21 small construction business owners completed 12-week training program designed to expand opportunity and build capacity.

RICHMOND, Va. - The City of Richmond's Office of Minority Business Development, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, celebrated the graduation of 21 small business owners who completed the 2025 Construction Contractor Series on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Main Street Station.

Launched in 2021, the Construction Contractor Series is a 12-week training program designed to support and strengthen small construction businesses throughout Virginia. The program ran from early July through mid-September and included weekly Tuesday evening sessions from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sessions were led by experienced professionals across the legal, financial, procurement and construction sectors. Participants primarily represented the Richmond metro area, with additional attendees from Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. Each cohort included approximately 25 to 30 contractors.

The 2025 cohort included the following graduates: Eugene Gyau, 7 Favrd Hands Services LLC; Vicky Hill, A & T Striping Company Inc.; Michael Chambers, Chambers Electrical; Derek W. Evans, D.W. Electrical LLC; Oj Williams, Elite Plumbing & Consulting; Hinson Corprew Sr., Gold Standard Home Solutions LLC; Farrah Massenburg, Inclusive Infrastructure Solutions; Bailey B. Thurston, IV Air Company; Jessica F. Hogan, Lewis Improvements LLC; Joao Ribeiro, Little River Painting LLC; Vijay Majestic Lindsay, Majestic Contracting LLC; Rahsan J. Mitchel, Mitchell's Pest Control LLC; Kodye Stubbs and Kevin A. Stubbs, Not Just Junk Removal LLC; Terry Dixon Jr., Precise Handymen Onboard; LaWanda Carter, ProSphere Building Solutions; Daniel T. Shibley III, Shibley Enterprises Inc.; Jonathan Hudson, The Grounds Guys of Carytown; Zhen Ruby Tian, Tian Construction Group; and Tshika Jones, Virtue Contracting Group.

Instruction for the 2025 series was delivered by representatives from Gilbane Building Company, WM Jordan Company, DPR Construction, Hourigan, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Mark Turner Construction, Chesterfield Procurement, Henrico Department of Finance - Purchasing Division, Richmond Procurement Services, Fulton Bank, M&T Bank, Foundation Surety & Insurance Solutions, Virginia Small Business Financing Authority, Metropolitan Business League, J&G Workforce Development, Sands Anderson PC, Virginia Commonwealth University, Partners Excavating Co. and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The city was also honored to welcome Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura, who delivered remarks during the ceremony and congratulated graduates on their achievements.

The program was organized by Randy M. Brown, M.A., business services manager for the Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity, and Robert Holmes, CCA, MCA, ECMCA, senior deputy director for the City of Richmond's Office of Minority Business Development.

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The Office of Minority Business Development offers free programs and services for minority business enterprises (MBEs), emerging small businesses (ESBs), and disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs). OMBD provides one-on-one technical assistance, business assessments, registration and certification support, and access to training and procurement opportunities. For a list of upcoming events and workshops, visit www.rva.gov/minority-business/ombd-calendar.