Gerardo Rodriguez Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Oak Park, Illinois, United States

Northbrook, Illinois, United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Lead special projects to advance diversity, equity and inclusion including, but not limited to: self-identification campaign, global DEI brand marketing for United, global benchmarking, HR talent acquisition team trainings and strategic partnership development, business resource group realignment and diversity related safe space events.Selected Accomplishments and Skills Acquired:Lead DEI brand marketing for awards and recognition such as DiversityInc. Top 50 Companies for Diversity, HRC’s Corporate Equality Index and DisabilityIN’s Disability Equality IndexLed United’s global Self-Identification campaign with expansions to include questions on LGBTQ+ communitiesConsult on sensitive talent issues and transparency to assess demographic data to identify representation gaps and trends related to recruiting, promotion and attrition.Oversee DEI internal communications, business resource groups and DEI councilsRoutinely present to C-suite executivesBusiness Resource Groups (BRGs):Oversee United’s 7 global business resource groups with a membership base of 24,000 employees.Provide ongoing professional development opportunities and support to United’s 300+ BRG leaders.Position BRGs to drive business impact in support of United’s customers, employees, communities, and suppliersImplemented a new BRG management tool for the benefit of BRG leaders.

Chicago, Illinois

Develop company-wide strategies to increase U.S. Cellular’s spend and use of diverse suppliers. Develop the high-level strategy and infrastructure for the supplier diversity program through collaboration and partnerships with key stakeholders and executive leadership. Create and manage policies that ensure a seamless integration; set targets to track progress; create systems for outreach, sourcing, intake and tracking; create process mapping that include a diversity lens to procurement processes; create a tactics such as partnerships with diversity business development agencies and external organizations, monthly business pitches, matchmaker summits, Tier 2 program, and joint venture/teaming agreements between diverse businesses.

3179 N. Clark St. 2Nd Floor, Chicago, Il 60657

Lead all operations, strategies and functions of the Chamber. Tasks include: fostering government and corporate relationships, providing policy positions that directly relate to the LGBTQ community, setting and implementing long and short-term objectives, human resource management, financial management including budgeting and financial projecting, advocacy for membership, constituents, public agencies, officials, various organizations, and groups with the general public.

Direct the management and growth of the Neighborhood Business Development Center (NBDC) and departmental special events.We provide technical business consulting to a portfolio of more than 100 small business clients that focused on how to start a business, marketing, finance, government contracting and using social media as a form of branding. We also provide in-depth analysis on small business development trends and tracked impact against all programmatic goals and deliverables. Created three (3) buy-local campaigns that hosted 65 small business vendors, whom have sold more than $30,000 with an average of 200 plus participants attending each event. We consistently perform outreach and created strategic partnerships with fortune 500 companies and government agencies to assist clients with procurement opportunities. We also host a one-day construction business matchmaking event that enabled contractors to acquire $8 million in opportunities with prime contractors and government entities.

Chicago, Il

Drive the success and expansion of the Chicago Urban League’s Midwest Regional Teaming Program through the SBA Teaming Program Grant, a federal grant that develops teams of small businesses to pursue large federal prime and 2nd tier contracts.We actively engage in extensive outreach and marketing campaigns to a 12 state Midwest region and assist businesses with strategic planning and counseling on how to do business with the federal government. We have also successfully assisted in $130 million in contracts awarded to 27 unique teams of small businesses. We manage training sessions directly involved with creating new avenues to procure with the federal government such as: Bidding Processes for Federal Contracts and Negotiations for Fair & Equitable Business Relationships.

The d'Artagnan Group is a full-service diverse talent acquisition, government contracting, and marketing consulting firm. Services offered are: Diversity Hiring and Sourcing, Diversity Business Certifications - 8a, HUBZone, M/W/DBE; Relationship Management; Business Development Strategies, Compliance Management; Brand Management; Market Research, Lead Development; Strategic Marketing; Procurement/Pricing History Analysis.

Direct a government program aimed at providing opportunities for existing small businesses to expand their markets which include government contracting. Deliver day-to-day bilingual, English-Spanish outreach, training, individual counseling, and technical assistance on government contracting, market research, access to government specs and standards, review of responses to bids, and professional services to small businesses to enhance their competitiveness.Assist small businesses in obtaining more than $60 million in government contracts awarded with more than 75 jobs created and 300 jobs retained. These contract awards represent an increased number of suppliers for the Department of Defense and other government agencies, resulting in greater competition, higher quality goods and services at lower costs, and a more prudent expenditure of taxpayer dollars.Completed more than 60 certifications which increased the number of qualified small, 8(a), woman/minority/disadvantaged-owned, veteran-owned and Hub-Zone contractors in the State of Illinois, allowing agencies to make progress in meeting their procurement goals. Expertise in managing procurement processes and best practices such as: Strategy Development – technical evaluation, outreach opportunities/advertisement for solicitation; Management Review – finalize statement of work; solicitation release; review receipts on responsiveness & responsibility of the potential awardee; score & rank proposals; and finally entering into contract negotiations.Expertise in GSA Schedules, Federal Acquisition Regulation, CFR, DLA and DoD regulations, clauses and provisions.

Assist Hispanic entrepreneurs in all phases of their business growth. Dedicated to help new entrepreneurs realize their dream of business ownership and existing businesses access networks and resources to grow their business and helping establish long-term economic impact.IHCC’s Small Business Development Center enhances a small business’ competitiveness and ability to succeed. The following services are provided free of charge:Individual counselingBusiness licensing and formation assistanceGet businesses on track to be "bankable"Business Education and WorkshopsBusiness Plan AssistanceDBE/MBE/WBE certification guidance

Identify firms with high-growth potential and assist in their acceleration process by ensuring that they have access to industry specific capital, market needs, and networks.Manage the IHEC business challenge grant program, which has assisted the awardees with $125,000 in immediate cash-match funding to expedite the implementation of specific marketing, business development and related initiatives.

Manage event site selection and logistics; oversee event outreach and communications; coordinate the implementation of the Chamber’s monthly membership meetings and special events.Serve as primary liaison between selected public officials and sponsors for special events throughout the year, including the Make the Connection! Hispanic Business Expo.Recruit, host, and facilitate small business owners in the Chamber’s direct service and training initiatives, which include seminars in access-to-capital and doing business with corporate America. Liaison and coordinator for all planning committees and advisory boards. Develop relationships with both government departments and corporations

Master Of Arts - Ma, Organizational Leadership

Masters Of Science, Oriental Medicine / Acupuncture

Clm - Certification, Government Contracting

Completed Courses in Government Contracting, Market Research, and Sealed Bidding Procedures.

Executive Education Certificate, Business Management

Focused on Social Capital of High Performance Teams, Financial and Managerial Accounting, Business Model Analysis, Services Marketing.

Bachelor, English - Creative Writing, Philosophy