March 2, 2016 - County Executive Robert P. Astorino welcomed nearly 100 Westchester-based minority and women- owned businesses (MWBEs) to the 2016 Leap Towards Success With Us breakfast on February 29th, also known as Leap Day. The program, held at Mercy College, focused on how to do business with Westchester County and construction company C.W. Brown/LeChase as an MWBE.

"We are very pleased to present this important program where minority and women-owned businesses can connect with one of the largest construction companies in the region," said Astorino. "The continued success of our small businesses is key to Westchester's economic growth." Astorino noted that the number of MWBE contracts in Westchester has nearly doubled since beginning this outreach program a year ago.

William M. Mooney, III, director of the Office of Economic Development, discussed how the county conducts events like these to connect MWBE's with contracts, capital and training opportunities with organizations, such as Community Capital New York, the county's Workforce Development Board and Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE).

Other presenters for the county included Chief of Staff George Oros; Carrie Mobley-Johnson, senior advisor for the Office of Minority Women-Owned Business Enterprises, and Michel Lawler, a senior advisor to the County Executive.

Tom Porter, the vice president and general counsel of LeChase, provided an overview of the projects under way by his company in Westchester and upstate New York. Michelle Keller, the director of Risk Management and the MWBE Compliance Officer for LeChase, outlined the pre-qualification process and insurance requirements for MWBEs to do business with the company. Sherry Jackson, the Corporate MWBE Outreach Coordinator, explained the company's XBE program.

C.W. Brown, a division of LeChase, provides general contracting and construction management services to commercial clients in the Tri-State area. The Armonk-based company specializes in high-end interior alterations and renovations, offering a well-organized and highly professional approach to construction that has been developed and continually refined over the years.