Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Meshelle Howard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Meshelle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Mission: Helping small women and minority-owned businesses connect to contracting opportunities.

I have always been raised around the faith of giving and helping others. I did not realize the importance of how far that would take me until I started my career in State Government and learned about the Socioeconomic Programs and their processes and procedures to support the mission of helping small businesses to be successful, which in-turn allows them to be an asset to the community and support their families.

These programs can be the difference between a family being homeless and a family being able to thrive and support their children through school and having good health care, etc.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a proud Army Veteran, when I finished my service, I came home looking for a job to transition as a civilian, I volunteered for a while as an aid in a elementary school. I went on interviews and got a call from Maryland State Government for a job in Logistics and procurement, then as a deputy Director of Quartermaster for the MDTA Police, which lead me to a position as the Chief of the Minority Business Enterprise Program. This position started my history in helping the small business community.

Presently, I am the Director of Small Business Programs for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). As the Director, I provide managerial oversight and direction for the following socioeconomic program areas: Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE), Small Business Enterprise (SBE), WMATAs new Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Small Business Program (SBP) and Micro-Business Program (MBP) as defined, regulated and guided by Federal and Local regulations, and WMATA Board Policies. Oversight includes the WMATA Certification and Outreach Program which, educate, inform and provide business connections to resources that support the growth and development of the small business communities.
I have over 30 years of effective, efficient and results oriented experience in Leadership, Management, Supervision, Team Building, Performance Management and Managing Socioeconomic Programs. I am a take-charge professional with exceptional problem-solving skills with the ability to thrive in challenging environments, which show cases my integrity and the ability to be an effective communicator, motivator, and team leader.

Prior to accepting this position at WMATA, I was the Director of the Civil Rights and Fair Practice division for the Maryland Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) transportation business unit, where I had oversight of the following Socioeconomic Programs; Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Small Business Reserve (SBR), Veteran Small Business Enterprise (VSBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), Title VI and Title VII Programs. Although this was the last position I held before retirement my tenure of twenty-seven years at MDTA afforded me the opportunity to have many achievements for the betterment of the agency and grow in several leadership positions like Chief of Minority Business Enterprise, Senior Contract Analyst and Business Performance Manager to name a few.

I’m a retired State of Maryland Transportation Industry Leader in coaching, educating, and advising Small Minority Women-owned businesses on Business Practices, Certifications, and contracting opportunities. I work tirelessly to strengthen the participation and knowledge base of all small businesses for certification and participation opportunities on Federal, State and Local contracts through outreach, small gatherings and panel discussions, because of such efforts over the years I have received several awards/recognitions and am nationally known and recognized for my dedication and contributions to the Small Business Community on a national basis.

I’m a United States Army Veteran and participated in three wars serving her country. I’m a member and volunteer in several organizations that serve the community and national efforts such as; Catholic Charities, Maryland Public Purchasing Association (MPPA) and The Council of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO), where I served as Maryland’s president for two terms and brought a record braking COMTO National conference to Maryland, I served as COMTO National Strategic Planning Committee Chair, COMTO National Council of Presidents Lead, COMTO National Conference Planning Committee and presently on the COMTO National Industry Awards Committee.

I assist in some of the problem-solving by educating, informing and pointing them in the direction of resources, which helps the small businesses to understand how to get involved and be a part of the contracting opportunities. I consider myself an advocate on their behalf to speak at tables where they do not have a seat, where they may not understand what is taking place in certain processes or procedures. I make myself available to the businesses, so they are speaking to a person about their concerns and the successes.

I have been told by many businesses that my passion for helping and giving of my times comes through so naturally and they really appreciate my support and that I do not give up or ignore them.

I am proud of the awards and recognition I have received in my career that come from the business community.

 2023 Black Wall Street DMV Award
 Baltimore Economic Leadership League: 2022 Maryland Business Advocate Award
 Joe Mann’s 2022 Black Wall Street/ Black-Owned Award
 Baltimore Chamber of Commerce Chairman’s Award 2021
 Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority 2021 Sustainability Award for Equity
 The Daily Record Top 100 Women in Business 2020
 COMPASS Champion of Diversity and Economic Inclusion 2019
 COMTO National Woman Who Move the Nation Award 2019
 MDOTs Achievement Award for a Woman Who Moves the Nation 2019
 WTS Woman of the Year Award 2018
 Black Wall Street Lifetime Achievement Award 2018
 WTS Rosa Parks Diversity Leadership Award 2017
 Vital Magazine Humanitarian Award 2017
 Maryland Live Black History Month Hero Award 2015
 Maryland Black Wall Street Award 2014

I want small businesses to know that there are people like me who also believe in their dream and do not give up on themselves, to rest and start again when the day knocks you down.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

My eagerness to learn, be a good listener, having compassion, not being afraid to coach/teach and assist when possible, being consistent in my approach, honesty/integrity and just showing up to support the industry.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I had to unlearn: speaking up for a small business on a contract. Backstory: when I first started in this industry learning the ropes as they say, A contract Compliance issue came about, and the small business explained everything that was happening, so I wanted to handle it immediately with calling he prime and having a meeting… but the small business said that would be the worst thing I could do , because they would be black balled, this was my first lesson and surely not my last… I had to think of another strategy to get the results that needed to be done.