Mentorship Program
About the Program
Program Application
Current Mentees
Additional Information
About the Program
In January 2008, Columbia University and the New York City Department of Small Business Services (SBS) launched a mentorship program to help minority-, women- and locally-owned (MWL) business enterprises build capacity and earn contracting opportunities at the University.
"The Construction Certificate/Mentorship Program supports Columbia's strong record of providing opportunities for minority-owned, women-owned and local firms," said Joe Ienuso, Executive Vice President of Columbia University Facilities. "Through the program's combination of classroom training, which is now being done by Columbia's own School of Continuing Education, and one-on-one assistance, our goal is to enhance the ability of these small and medium-sized firms as they compete for business here at Columbia and across the City."
The program's curriculum follows a full project life cycle from cost estimating to project closeouts. Individuals receive assistance on understanding solicitations, pricing functions, and completing bids in Columbia's contract response format. After successful completion of the academic program, businesses will receive a Columbia University certificate. In addition, participants receive opportunities to bid on specific Columbia projects and are trained on how to successfully manage these projects, including payment requisition, planning, and scheduling projects in a timely manner.
For more information about the launch of the mentorship program, click here.
Program Application
Thank you for your interest in joining the Columbia University/NYC Department of Small Business Services Construction Mentorship Program. The deadline has passed, and we are no longer accepting applicants for 2009. Applications are currently being evaluated.
For more information on the mentorship program, please view our press release on the program.
MWL Mentees
Eighteen businesses, currently certified with the city as minority- or women-owned, entered the one-year pilot program in 2008. In September 2009, the University welcomed 22 new firms into the mentorship program.
The first cohort of MWL mentees celebrated the completion of their first year in the mentorship program on March 19, 2009. Click here to read more about their achievement.
MWL Mentees who entered the program in 2008 include:
| ARK Systems Electric Corp. | Bronx Base Builders, Ltd. |
| JCF Electric, Inc. | Chernak Contracting |
| KND Licensed Electrical Contracting & Services | Jaysan Contracting Corp. |
| Noble Electrical Contracting Co., Inc. | Work of Art Painting Company |
| Smart Wiring Electric, Inc. | Head Contracting, LLC |
| Ashnu International, Inc. |
Quigg Development Corp. |
| Eagle Two Construction, Inc. | TARU Associates Corp. |
| Spectra & Dean Construction Inc. | Golden Development and Construction Corp. |
| Synergy Design & Construction, Inc. | Interstate Contracting Co., Inc. |
Additional Information
For information on being certified as an MWL business, click here.
If you have additional questions about the mentorship program, e-mail projx@columbia.edu
