He serves on multiple boards, including the Seattle Credit Union, the National Utilities Diversity Council, and Together Washington.
Jason Jones
Hensel Phelps
Bio Pending
Alex Rolluda
Rolluda Architects
Alex Rolluda, AIA, NCARB is Principal and President of Rolluda Architects. He has extensive experience in architecture, specializing in programming, pre-design, and leading projects that fulfill client goals while emphasizing community impact. Alex is actively involved in Seattle’s professional and business communities, serving as Chair of the Pike Place Market Historic District Design Committee, participating in the AIA Seattle Diversity Committee, and contributing to the Architect in Schools Program. He has also served as Chair of the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee, advising the State Capitol Committee and the Department of Enterprise Services on architectural, functional, and aesthetic excellence.
Fernando Martinez
Santa Fe Street Consulting, LLC
Fernando Martinez is the founder of Santa Fe Street Consulting, dedicated to advancing Supplier Diversity, DEI, and Minority Business Enterprise growth. He has over 30 years of experience in sales and operations, including serving as Senior Vice President of Network Success for the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) and as President and CEO of the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council for 15 years. Fernando has led initiatives to integrate minority suppliers into strategic supply chains and drive economic impact. He has also served on multiple boards and councils, including the City of Seattle Mayor’s WMBE Advisory Committee and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
Jay Oleson
Arup
Jay Oleson is an Associate Principal at Arup’s Seattle office and an experienced electrical engineer with over 20 years in the industry. He has delivered a wide range of projects under various delivery methods, focusing on maximizing client infrastructure, resolving complex challenges, and reducing energy consumption. Jay’s work emphasizes innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions, including leading Arup’s office expansion to Second and Seneca.
Alison Tierney
WSP
Alison Tierney is the Director of Inclusive Business Partnerships at WSP, leveraging her expertise in small business growth and collaboration within a global engineering firm. She has held leadership roles including Chief Brand Officer and Director of Operations, working with hundreds of small business owners to help them scale and deliver high-quality work. Alison has launched several programs supporting small businesses, including Catalyst at Kinesis and Partnership 360 at WSP, and serves on multiple boards, including Taste for Equity. She was recognized with the ACEC Washington Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2025 for her contributions to advancing equity and inclusion in the industry.
Looking Ahead
As the cohort looks toward the graduation session on December 16th, the knowledge gained in this mid-session sets the stage for measurable growth. This program equips participants not only to strengthen their business operations but also to build confidence as business owners, develop strategic partnerships, and navigate the complexities of working with the Port. With three learning sessions left in the program, cohort members will finish off being better positioned to grow their businesses, expand their network, and approach future Port opportunities with a clear strategy and actionable insight.