Business 2 Business Expo Recap

December 11, 2023

In early November, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) and San Bernardino Council of Governments (SBCOG) hosted its annual Business 2 Business Expo (Expo). For a decade now, the Expo is held to connect prime and subcontractor firms for future teaming opportunities, enhance awareness of local labor, and educate prospective bidders on contracting opportunities.

Participating prime and subcontractor firms provide a diverse range of services including architecture, engineering, construction and project management, and general contracting as well as geotechnical and material testing, and reprographics. Several Southern California agencies participated this year including Metrolink, Omnitrans, Riverside County Transportation Commission, Orange County Transportation Authority, San Bernardino International Airport, and Victor Valley Transit Authority.

Building on the success of past years’ State of Transportation (SoT) addresses, Dr. Raymond Wolfe, SBCTA Executive Director, opened the event with SBCTA Board President Dawn Rowe. This year’s SoT featured an SBCTA speaker panel moderated by Carrie Schindler, Deputy Executive Director and featured Monique Reza-Arellano, Council of Governments and Equity Programs Manager, Kristi Harris Director of Project Delivery, and Joy Buenaflor, Deputy Director of Transit and Rail Programs. The panel provided construction updates and answered attendee questions.

A new addition to this year’s event was the Small Business Panel presentation and inclusion of local cities and chambers of commerce, coordinated by SBCOG. The presentation included a speaker panel moderated by Peggy Hazlett, Greater Ontario Business Council and featured Pete Mendoza, County of San Bernardino, Ruth Cain, City of Rancho Cucamonga, Rhonesia Perry, City of Fontana, and Adrian Pelayo, City of Ontario.