MBDA
The Houston MBDA Business Center
The Houston Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Business Center is operated by Houston Community College and is funded, in part, by the U.S. Department of Commerce through the Minority Business Development Agency and has been hosted at Houston Community College since September 2013.
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Live chat with the Houston MBDA Business Center Team:
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HCCTV Up To The Minute: Features Director, Marshette Turner Ray from the Houston MBDA Business Center
Our Mission:
To foster the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. businesses that are minority-owned by facilitating transactions through referrals, business consulting, and matching Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) to contract opportunities, and capital resources.
The Houston MBDA Business Center is part of a national network of centers established to assist existing minority-owned businesses. Our services are designed to improve your access to capital, procurement opportunities, and domestic and international markets, make your business more profitable, create jobs, and make your company sustainable.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and operated by Houston Community College, the Center is committed to working with qualified Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) needing assistance in expansion, and sustainability. Our staff has years of business and financial experience to help meet your needs and offer a wealth of resources that fully address all of your business requirements.
CalendarHouston MBDA Staff
Marshette Turner Ray, Director
Marshette Turner Ray, Director
Marshette Turner Ray is a native Chicagoan who has called Houston, Texas home for the past 8 years. She is a visionary leader with nearly 25 years in the Non-Profit, Government and DE&I industries. A graduate of DePaul University, she has led teams as large as 90+ staff members while remaining an efficacious leader and contributor to the team. Marshette believes in building professional relationships and allowing them to develop organically. She is a prominent thought leader and visionary who is skilled in fundraising, project management, team building and public speaking. Marshette is the proud mother of her son, Tyler who earned his master’s degree in Sports Management from Sam Houston State University (SHSU) and the loving and supportive wife of the Reverend Quinton D. Ray.
Jessica Vasquez, Program Coordinator
Jessica Vasquez, Program Coordinator
Jessica Vasquez is the Program Coordinator of the Houston MBDA Business Center, operated by Houston Community College. A native of Lima, Peru, she is bilingual in both, English and Spanish. Jessica is adept at creating e-blast marketing campaigns, budget reporting and assisting her colleagues with whatever they need. Jessica’s professionalism and upbeat demeanor is to be admired along with her work ethic and desire to get the job done. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Houston and has been with HCC for 8 years as a valued member of the Eagle & MBDA Families!
Deidra Sutton, Business Advisor
Deidra Sutton, Business Advisor
Deidra Lewis Sutton is a Business Advisor with the Houston MBDA. She previously served as vice president, Government Division of AMSYS Innovative Solutions, a nationwide IT service provider based in Houston, Texas. Deidra has previously served as senior business advisor with the University of Houston, Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) where she thrived and continued to build upon her more than 30 years in the MBE space. A native of Louisiana, Deidra holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Xavier University in New Orleans, LA. Deidra’s dedication to her work and clients is a huge asset and because of that dedication, she was honored by her director in June of 2023 with the “Houston MBDA Advocate of the Year” award. She has been married to her high school sweetheart, Al for the past 40 years!
A New Strategic Direction:
MBEs today are growing faster than the general business community. However, they may be challenged in terms of penetrating markets, attracting capital, and growing revenue. MBDA has re-engineered the Business Centers across the country to focus on growing existing minority-owned firms. Our efforts are targeted at providing assistance to:
- Rapid-growth potential firms
- High-impact firms
Revenue and jobs generate wealth in this country. It is MBDA’s goal, through its Business Centers, to help MBEs create jobs and revenue. This new direction will redirect resources strategically so that all firms are served in a way that will ultimately help us achieve our goal.
- Procurement assistance
- Access to markets
- One-on-One business consulting
- Strategic Services (facilitation to minority certification, referral to service providers, marketing strategy, etc.)
- Invitation to trainings, seminars and events
Minority-owned businesses that have been in business three or more years and with $500,000 or more in annual revenue are the target clients for our services. High-growth industries such as green technology, clean energy, health care, infrastructure and broadband technology also are eligible for the MBDA program
Clients include:
- American Indians
- Alaska Native
- Asian Indian
- Asian Pacific American
- African American
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders
- Hasidic Jew
- Hispanic American
Submitting a Bid Opportunity via the Houston MBDA
Bid posting is a FREE service that MBDA offers to our Corporate Partners. Please send an email to mbda@hccs.edu to submit your opportunity.
Submitted posts will be reviewed by MBDA before they are distributed to our MBE’s.
Bid Opportunities must include the following information:
1. Project Name
2. Description (including the scope of work)
3. Bid Due Date
4. Organization
5. Point of Contact
Note: We strongly encourage you to provide links to your project details.
Houston MBDA Business Center
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri from 8am to 5pm
¡Hablamos Español!