Our Mission:

It is the policy of The Office of Diversity in Business Practices (ODPB) to provide all persons an equal and fair opportunity to participate in procurement and contracting opportunities sponsored by the District.

Our ultimate goal is to support sustainable growth and economic opportunities for small, women-owned, and minority businesses. School Board Policy 6.143

Empowering Small Businesses through the Office of Diversity Initiatives



Small businesses are the lifeblood of the US economy. They make up the majority of businesses in the country and employ a significant portion of the workforce. In fact, small businesses are responsible for creating two-thirds of new jobs in the United States. 

Despite the critical role that small businesses play in the US economy, they face significant challenges that can hinder their success. One of the most significant challenges facing small businesses is access to capital. Small businesses often have limited financial resources, making it difficult for them to access funding to grow their businesses. This lack of capital can limit their ability to hire new employees, expand their operations, or invest in new technology.

Another significant challenge facing small businesses is competition from larger corporations. Large corporations often have more significant financial resources and economies of scale, allowing them to offer products and services at a lower price point. This competition can make it difficult for small businesses to compete, particularly in crowded markets.

Given the critical role that small businesses play in the US economy, it's essential to support them. Supporting small businesses can help to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and promote economic resilience. Here are some ways that the Office of Diversity in Business Practices (ODBP) and other organizations can support small businesses:

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Certified Business Spotlight:

CRL MEDIA LLC

SBE and M/WBE certified

Supporting Diversity through Multicultural Marketing

In the vibrant landscape of Palm Beach County, where diversity is celebrated, one trailblazing

agency has been leading the way in multicultural marketing and public relations. CRL Media,

under the leadership of founder Claudia Ruiz Levy, has not only left an indelible mark but also

made history as the very first Hispanic and women-owned multicultural marketing agency in

this dynamic region.

CRL Media Services: Connecting through Culture

CRL Media's expertise in public relations, event planning, branding, and marketing research

have made a profound impact in connecting local businesses and organizations with the power of the Hispanic community and other minorities. Serving as a bridge, CRL Media provides essential multicultural guidance and insight to help businesses, non-profits and government organizations reach diverse audiences effectively. Through a deep understanding of culture, CRL Media helps its clients not only expand their reach but also build meaningful, lasting relationships with diverse communities, ultimately contributing to the growth and success of businesses and organizations in an increasingly multicultural world.

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Click the button below to learn more about their work.

Goods and Services Opportunities

If you are a vendor of goods and services looking to secure a contract with the School District of Palm Beach County, we invite you to visit our website where we list upcoming solicitations. Use the link below to view these opportunities.

First Annual ODBP Food Festival with Our Certified Food Vendors

On Thursday, July 27, 2023, the Office of Diversity in Business Practices hosted it's very first Food Festival in conjunction with the Leadership Summit at Santaluces Community High School. This amazing event provided district and school leaders with a chance to sample the most popular, appetizer, main course and dessert items from six of our ODBP Certified Food Vendors as they introduced their brand and explained how they could accommodate their future fundraising and catering needs. With the help and support of the Santaluces staff, School Food Services, the Black Chamber of Commerce of Palm Beach County, and our sponsor, Wharton-Smith, who generously provided beverages and their time, our event was great success!

SBU Graduation and Networking Event

Congratulations to our SBU graduates! An amazing time was had by all as we celebrated the hard work and dedication of both new and seasoned small business owners on Thursday, August 10, 2023. Thanks to the partnership with Kaufman Lynn Construction and Jeff Zalkin, Palm Beach State College, and Small Business Development Center, we were able to make this year a great success.

• Ten ODBP Certificates of Completion were awarded to attendees for joining and completing follow up work for 8 or more of the 12 sessions.
• More than 20 badges were awarded by PBSC for the completion of one or more of the three stages of learning and business development.
• Additionally, PBSC presented 3 Awards of Completion to attendees who joined all 12 sessions and completed the follow up work to help grow their business.

Attendees had the chance to network with their peers, learn more about programs to assist them in their growth at PBSC and SBDC, and talk with our ODBP staff about certification and upcoming solicitations and bidding opportunities. Thank you to Fiwe Caribbean Cuisine, one of our certified food vendors, for catering our event.

Pirtle Construction- Meet the Subcontractor Outreach

We had a packed house on Thursday, August 27, 2023, as representatives for Pirtle Construction and Randolph Construction Group shared pertinent information about the scope of work and trades needed for the Historic Roosevelt Full Service Center Restoration Project, prequalifying with them, and the bidding process. Members of ODBP were on hand to discuss becoming certified to gain a competitive advantage when submitting bids.

Architects and Engineers Summit

Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month 2023

Bringing the professionals together with the architect and engineering students of Forest Hill Community High School and Lake Worth Community High School, was an extraordinary experience, on Thursday, September 14, 2023! During this spectacular event, more than 40 A&E students joined 13 firms, including our very own SDPBC Building Code Services Department, to network, ask questions, receive feedback on projects, and learn what it takes to be in the business of designing and building.

We kicked off the morning with opening remarks by Patrick Chrysostome, ODBP Director, Joseph Sanches, Chief Operating Officer, Juan Pagan, President of Florida Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce, and our special guest, Alexandria Ayala, District 2 School Board Member.

From the brief history of Latin American architecture and insightful panel discussion to the captivating digital and print design displays and extensive networking encounters, the day was a resounding success. Thank you to all of the firms and businesses who participated. An extra special thank you to: Jorge Fuentes of Song + Associates for sponsoring our breakfast from Cappuccino Express & Exquisite Beverages Catering, Jorge Gutierrez of Jorge A Gutierrez Architect, LLC for sponsoring our lunch from Hugo's Gourmet Catering, and REG Architects for sponsoring raffle prizes for our attendees.

17th Annual Palm Beach Business Partners

MatchMaker Conference and Expo

Friday, September 20, 2023

Congratulation to the 2023 Spotlight on Vendors Award Winners:



1. Kaufman Lynn Construction- Corporate Partner of the Year
2. Cooper Construction- Advocate of the Year
3. WIRX Engineering, Inc- Small Business Enterprise of the Year
4. Alfonso Hernandez Architect, LLC- Minority/Women Business of the Year
5. Randolph Construction Group- Emerging Business of the Year

Thank you to all who stopped by our table to learn about the process for doing business with the SDPBC, upcoming construction opportunities and vendor solicitations, and becoming certified with ODBP.

Harvard Business School A.I. guru on why every Main Street shop should start using ChatGPT

Original Article by Eric Rosenbaum, Summarized by ODBP Staff



Generative AI tools aren’t just for big business. All small business owners need to be using a combination of generative AI tools according to a Harvard Business School professor. 

Due to its cost effectiveness for productivity and efficiency when scaling their company, communicating with clients, and generating marketing, social media and new products, it seems like a winning solution.

With a small investment of time learning AI tools and a monthly AI service, what once seemed impossible for the single small business owner is now possible. To learn more about the opinion of Harvard Business School professor, Karim Lakhani, read the full article here:

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Original Article by Patrick Moorhead

Summarized by ODBP Staff

Like most software companies, Intuit has added a generative AI component to their product suite (QuickBooks, TurboTax, Credit Karma and Mailchimp) called Intuit Assist. What is most interesting is how Intuit Assist could give a boost to each of Intuit’s major products—and potentially make life easier for all of its customers. Each of Intuit’s products is set to learn specifics about the user, from the tax filer’s situation in Turbo Tax to QuickBooks’ ability to examine customers’ behaviors, performance of the business to highlight potential cash flow issues, identify the most successful products, as well as call out changes in spending patterns in QuickBooks, just to name a few. To learn more about what Intuit Assist could do for you, click below to read on…



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