Amy Winterowd, JE Dunn Construction
Amy is the product of Chinese immigrant parents who came to the United States looking for better lives for themselves and future generations. She grew up in the family’s restaurant in Kansas. She moved from washing dishes and prepping food at six years old to the cooking line at 12 years old and finally to the role of hostess/cashier as a 14 year-old. This unusual childhood experience in her formative years has a large basis on who she is today. Her parents’ focus on education, helping the many other family members find their way to the US, and navigating new spaces have also shaped Amy and her drive to give back. Amy is currently the Vice President of Client Solutions for JE Dunn Construction’s Portland office and is highly engaged in the community. When she isn’t working or volunteering, you can likely find her baking something extremely bad for the waistline, playing pickleball, or walking her rescue pup – Juneteenth – around the neighborhood.

Randy Ramos, RJ Ramos
Randy Ramos, founder of RJ Ramos (Construction and Electrical Co.), grew up learning the value of hard work and service from his immigrant family, who came to the U.S. from Guadalajara, Mexico. As a child, he helped maintain and repair his family’s rental properties, eventually honing his skills in renovations, remodels, and additions. In 2006, he launched his own business specializing in residential remodeling, which has since grown into a COBID-certified firm providing general contracting with in-house electrical, painting/specialty coatings, and carpentry services. A proud member of IBEW Local 48 for over 22 years, Randy believes maintaining his electrical union status allows him to better serve clients with a comprehensive range of services. Under his leadership, RJ Ramos has delivered projects for major clients such as the Portland Building, PDX TCORE, and the Portland Water Bureau Filtration Plant. Today, Randy runs the company alongside his sons and a team of more than 30 full-time employees.

Brenda Keomany | Status Accounting
Brenda started her accounting career in 1995. In 2003, she decided to start her own accounting practice, Status Accounting, in Washington but relocated to Oregon in 2010. She aspires to help companies in her community be able to manage and understand their business so that they can achieve their dreams. In her free time she loves to read and spend time with her family- most of all her rambunctious granddaughter and now grandson!

Edina Haislip, Business Oregon
Edina was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina and grew up in a family that understood firsthand the grit and resilience required to run a small business. Her parents owned a bodega-style grocery store that not only supported the family and helped rebuild their home after the war but also put her and her brother through school. That early experience sparked a lasting appreciation for the hustle of small businesses and the barriers they face navigating government systems.

Edina’s path has taken her across the globe—from working in Operations on Bagram Airbase in Afghanistan, where she met her husband, to managing community-focused programs funded by federal and state grants. Since moving to the United States in 2013, she has dedicated her career to helping small businesses and community-based organizations thrive by connecting them to resources, removing unnecessary red tape, and advocating for equity in public contracting.

Today, Edina serves as the Program Manager for the Certification Office for Business Inclusion and Diversity (COBID) at Business Oregon. In this role, she is committed to ensuring that certification as a small business is more than just a label—it opens doors to meaningful opportunities. She leads efforts to expand access, streamline processes, and strengthen accountability so that Oregon’s small businesses not only have a fair shot at competing but also see real results through state and public contracting.

Paula Tappan, Fortis Construction
Paula Tappan, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is a proven talent development leader with over 25 years of experience partnering with organizations to elevate performance by strengthening leadership at every level. She has designed and led leadership development programs, talent and change management initiatives, and workforce and organizational design strategies across industries including construction, automotive, telecom, and distribution. Known for building strong strategic business partnerships, she brings deep expertise in aligning people strategies with business goals while guiding leaders and teams through growth, transformation, and change.

Moderator: John Cárdenas, Port of Portland
John Cárdenas is the Sr. Manager for Inclusive Contracting and Business & Workforce Development at the Port of Portland, where he leads initiatives to expand opportunities for diverse businesses and workers. He brings extensive experience in inclusive contracting, community engagement, policy development, and communications, having previously served in multiple leadership roles at Prosper Portland and as Interim Economic Development Policy Manager for Mayor Tom Potter. John holds a BA in Housing and Economic Development from Portland State University and an MA in Multimedia Journalism and Communications from the University of Oregon. He has also completed professional training in digital journalism, documentary production, and leadership development, combining his skills in equity, storytelling, and policy to advance inclusive economic growth.

Joe Purkey, Convergence Architecture
Joseph began working in architecture in 2003, gathering experience in all phases of design and project management. He first went out on his own in 2006 and founded the firm as Profile Design, where he specialized in commercial, healthcare, and hospitality projects. Since helping to found Convergence, he has built experience on dozens of public projects. Joseph holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of Oregon. In his spare time, Joseph mentors fellow small business owners through the Port of Portland Mentor/Protege Program, is the Land Use Chair for the St. Johns Business Boosters, and is President of the Lester Viles Grant organization.

Alan Beane, Geograde
Alan Beane is the Owner and President of GeoGrade Constructors LLC, a real estate development and construction management firm. Alan has over 25 years of experience in the construction industry and has worked in a variety of roles: in the field as a crafts-person and field engineer, in the office as project manager and construction executive. An alumnus of The Ohio State University, Alan studied surveying and civil engineering and continually upgrades his knowledge of entrepreneurship and business development through advanced coursework, training and participation in mastermind groups. A staunch advocate for community building and development, his passion is to help other businesses grow and to grow with them and the communities they serve.

Alison Tierney, WSP
As the Director of Inclusive Business Partnerships at WSP, Alison brings her small business expertise to a global engineering company.  In past roles such as Chief Brand Officer at a 350+ person company, and Director of Operations and Director of Community Engagement at a consulting firm, Alison has the ability to foster collaboration with key stakeholders across all levels inside and outside of an organization. Alison has worked with hundreds of small business owners over her career, and understands how to best grow, scale, and deliver high quality work, no matter the industry. Alison is a leader in her community as well, actively on the Board for Taste for Equity, and serving in past Board positions with the American Marketing Association, Society of Marketing Professional Services, and Greater Portland, Inc. In addition, Alison has launched several small business programs and communities, including Catalyst at Kinesis, and most recently, Partnership 360 at WSP. Alison’s work has been centered on her being a connector engaged with various communities and strengthening ties, and has spent her career supporting small business owners. In February 2025, Alison was acknowledged for her work with ACEC Washington, winning the Diversity and Inclusion award.

Mazarine Treyz, Mazarine Treyz Consulting
Mazarine Treyz is an internationally recognized speaker, motivating and training over 22,000 people since 2010, Her COBID certified firm has gotten multiple government contracts in the last two years, both as a prime and a subcontractor, and can’t wait to share what she’s learned with you. She has over 15 years business owner experience to draw from, and she has made a mistakes review article almost every single year. You are welcome to learn from all of her mistakes! https://mazarinetreyz.com

Gloria Coleman, Exit Bliss 
Gloria Coleman is an accomplished expert in strategic project, process, and change management. She excels in guiding organizations through complex transformations, emphasizing the human element in change processes. Her team employs the Prosci methodology and various assessment tools to ensure successful change adoption and alignment with strategic goals. Gloria specializes in leadership and team development, offering tailored programs to enhance skills and performance. Her structured approach, commitment to equity, and collaborative problem-solving make her an invaluable partner in driving organizational change and success.