You are here: Home » Community & Environment» OSR Director's Message
The Port's Office of Social Responsibility (OSR) is pleased to share some great news. OSR recently co-sponsored the first annual “Pillar Awards” for the public agency sponsors which included recognition of participants of the highly successful Regional Small Business Development Program. Over 200 participants have enrolled in over 40 courses offered every six months as part of this regional program. Also recently, the Mayor’s Small Business Award was given to Shen Consulting, a local small and minority-owned business who is doing great work on our Port capital projects. And there are upcoming opportunities with the Concessions group at Sea-Tac Airport.
Our office was established in January 2008 and it has been an exciting journey. Our team has worked within the Port to be a catalyst for business practices that are socially responsible. Some of the initiatives that our CEO has directed our office to focus on, with support from our Port Commissioners, include: Updating the Port’s Small Business Program which will include new policies contained in a policy resolution that will be presented to the Port Commission; new Port-wide operational procedures for the Small Business Program; outreach and technical assistance to all types of businesses seeking contracting opportunities with the Port; Veterans Fellowship Program and other veteran initiatives; workforce development initiatives; Port Community Giving Campaign; National Urban Fellows Program, and other efforts.
We’d like to extend a warm appreciation to Frances Youn for her year of service at the Port as she recently departed to pursue her studies in the MBA program at the University of Washington. And a ‘shout out’ to our team member, Lilyian Caswell-Isley, who is ably chairing the Port’s Community Giving Campaign which is even more important in this time of community need.
OSR has a small team and we accomplish our objectives through strategic partnerships with you in the community. We are both are proud and appreciative of your support.
If you have ideas or input that you would like to share, we look forward to hearing from you. Contact us at osr@portseattle.org, (206) 787-3187.
Sincerely,
Elaine I. Ko
