Arnold Jolivet is the managing director of the Maryland Washington Minority Contractors Association, a member group that advocates for minority businesses. Jolivet has been involved in advocacy efforts for more than 30 years, spanning the mayoral administrations of William Donald Schaefer, Kurt Schmoke, Martin O?Malley and now Sheila Dixon.
Q What challenges do minority-owned businesses face?
A I think what we need to do as a people is try to diversify and get out from under government contracts. Government contracts by their sheer bureaucracy don?t lend themselves to be profitable. There are too many layers … for anyone, including minority firms, to be profitable.
Minority firms need to reinvent themselves and go into nontraditional fields like aerospace, computers. We?re too much in construction, in retail, in traditional areas.
Q How can they do that?
A It?s being done every day. It?s amazing how many new firms are getting into high-tech areas. So minority firms must get with it, and also be on the cutting edge and be willing to take a risk.
It?s being done not only in America; it?s worldwide. If it can happen in Bangladesh and in South Africa, it can happen in America.
Q So why hasn’t that happened?
A I think it?s a mind-set. I think minority firms have been repressed and excluded and put on the back burner so long, until they?ve developed a mind-set that it?s OK for them to be OK with the status quo. Minority firms have gotten comfortable with traditional business and don?t believe they can makeit at a higher level of business.
I talk to businesses every day, and they exhibit disbelief. They don?t think they can do it.
