Event planner works construction site

By Rob Varnon
STAFF WRITER
Connecticut Post
Updated: 04/14/2009 10:31:40 PM EDT

At first glance, marrying a construction job clearinghouse Web site to an event and public relations firm seems a little off.
After all, the world of event planning is clean and involves people in suits and gowns laughing and eating tiny sandwiches and clinking champagne glasses. Construction is a rugged affair where sweat drips through T-shirts and jeans and people in hard hats sit on the grass and drink Gatorade.

But Vincencia Adusei, president of VASE Management of Bridgeport said her newest venture, VASEconstruction.com, was a natural fit."I was doing a lot of construction-related events," she said, including organizing statewide expos for minority-owned construction companies. She said she realized government agencies and big companies need to be able to find qualified minority contractors for jobs. So that's how her firm came up with the idea of VASEconstruction.com.


The Web site cost about $150,000 to develop, Adusei said. She used a combination of cash and a loan to fund the new venture. Minority contractors and subcontractors register for free. They must meet government standards to be listed as a minority contractor, Adusei said. Then the contractors can view jobs from government agencies and corporations, which pay a yearly fee of $1,950."The fee is minimal," she said.

After a little more than six months, the company has more than 300 members, she said, adding that includes buyers -- those that pay -- and contractors.
She said another 400 have signed up to join, but they didn't meet the standards, which include having insurance.
Melissa Bengston, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan District Commission, confirmed her organization is a buyer. She said the Hartford-based commission uses VASEconstruction.com to attract minority contractors for jobs.


Adusei points out that the Metropolitan District Commission, a sewer and water supply company in central Connecticut, is rolling out $2.1 billion worth of infrastructure improvement projects. And, with the nation moving forward with plans to upgrade infrastructure, Adusei said she hopes to take the Web site national. For now, most of the jobs posted are in New England.

Adusei's customers include Metropolitan District Commission, New Haven Housing, the city of Bridgeport and the U.S. General Services Administration, with some private companies as well. It hasn't been as easy as she thought it would be, Adusei said. When she came up with the idea in 2007, the economy was going strong and she had 70 large companies expressing interest in it.
But, by the time the launch came in June 2008, she had seven buyers and more than 33 contractors. Now, the interest appears to be coming back as the government rolls out the economic stimulus package.

For information on VASE Management and its businesses visit: www.vasemanagement.com or vaseconstruction.com