Study Team
The study team for the 2015 State of Indiana Disparity Study is comprised of eight firms that, considered together, possess decades of experience related to conducting disparity and availability studies:
- BBC Research & Consulting (BBC) (prime consultant);
- Keen Independent Research (Keen Independent);
- Holland & Knight, LLP;
- Engaging Solutions (IDOA-certified MBE);
- Briljent (IDOA-certified WBE);
- ENTAP (IDOA-certified MBE);
- Bingle Research Group (IDOA-certified veteran-owned business enterprise; and
- Senator Gregory Taylor of Gonzalez, Saggio, & Harlan, LLP.
Five firms on the study team—BBC, Engaging Solutions, Briljent, ENTAP, and Holland & Knight—worked together to conduct the 2010 State of Indiana Disparity Study. For an organization chart of the BBC study team and a description of each firm’s project roles, click here.
BBC
BBC is considered the premier disparity study firm in the nation. BBC is a national expert in conducting disparity studies and in helping agencies implement minority- and women-owned business programs. BBC has completed nearly 80 disparity studies for cities, states, government agencies, and other entities all across the country. BBC has provided expert testimony related to disparity studies, minority- and women-owned business programs, and the Federal DBE Program on several different occasions, most recently as part of the successful defense of the California Department of Transportation’s (Caltrans’) implementation of the Federal DBE Program—which was based in large part on a 2007 BBC disparity study—in Associated General Contractors of America, San Diego Chapter v. California Department of Transportation, et al.
Primary contact:
Dr. Sameer Bawa, Director
BBC Research & Consulting
1999 Broadway, Suite 2200
Denver, Colorado 80202-9750
Phone: 303-321-2547, ext. 247
Email: sbawa@bbcresearch.com
http://www.bbcresearch.com/
Keen Independent
Keen Independent is an economic and policy research firm that specializes in disparity studies. David Keen, former BBC Managing Director, helped to develop BBC’s disparity study practice in 1989 with one of the first disparity studies in the nation. He has led disparity studies for more than 70 clients throughout the country. Since starting Keen Independent, Mr. Keen and his staff have worked closely with BBC and Holland & Knight on disparity studies for state departments of transportation and local governments including the City of Atlanta, the City of Portland, Sound Transit, the Port of Seattle, three San Diego-area transportation agencies, the Nevada Department of Transportation (as the prime consultant), and the City of Madison (as the prime consultant).
Holland & Knight, LLP
Holland & Knight is a multi‐national law firm and has participated in more than 30 disparity studies with BBC. Holland & Knight also provided substantial litigation support to Caltrans in the agency’s recent defense of its implementation of the Federal DBE program. BBC employs Holland & Knight to develop the legal analysis and framework on disparity studies and to consult on legal issues. Holland & Knight developed the legal analysis and framework for the 2010 State of Indiana Disparity Study. Holland & Knight also has extensive experience conducting in‐depth anecdotal interviews; collecting and analyzing anecdotal evidence; and assessing potential DBE program measures.
Engaging Solutions
Engaging Solutions is a Black American woman-owned management consulting and telephone survey fieldwork firm based in Indianapolis. The firm was established in 2005 and today has a staff of more than 40 accountants, planners, outreach specialists, project analysts, customer service representatives, and health needs assessment specialists. Engaging Solutions’ services focus on telephone survey fieldwork, diversity services, stakeholder engagement, and program compliance monitoring. Engaging Solutions worked with BBC on the 2010 State of Indiana Disparity Study and on several studies related to fair housing throughout the State of Indiana. The firm was also part of the project team that conducted a disparity study for the Indiana Gaming Commission.
Briljent
Briljent is a women-owned professional services firm based in Indianapolis. Briljent specializes in training, instructional design, focus group facilitation, staff augmentation, and general business outsourcing services for clients in both the public and private sectors. Briljent also specializes in outreach and data collection services; resource assessments; data analysis; administrative services; and facilitation for consumer and stakeholder focus groups and in-depth interviews. The firm worked with BBC on the 2010 State of Indiana Disparity Study conducting in-depth anecdotal interviews with Indiana businesses and assisting the project team with data collection tasks.
ENTAP
ENTAP is an Information Technology consulting services firm that was founded in 2004. Over the years, ENTAP has developed a strong reputation for having the business and technical expertise required to successfully deploy, integrate, and upgrade Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, Business Intelligence systems, and other enterprise-wide applications for government entities all across the nation. ENTAP worked with BBC on the 2010 State of Indiana Disparity Study assisting with contracting and vendor data collection. Recently, ENTAP worked with IDOA to design and implement the Pay Audit system. The system allows IDOA to track, manage, and report on its actual utilization of minority- and women-owned businesses as well as of veteran-owned businesses.
Bingle Research Group
Bingle Research Group is a veteran-owned quantitative and qualitative research firm based in Indianapolis. The firm has extensive experience in designing, implementing, and reporting on market research for various clients to develop marketing positions, communication messages, and marketing strategies for their products and services. The firm also possesses a great deal of experience conducting research for government agencies and nonprofit organizations. Bingle Research Group has expertise in survey research, in-depth interviews, and focus groups. Recent clients include the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Hoosier Lottery, the Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Agency, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art.
Gonzalez, Saggio, & Harlan, LLC
Gonzalez, Saggio & Harlan is a national minority‐owned law firm that was established in 1989. The firm has 16 offices nationwide, including in Indianapolis, Indiana. As a minority-owned law firm, Gonzalez, Saggio & Harlan practices with a commitment to diversity and to the local community. The firm’s attorneys have extensive experience in a wide variety of areas and handle matters throughout the nation for mid-sized to Fortune 500 Corporations. Gonzalez, Saggio & Harlan has a proven track record of representing public and private corporations, governmental entities, and individuals with a keen insight and understanding into varied and complex business environments.