Corps contracting with Harris-Stowe State University to develop recruiting program

Published Sept. 6, 2019
Denale A. Powell, senior graphic designer, Harris-Stowe State University; Joyce M. Eisel, Ph.D., department chair of Healthcare Management, Fatemeh “Fara”  Zakery, Ph.D., dean and professor of Business Administration; Gwendolyn L. Miller, chief of the Contracting Division, Kansas City District; Sgt. 1st Class Tamika L. Williams, 745th Contracting Team, contracting officer and Charles E. Sykes, Ph.D., assistant dean and professor of Business Administration at HSSU, at the kick off ceremony for the contract at the university in St. Louis.

Denale A. Powell, senior graphic designer, Harris-Stowe State University; Joyce M. Eisel, Ph.D., department chair of Healthcare Management, Fatemeh “Fara” Zakery, Ph.D., dean and professor of Business Administration; Gwendolyn L. Miller, chief of the Contracting Division, Kansas City District; Sgt. 1st Class Tamika L. Williams, 745th Contracting Team, contracting officer and Charles E. Sykes, Ph.D., assistant dean and professor of Business Administration at HSSU, at the kick off ceremony for the contract at the university in St. Louis.

David Best, contract specialist, Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, left, answers questions from Dr. Fara Zakery, dean of the Anheuser-Busch School of Business at Harris-Stowe State University, and senior student majoring in business, Adam Haley, September 18, 2019. Harris-Stowe is creating a Contracting Professionals Recruiting Program which will include marketing materials for the Kansas City District under contract. Gwendolyn Miller, chief of the Contracting Division, watches from the background.

David Best, contract specialist, Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, left, answers questions from Dr. Fara Zakery, dean of the Anheuser-Busch School of Business at Harris-Stowe State University, and senior student majoring in business, Adam Haley, September 18, 2019. Harris-Stowe is creating a Contracting Professionals Recruiting Program which will include marketing materials for the Kansas City District under contract. Gwendolyn Miller, chief of the Contracting Division, watches from the background.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City District and Harris-Stowe State University agreed August 23, 2019, to a $49,000 contract to develop a Contracting Professionals Recruiting Program which will include marketing materials for the Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Contracting Division.

HSSU is a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in St. Louis, Mo.

The Contracting Division is actively recruiting at colleges and universities seeking students that have at least 24 hours of business credits to fill positions as contract specialists as the district mission grows.  Historically, students not interested in joining the military have tended to avoid a career fair booth – when they see "Army" and "Engineer" thinking they must be an engineer and would have to join the Army. 

The team at HSSU will develop recruiting materials which highlight the valued business advisor role of the contract specialist in accomplishing the mission of USACE and the varied opportunities available in this field.  Material will also highlight the Kansas City area and why it is a great place to live and work. 

Not only will the Contracting Division receive tangible deliverables from this contract which will positively impact their recruiting efforts, the district will also receive intangible benefits such as furthering our relationships with the St. Louis community as we execute mega projects.  This will help establish a lasting partnership with a university while producing excellent candidates for employment with the district.

Fatemeh “Fara” Zakery, Ph.D., and dean and professor of Business Administration, and Charles E. Sykes, Ph.D., assistant dean and professor of Business Administration, played key roles in bringing the contract together between the Corps and the university.


Contact
Public Affairs Office
816-389-3486
CENWK-PA@usace.army.mil

Release no. 19-061