Our 2026 cohort has officially reached the halfway point of the Port of Seattle Business Accelerator Program. On October 29, cohort members, mentors, the NWMMSDC team, and Port of Seattle leaders gathered at Port of Seattle Headquarters for the mid-session, Doing Business with the Port of Seattle and Labor Agreements. After four learning sessions focused on building strong business foundations, this session turned the focus to the Port itself: how it buys, what it is planning to build, and what it takes to win and perform Port work.
Inside the Port: Procurement, Projects, and Partnerships
Six Port of Seattle leaders walked the cohort through the full picture of contracting with the Port, from finding an opportunity to understanding the labor and insurance requirements that come with the work.
Procurement Process and Contracting Opportunities
Sofía Mayo, Senior Manager of the Central Procurement Office, outlined the Port’s public procurement process from planning and solicitation through contract award, administration, and closeout. She showed how businesses can spot upcoming opportunities through VendorConnect and Port Commission materials, prepare responsive proposals, and use debriefs and source selection summaries to strengthen future submissions.
Waterfront Capital Program and Upcoming Opportunities
Tin Nguyen, Chief Development Officer for Maritime, gave an overview of the Port’s waterfront and maritime operations and the Waterfront Development Office’s role in managing capital projects. He reviewed the draft 2027 to 2031 Maritime Capital Improvement Program and the five-year waterfront spending forecast, including expected construction and professional services opportunities.
Aviation Capital Planning and Upcoming Projects
Chris Guizlo, Chief of Staff for Aviation, shared SEA’s long-term planning and capital priorities, including airport capacity, major infrastructure projects, and the proposed second terminal.
Project Delivery
Brian Sweet, Director of Engineering and Construction Management, explained how the Port delivers its projects, the delivery methods it uses, and where outside consultants and professional services come in.
Project Labor Agreements
Allison Calvert, Manager of the Construction Labor Group, reviewed the Port’s Project Labor Agreement requirements, including contractor responsibilities, priority hire, and apprenticeship goals.
Insurance and Contract Requirements
Jeff Hollingsworth, Director of Risk Management, covered contract insurance requirements and risk considerations, including coverage, additional insured provisions, and indemnification.
Why this moment matters
The mid-session marks the turning point of the program. The kickoff was about connection and context, and the first four learning sessions built the core skills every growing business needs: marketing, government contracting, negotiation, and sales. The mid-session is about direction. Cohort members heard directly from the Port departments that plan, buy, and manage its work, so they now know what the Port is prioritizing, where upcoming opportunities will come from, and what it takes to be ready when they do.
Just as important, the session brought cohort members, mentors, and Port staff into the same room. Those face-to-face conversations are where relationships start, and relationships are what turn a small business into a trusted partner that gets called onto teams and projects. With the Port’s priorities in view, cohort members are ready to use the second half of the program to sharpen their strategy and position their businesses for what comes next.
Meet Our Mentors
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
Enrique Alvarez is a Project Manager at PCL Construction with 12 years of experience in the construction industry across Mexico, Canada, and the U.S. specializing in project management, preconstruction, and planning. Enrique has contributed to high-profile projects including work for the Port of Seattle and Sound Transit. Known for a collaborative and results-driven approach, Enrique excels at fostering collaboration and driving results that align with stakeholder needs. Actively engaged in WMBE outreach at PCL and a member of the NWMBA, Enrique is passionate about fostering community and inclusion in the industry
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).
Rob Nemes
Skanska
Rob Nemes is a Senior Project Manager at Skanska, where he helps deliver complex construction projects from concept through completion. His experience spans heavy civil, high-rise commercial, and higher education projects, with responsibility for contracts, self-perform operations, budgets, and project teams. Rob is known for building strong relationships, driving collaboration, and finding practical solutions that deliver exceptional buildings while meeting client expectations for quality, schedule, and cost. As a mentor in the 2026 Port of Seattle Business Accelerator Program, he brings a general contractor’s perspective on how projects come together and how small businesses can position themselves as strong partners.
Henry Hu
HNTB Corporation
Henry Hu, PE, Ph.D., is an Associate Vice President and Water Resources Department Manager at HNTB, based in the firm’s Bellevue office. A seasoned hydrologic and hydraulic engineer, he has supported clients including the Washington State Department of Transportation, King County, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency on flood risk analysis, stream restoration and design, and fish passage work. Alan Black is a civil engineer at HNTB who leads hydraulics work for WSDOT’s Northwest Region, providing leadership and technical reviews on large capital improvement projects. He has also served as Chair of the CPSWQ Council and as a Director of EnviroCert International, which certifies stormwater professionals nationwide. As mentors in the 2026 Port of Seattle Business Accelerator Program, Henry and Alan share an engineering firm’s perspective on how large public infrastructure projects are planned and delivered.
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.
Nick Strohmeier
Howard S. Wright
Nick Strohmeier is a Senior Project Manager at Howard S. Wright, a Balfour Beatty company and one of Seattle’s longest-standing general contractors. He leads project teams through the delivery of complex construction work, managing schedule, budget, and quality from preconstruction through completion. Howard S. Wright has helped shape the region’s skyline and infrastructure for more than a century. As a mentor in the 2026 Port of Seattle Business Accelerator Program, Nick helps cohort members understand how large construction projects come together and where small firms can contribute as subcontracting partners.
Luke VandeKamp
Hoffman Construction Company
Luke VandeKamp is with Hoffman Construction Company, one of the largest general contractors in the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1922, Hoffman has delivered some of the Seattle waterfront’s most visible public projects, including the Seattle Multimodal Terminal at Colman Dock and the Overlook Walk connecting Pike Place Market to the waterfront. Luke has been engaged with the Port of Seattle’s contracting community, and as a mentor in the 2026 Port of Seattle Business Accelerator Program, he shares a contractor’s view of how projects are planned and delivered and what prime contractors look for in subcontracting partners.
Michelle Connor
GLY Construction
Michelle Connor is a Business Equity Specialist at GLY Construction. She joined GLY in 2019 as a Project Coordinator and steadily took on more responsibility, combining her passion for equity and inclusion with clients’ trade equity goals. Today she guides project teams toward MWSBE and apprenticeship utilization targets, creates community engagement programs, and builds relationships with community, industry, and public-sector partners. Michelle also sits on GLY’s corporate DEI Committee and serves as Vice Chairperson of the NWMMSDC Board of Directors.
Jessica Scarsella, Esq.
Scarsella Brothers, Inc.
TBD
Jason Jones
Hensel Phelps
Jason Jones brings more than 11 years of construction industry experience with a focus on community outreach, small business inclusion, workforce development, and growth strategies. As Manager of Supplier Diversity at Hensel Phelps, he works to expand opportunities for small, minority, women-owned, veteran, and disadvantaged businesses across the region. Jason is a returning mentor in the Port of Seattle Business Accelerator Program and remains active in industry leadership, including as Chair of the DEI and Small Business Committee on the AGC/Sound Transit Best Practices Committee, a member of the DBIA Small Business Engagement and Growth Committee, and a Council Member for the UW Ascend Business Accelerator Council. He also serves on the NWMMSDC Board of Directors.
Our Program Advisors
Alongside our mentors, program advisors lend their expertise to the cohort and the program as a whole, offering guidance on supplier inclusion, small business partnerships, and design.
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.
Robin Strom
Mortenson
Robin Strom is Senior Community Empowerment Manager at Mortenson, with nearly 20 years of experience in the construction industry. She has led design-build projects of up to $2.5 billion and specializes in vendor inclusion programs that create opportunities for small, minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses. Robin’s expertise in procurement strategy, community engagement, and workforce development has made a lasting impact on the industry. She also serves as Secretary of the Northwest Mountain Minority Supplier Development Council (NWMMSDC) Board of Directors.
Angela Battle
HNTB Corporation
Angela Battle is Director of Small Business Partnerships in HNTB’s Seattle office, where she manages programs that develop small business partnerships and promote inclusive business practices across the Puget Sound region, including support for WSDOT’s I-405/SR 167 Corridor Program. Before joining HNTB, she spent 16 years creating and managing subcontractor and supplier inclusion programs in higher education and construction, including building a program from the ground up for a Seattle-based construction company and creating mentorship programs for diverse-owned businesses. Angela grew up with parents who ran a small manufacturing business in Seattle for nearly 30 years, which shapes her commitment to small business success. She holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Looking Ahead
As the cohort heads toward graduation on December 15, the knowledge gained at the mid-session sets the stage for the rest of the program. Four learning sessions remain: Legal Strength and Human Resources Management with Wong Fleming on November 12, Accounting Strength on November 19, a Financial Services Panel on December 3, and Surety Bonding and Insurance on December 10. Each one builds on what the cohort learned at the Port, so that by graduation they are ready to grow their businesses, expand their networks, and pursue Port opportunities with a clear strategy.
Thank you to the Port of Seattle, our presenters, our mentors, and our advisors for investing in this year’s cohort.