Civil Rights

Upcoming DBE Events

Contact Mary Zimmerman, DBE Support Services Program Manager, with any DBE questions:
maryz@iastate.edu | 515-450-1278

Webinar - November 4, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Tax Planning 2024 for Construction Companies

Community CPA's CEO Ying Sa specializes in taxes and tax planning, and she will discuss key concepts around taxes, tax benefits and incentives that can impact your return, and strategies to reduce tax dues. Learn about tax planning concerning construction companies, so you can project your taxes and save.


In-Person - November 6,  8 AM - 3 Pm

Estimating & Project Management: A Guide to Success
Location: Ames

Gain hands-on experience in project management from start to finish using real-world plans and specifications. In this interactive session, attendees will learn how to assemble bid documents, estimate project costs, and navigate the complexities of managing a project to successful completion. The instructor, Patrick Meyer, brings extensive experience from the municipal, state, and federal sectors. His career in estimating and project management spans a wide range of contracting disciplines, including asphalt paving, PCC paving, bridge construction, precast/CIP concrete structures, earth excavation, building demolition, and aggregate placement. With a solid background in heavy highway construction, Patrick has worked in various roles, including project engineering, project management, and estimating.

Co-presenter Julia Meyer is a project engineer and project manager with a strong background in heavy highway construction. Her experience includes handling subcontracts, purchase orders, and documentation requirements for municipal, state, and federal contracts.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Webinar - November 14, 10 AM - 11 AM

Federal Highway Funding: Year 4 of Infrastructure Bill & Future Challenges

Federal Highway funding is a significant revenue stream for road and bridge projects throughout Iowa. As we near the fourth year of the Infrastructure Bill, this presentation is essential for you to stay informed. During this session, you will:

  • Gain an overview of federal funding distribution in Iowa.
  • Understand the current status of the Infrastructure Bill.
  • Learn about future funding challenges and what they mean for your business.

Stuart Anderson, the Director of the Iowa DOT Transportation Development Division, will present this virtual event and help identify potential opportunities and navigate the funding landscape effectively.



Webinar - November 21, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

New Opportunities Connecting Bidx and the Small Business Network

This training is essential for Prime Contractors, subcontractors, and DBEs who are actively seeking and quoting Iowa DOT contract opportunities. Learn about new features in the Bid Express Small Business Network (SBN), including:

  • Work type identification in DBE accounts
  • Solicitation sorting by work types
  • Enhanced messaging features, like alerts when Primes post subquote requests.

Attendees will gain insights into:

  • Account setup
  • Identifying opportunities
  • Competitive analysis
  • Subquote management
  • Site navigation

In-Person - December 10, 8:30 AM – 2:00 PM

Construction Leadership: Getting Results Through People
Location: Ames

Facilitative Leadership is a management strategy that empowers employees to make decisions, address conflict, and take on greater responsibility. This approach seeks to get work completed through people by unlocking their talents and gifts, while reducing the pressure on the project leader to be "everything to everyone".

By adopting Facilitative Leadership practices, attendees can create a more empowered, motivated, and high-performing workforce, ultimately driving success in their construction projects.

This four-hour course, led by Terry Hatfield of Story Construction, will take a deep dive into the following topics:

  • Facilitative Leadership
  • Levels of Relationships
  • Building Effective Teams
  • Promise-Based Management

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.


Webinar - The Under Construction Series

The construction industry faces unique safety challenges, not just physically but mentally as well. This series emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to safety, including mental health. Dr. Olivia Johnson from Bluewall Institute will guide discussions to enhance workers' well-being by addressing critical mental health concerns.

This three-part webinar series will address key issues affecting the construction and extraction industries:

Part 1: Sleep, Health Risks, Occupational Risk, and Suicide
December 12, 2024

Understand the interplay between sleep, health risks, and occupational hazards, with a special focus on suicide prevention within the industry.


Part 2: Substance Use Issues, Sleep Disturbances, and Overall Health
January 16, 2025

Explore the impact of substance use and sleep disturbances on workers' overall health and learn strategies to mitigate these issues.


Part 3: Construction Culture and Reducing Negative Outcomes and Risk
February 13, 2025

Explore the impact of substance use and sleep disturbances on workers' overall health and learn strategies to mitigate these issues.


In-Person - January 7 - 8, 2025 

Vertical Blueprint Reading
Location: Ames
January 7, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
January 8, 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Registration information pending

Horizontal Blueprint Reading
Location: Ames
January 15, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Registration information pending

In-Person - February 5 - 6, 2025

OSHA 10-Hour Safety Class
Location: Ames
February 5, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
February 6, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Participants of the 10 Hour OSHA class will walk away from this training with a knowledge of OSHA requirements, the importance of learning and adhering to proper safety procedure, as well as practical understanding of why safety conscious behavior is vital for every worker on the construction job site.

Each participant will receive an OSHA wallet card signifying completion of the course.

Learning Objectives:
  • Introduction to OSHA Standards
  • Fall Protection
  • Electrical
  • Caught In/Between
  • Struck By
  • PPE and Life-Saving Equipment
  • Health Hazards in Construction
  • Excavations
  • Scaffolding
  • Stairs and Ladders
  • Hand & Power Tool

In-Person - February 6, 2025, 1 PM - 5 PM

AED/CPR/First Aid Training
Location: Ames

During this course, participants will receive hands-on training on how to respond to life-threatening medical emergencies and potentially make an impact on patient survival. In addition, you will learn the skills needed to recognize if someone is in cardiac arrest and perform high-performance CPR, and how to use an AED.

Participants will also learn how to recognize someone in need of basic first aid (such as someone who is bleeding, having a stroke, or a seizure) and will acquire the skills to treat that patient, but also recognize when professional emergency medical responders need to be notified and what to do until they arrive.

Upon completion, participants will receive a certificate valid for two years.



Iowa DOT ensures nondiscrimination and equal employment in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other nondiscrimination statutes. If you need more information or special assistance for persons with disabilities or limited English proficiency, contact Iowa DOT Civil Rights at 515-239-1111 or by email at civil.rights@iowadot.us.

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