2025 Summit
The City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services (DPS) 2025 Construction Summit has come to a close! Our goal with every Construction Summit is to continually build on the City's transparency and resource development to provide the business community with direct access to city departments and information regarding upcoming contracting opportunities in construction.
We would like to thank Vice Mayor Walter Burnett, Alderman of the 27th Ward, for attending and giving an inspiring opening address to kick off the Summit. Finally, a huge thank you to all the Commissioners, Business Leaders, Moderators, Speakers, Exhibitors, and last but not least, Attendees for contributing to a successful 2025 Construction Summit!
Registration Closed
March 27, 2025
UIC Isadore & Sadie Dorin Forum | 725 W Roosevelt Rd
10AM to 3PM | Doors at 9:30AM
F E A T U R E D S P E A K E R S
Opening remarks
Walter Burnett
Vice Mayor | Alderman of the 27th Ward 
O U R F R E E P R O G R A M M I N G I N C L U D E S :
- High-level overview of infrastructure projects
- Conversational panels with insights on trending industry topics
- Meet face-to-face with government representatives
- Industry experts discussion real solutions to major industry problems
- Meet & mingle with peers as we look toward next-generation construction.
P R O G R A M M I N G I T I N E R A R Y
A U D I T O R I U M
10:15 AM | WELCOME ADDRESS
Commissioner Sharla D. Roberts, Chief Procurement Officer
10:20 AM | OPENING ADDRESS
Ald. Walter Burnett, Vice Mayor, 27th Ward Alderman
10:25 AM | AWARD CEREMONY
Pioneering Women Leaders
Athena Design Award
Soul of the City Awards
10:30 AM - 2 :30 PM | EXHIBITION HALL OPENS
(*Hall will be closed until 9:30 AM)
C O N F E R E N C E R O O M S
R o o m D
S P O T L I G H T : C I T Y I N F R A S T R U C T U R E
10:45 AM | Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) | Randy Conner Jr., Commissioner
11:00 AM | Chicago Department of Technology & Innovation (DTI) | Roderick Warren, Executive Director
11:15 AM | Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) | Frank Grimaldi, Commissioner
11:30 AM | Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) | Tom Carney, Commissioner
S P O T L I G H T : I N F R A S T R U C T U R E P R O J E C T S
12:00 PM | BOWA Construction | Nosa Ehimwenman, President & CEO
12:15 PM | FH Paschen | Joe Scarpelli, Vice President
12:30 PM | Clark Construction | Javid Aboutorabi, Director of Community Affairs
R o o m E
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | TOOLBOX CONVERSATIONS: ACCESS TO CAPITAL PANEL
Access to capital is essential for any business to grow and reach its full potential. Without access to capital, businesses will struggle to expand their operations, upgrade equipment, and hire additional employees. Access to capital is particularly important for small businesses that often lack the financial resources of larger corporations. When a small business can access capital, it can take advantage of opportunities that were previously unavailable, take risks, and pursue ambitious projects that would otherwise be impossible due to financial constraints.
Access to capital can also help businesses weather economic downturns and recessions. The Financial Services industry constantly evolves to encompass a broad range of business services in today’s environment. This panel will explore key opportunities and challenges and share various innovative solutions and best practices for building your firm’s financial future.
Moderated By:
Mark Ferguson, Deputy District Director, US Small Business Administration - Illinois District Office
Allies for Community Business | Chris Johnson, Senior Small Business Lender
BMO Harris | Ronald Milsap, Director | U.S. Zero Barriers to Business | Business Banking
US Bank | Micae Brown, Asst. Vice President, Business Access Advisor
Wintrust | Tracy Kelly, Vice President Relationship Manager, Community Banking
ZANN Inc. | Suzanne Arkle, President
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM | OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER & OBAMA FOUNDATION
Procurement Vendor Opportunities
Moderated by: Tammi Davis, Director of Business Diversity & Workforce Development
| Michael Collins, Senior Director of Campus Operations
| Terence Horn, Procurement Manager
| SheShe Taylor, Senior Director of Earned Income
R o o m F
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | OFFICE OF CONTRACTING EQUITY (OCE) PRESENTS:
Raising Your Game: Navigating Growing Entrepreneurship with the City
1:00 PM | Understanding the JOC Program – Gordian
Cris Jobes, Senior Account Manager, Operations - Mid Lakes Region, Gordian
1:30 PM | Doing Business with the City of Chicago
Jana Williams, Assistant Procurement Officer, Department of Procurement Services
2:00 PM | How to Become Certified with the City of Chicago
Francisco Nunez, Senior Certification Officer, Department of Procurement Services
2:30 PM | What is Compliance?
Jorge Mota, Senior Certification-Compliance Officer, Department of Procurement Services
R o o m GHI
10:30 AM - 2:30 PM | MEET THE PRIMES - Networking Hall
Vendors are encouraged to sign up for a one-on-one 10-minute networking appointment with the featured Prime contractors. To sign up in advance, upon your arrival please visit Conference Room GHI and speak with a DPS representative and they will assist you with the process.
10:45 AM | Far South Community Development Corporation
Abraham Lacy, President
11:00 AM | CTA Red Line Extension Project
Walsh Vinci, Chicago Transit Authority
11:30 AM | Bally's Chicago Casino & Chicago Community Builders Collective (CCBC)
JV Partner, Ernest Brown, Brown, & Momen
Jose Tomaso, Project Executive
12:00 PM | South East Chicago Development
Related Midwest
Clayco
L I S T O F E X H I B I T O R S
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Allies for Community Business / ChiBizHub |
Federation of Women Contractors Forest Preserves of Cook County Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Gordian Greater Southwest Development Corporation HIRE360 Chicago Hispanic American Construction Industry Association (HACIA) Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion – Business Enterprise Program Illinois Department of Human Rights Illinois Department of Human Services, Community Services Enterprise Program, BEP Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Illinois State Comptroller Illinois Tollway Inner-City Underwriting Agency, Inc. JP Morgan Chase McCormick Place Metra Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Chicago (MWRD) National Association of Black Women in Construction (NABWIC) New York Life Business Solutions Office of the Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs Pace Suburban Bus Public Building Commission of Chicago (PBC) Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) SomerCor U.S. Small Business Administration United States Council of Hispanics in Construction Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County Wintrust Women's Business Development Center - Illinois PTAC / APEX Alpha Fire Sprinklers Inc. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS & CHICAGO BULLS Chi Fresh Kitchen iJ Design Studio JGMA Momentum Coffee Pink Hard Hatz UJAMAA USDOT Great Lakes Region Small Business Transportation Resource Center (SBTRC)
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The Chicago Department of Procurement Services (DPS) hosted its annual Construction Summit on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at UIC Forum (724 W. Roosevelt Rd.) from 10 AM to 3 PM .
Each year, the Construction Summit provides residents and business owners an unparalleled opportunity to network and gain information about upcoming construction and construction-related projects in the City of Chicago. The full-day event featured workshops, resources, and panel discussions with the City and its Sister Agencies, State, Federal, and anchor organizations.
In honor of Black History Month, the program featured Leaders Roundtable sessions that celebrate diversity, financial empowerment, and women in construction. Additionally, attendees had the opportunity to meet with 80 exhibitors representing all levels of government, non-profit organizations, chambers of commerce, and subject matter experts in the construction industry. Participants also had the opportunity to participate in the Business-to-Business matchmaking experience and engage with industry leaders, contractors, subcontractors and suppliers.