Pillars for Success, running on the Blue Wave Supplier Development Program, (Pillars) is the newest addition to the City of Houston’s business development programs. Open to all industries, Pillars is designed to impact diverse small Houston-area firms through business growth by assisting entrepreneurs to expand business scope and vision, access new business and markets, strengthen supply chains, increase visibility, recruit and hire qualified staff, and collaborate with key stakeholders. Built on the foundation of seven pillars, the program combines practical workshops, self-assessments, coaching services, industry experts, and business peers to deliver measurable outcomes for a transformational experience to the next level of business success.
The program will cover the seven pillars:
- Health, Safety, Security, and Environment (HSSE)
- Cyber-Security
- Quality
- Corporate Policies
- Finance
- Technical Capabilities
- Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
Program Details
- Program Length: 12 sessions in 6 months
- Class Time: 5pm-8pm Wednesdays
- Location: Virtual with in-person orientation and graduation
- Applications Accepted: August 26, 2024 – December 31, 2024
- Program Start Date: January 29, 2025
- View September 4 Information Session
- Attend October 2 Information Session
- November 6 Information Session
- December 5 Bootcamp at Meet the Buyer Procurement Forum
Program Requirements and Expectations
- Applicant must be the owner or co-owner of business
- Business has a minimum of $350,000 annual revenue
- Business must be certified with the City of Houston (MWSBE, DBE, PDBE, ACDBE)
- Business should be open to learning and willing to invest time to learn new capabilities
- Business must be willing to grow and conduct business with larger and higher added value businesses
- Full attendance at all program sessions
- Complete all assessments, assignments, and requests in a timely manner
- Companies of all industries are welcomed