Barb Anderson, principal with Convergence Architecture, believes a new website launched by the city of Portland will help woman-owned firms like hers.

“I think it’s one more resource to make connections,” she said. “It’s just now ramping up and it’s hard to tell if we’ve gotten results because people may see it and contact you separately,” she said.

The site, called Talentwell, already has a number of opportunities posted. Anderson hopes it will bring her firm more business.

“I think it could work, but it will take time, like most things,” she said.

According to the Talentwell website, it provides a “customizable open database” that allows architecture and engineering firms to “shop” for qualified disadvantaged, minority-owned or woman-owned business enterprises (DMWBEs). Members can access public or private business opportunities as well as networking tools and educational resources.

“It’s almost like a LinkedIn for architects and engineers,” said Anne Mangan, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Development Services.

About 60 firms – either DMWBEs or contractors looking for such firms to fill roles on projects – have signed up, Mangan said, and she hopes more will do so.

“The city has the Portland Building (renovation) project posted on there and we’re encouraging other city bureaus to sign up,” she said. “The goal is to make business matches and the underlying goal is to encourage partnerships and meet social goals as well.

“Our goal is to double the (membership) signup. It has a healthy representation of companies and projects, and we hope to make it better in terms of coverage. An additional goal is for firms to really check it regularly.”

KPFF Consulting Engineers marketing manager Jinae Linsenmeyer said her firm has signed up on Talentwell.

“Since we are not a diverse firm, we do frequently partner with minority contractors in all kinds of disciplines and we want to find more of these types of businesses,” she said.

City contracts often require contractors to use at least a certain percentage of minority-owned firms as subcontractors, said Marianne Zarkin of Marianne Zarkin Landscape Architects, and Talentwell can help firms meet that goal.

“When there are requirements from the (Portland Development Commission) to have DMWBEs, some (firms) don’t know where to find them,” she said. “Now there are no excuses, and I think that’s what the city is trying to do: make it easier for people to find (DMWBE) firms.”

Zarkin said she hopes that Talentwell is successful in attracting both DMWBE firms and non-DMWBE firms.

“I think it will work if people use it,” she said. “Like any of these things, you can’t mandate it, but what they’re trying to do is make more visible those that are DMWBE firms.”

The post New city website aims to make connections appeared first on Daily Journal of Commerce.