Ken Weeden & Associates, Inc. P.O. Box 3113
Wilmington, NC  28406
Phone 910.762.6297

About KWA

EXCELLENT SERVICE SINCE 1989

 

Ken Weeden & Associates, Inc. (KWA) is a national consulting firm based in Wilmington, North Carolina. The company began in 1989 as a multi-service urban planning firm, with an initial focus on planning support for aviation and transportation development projects. Today we are a full service Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Programs Consultant, with noted expertise in DBE/HUB/MWBE plans and programs that meet all requirements of the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) 49 CFR Parts 26 and 23 regulations or local/state regulations.   KWA has prepared FAA, FTA and FHWA DBE plans or goals for more than 100 airports and transit systems in 19 states and in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

KWA is based in Wilmington NC, with an additional office in Raleigh NC.

Hot Topics - Moving into 2012!

  • 2011 will make its mark in the history of the USDOT Disadvantaged Business (DBE) program as the year of very significant program changes, which affect all three operating agencies.  Each of the Operating Agencies, i.e. Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, and Federal Transit Administration, will have to implement new elements under the Final Rule of 49 CFR, Part 26 issued in January 2011.  Also, in May 2011, newly proposed rules for the Airport Concession DBE program (49 CFR Part 23) were also published, but as of yet have not been finalized. Specific “new” things for the DBE program, beginning in 2011 and moving forward:

    • Update of the Personal Net Worth level for DBEs from 750k to $1.32 million

    • New rules for the Multi-State Certification program, (effective 1-1-2012) making it easier for DBEs certified in their home states, to become certified in other states.

    • Requiring more program oversight and mandated monitoring for compliance to better ensure meeting goals for each contract.

    • Clarified rules for dismissal or replacement of DBE’s on contracts

    • Requiring documentation of justification when goals are not met.

    • Requiring development and active implementation of a plan to facilitate Small Business Participation in the DBE improvement plan, due to be submitted by 2-28-2012.

  • On the FAA side of things, there is still no “final” AIP authorization bill, although short-term funding extensions have kept many airport projects moving.

  • On a less than positive note, the funding stalemate for AIP-FAA in the summer of 2011 that caused a massive work stoppage, and the delays and disruptions in many important projects, will not be soon forgotten.

  • KWA, in 2012, remains committed to providing a full range of DBE/ACDBE/UCP/DBELO program consulting services and/or training to USDOT grant recipients in the U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

  • In 2012, the National DBE Training Institute, a division of Ken Weeden & Associates, will begin its 4th year of enhancing in the growth and development of DBE/ACDBE/UCP/DBELO professionals.  Click here for more information and/or to register for classes.
:: Recent Projects/Clients :: Dates/Events to Remember :: KWA Client Spotlight

Tulsa International Airport —Beginning in 2010, through 2011, KWA provided hands-on DBE and ACDBE program consultation services to Tulsa International Airport, including assisting with the developing of several specific project bid goal calculations; developing the airport’s first 3-year overall DBE Goal Methodology; development and submission of required accomplishment reports into DOORS, and participation in program stakeholder and DBE participation outreach meetings at the airport.

Massachusetts Office of Supplier Diversity (UCP) — In May 2011 provided on-site UCP Certification training in Boston for 21 professionals, representing four (4) member agencies of the Massachusetts Unified Certification Program (UCP). Agencies represented included; MassPort (Boston Logan Airport), Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA), MassDOT Civil Rights, and the Office of Supplier Diversity.  (In 2012, on-site training is in planning/discussion stages for Colorado DOT, Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise (UCP), and North Carolina DOT-UCP).

Westfield Concession Management — Throughout 2011, KWA continued to provide Airport Concession DBE consultation to one of the nation’s largest concession development companies. Services included providing critical reviews on proposed Joint Venture Agreements for consistency with the FAA Joint Venture guidance; working with existing and potential ACDBE companies concerning certification issues, especially multi-state concerns; participation as a presenter in Westfield-initiated Concessionaire Outreach sessions, specifically at Boson Logan, and at Miami International airports.

FTA DBE Compliance Reviews for Transit Systems — In 2011, KWA was part of the team headed by Jack Faucett Associates, Inc. selected by the Federal Transit Administration to conduct on-site compliance of the DBE program development and implementation, especially related to ARRA project funding, for several large urban transit systems across the U.S. These reviews are proposed to continue through 2012.

Charleston (SC) International Airport — KWA, in 2011, assisted with the planning, notification, and presentation for the airport’s annual “Doing Business with the Airport” DBE and ACDBE Outreach Program. KWA also provided general DBE compliance consultation to the airport staff as it plans for a major Terminal Redevelopment Project.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation's (NCDOT) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) & Business Opportunity and Workforce Development (BOWD) office work hand-in-hand to promote equal opportunity for all businesses to participate in public and private contracting opportunities.  The roles that each office fulfills differ slightly, but the common goal is advocate for small, minority-, and women-owned businesses in the state of North Carolina.  The BOWD offices serves to provide technical assistance for disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs), as well as provide for executive and entrepreneurial training to help businesses get started and maintained.

The OCR office serves to conduct good faith effort reviews and contract compliance reviews.  The OCR office serves to administer the DBE program in accordance with the federal guidelines (49 CFR Part 26) and to implement and monitor small-, minority-, and women-owned business development programs for state-funded projects.