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Portland-based regional trade association Professional Business Development Group (PBDG) has appointed Dr. J.W. Matt Hennessee as its new president. He joins CEO Kenechi Onyeagusi as the association鈥檚 leadership.

Founded in 2014, PBDG advocates for opportunity, equity and inclusion in the construction industry. It serves minority-owned and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) entrepreneurs in the construction, architecture, engineering and professional service industries.

Among its services, PBDG champions policy initiatives that center around utilization of both minority-owned/DBE contractors and workers. The group also provides its 100-plus members with access to business resources and project bidding opportunities.

With the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and Metro鈥檚 $652.8 million affordable housing bond funding projects, work is increasing in the region, Onyeagusi noted. More than $40 billion in IIJA money is anticipated to go to public works projects in Oregon.

Hennessee, who has served in a variety of leadership roles within public administration, private business, nonprofit boards and various commissions, has an intimate understanding of the societal, cultural and economic shifts taking place locally and regionally, PBDG stated. An Ohio native who moved to Portland in 1988, Hennessee has a lengthy track record of advocacy and community peace-building as well as a network of relationships that spans elected officials, civil rights leaders and grassroots organizers.

In addition to formerly serving as chair of the Portland Development Commission (now Prosper Portland), Hennessee has served on the Board of Trustees and academic and finance committees at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif., and as chair of the Finance & Asset Management Committee for the Berkeley School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif. He also worked for nearly nine years as Nike鈥檚 global operations director for its Equipment Division.

Handpicked for the PBDG presidency, Hennessee has a 鈥渂ackground that affords him an invaluable perspective on the landscape PBDG occupies, the importance of PBDG鈥檚 purpose, and the avenues by which PBDG鈥檚 mission can be served, sustained and strengthened,鈥� according to a press release.

鈥淢y excitement around the addition of Pastor Matt is to have more of an ability to be in community with our members and partners,鈥� Onyeagusi said, noting that Hennessee this summer has visited PBDG members and partners on job sites and held listening sessions to better put their thoughts and perspectives into action.

Onyeagusi added that PBDG investors such as Meyer Memorial Trust, IBEW, Oregon Community Foundation, The Collins Foundation and Business Oregon enable the association to fulfill its mission.

Hennessee鈥檚 appointment will enhance PBDG鈥檚 continued efforts to advance equitable economic opportunity for its members, according to Mark Matthews, a PBDG co-founder and board chair and president of Pacificmark Construction, a Black-owned construction company.

鈥淥ur organization is evolving in smart ways at a time when our purpose has never been more important,鈥� Matthews stated in the press release. 鈥淒r. Hennessee鈥檚 leadership will not only enhance what we can do for our diverse community, but what we鈥檒l be able to accomplish with additional allies and partners. It鈥檚 a win-win for everyone concerned.鈥�

Hennessee is 鈥渉umbled, honored and excited鈥� about his new role, he stated, because of the respect he has for Onyeagusi, the board, staff, members and partners. PBDG provides important tools and opportunities its members need to win work, he added.

鈥淚 see this as a very important time in our history as we see a number of opportunities for women- and Black-owned and Brown-owned businesses to really thrive,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e also want to learn best practices from one another, celebrate victories, and do more to really be accountable for dreams and goals and achieve them.鈥�

Through investor support, PBDG鈥檚 Construction Business Training Center provides interindustry, one-on-one mentorship, technical training and business education at low or no cost to underrepresented and underserved entrepreneurs as they grow and scale their businesses. Also, the organization is excited to resume offering in-person trainings in September, Onyeagusi said, and will celebrate the reactivation of its training center with an open house and new construction software.

鈥淭he last few years have underscored the need for committed and connected folks to lead as we endeavor to become a more equitable community,鈥� Rukaiyah Adams, Meyer Memorial Trust鈥檚 chief investment officer, stated in the press release. 鈥淭he community will look to (Hennessee and Onyeagusi) to help working folks and businesses get ready for generational opportunities, and to ensure structural changes are made to level the playing field.鈥�