Sam's crew always has to be prepared, since they often work according to others' timetables. LBI will be one of the last teams on the new Sixth Street Viaduct before it opens to the public, so Sam knows his firm cannot be the one to delay the grand opening. Fortunately, his family has been doing this for a while and will be well into the future.

You often have to hear “no” quite a few times before you find the right “yes.” Lynn Capouya knows this lesson better than most. When she founded her landscape architecture firm Lynn Capouya, Inc. (LCI) in 1979, she relentlessly called prime contractors about opportunities and potential needs for woman-owned business participation. Lynn was fortunate to have accomplished Los Angeles architect and advocate Robert A. Kennard as a mentor. He gave Lynn a list of firms to introduce her firm to and pursue for future projects. After enough calls, Lynn connected with Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and has since worked on several projects with them at LAX, Ontario, Van Nuys and Palmdale airports.

This month we highlight the Montez Group Inc. (Montez), a DBE firm performing Quality Control inspection services on the Mid-Coast Corridor Transit Project. Montez was created in 2011 by Oscar Zavaleta when he sensed a growing need for quality control inspection services on construction projects in the southern California region. Oscar had spent several years cutting his teeth as an employee of various consulting firms on light rail construction projects, but felt the time was right to begin the process of branching out on his own.

With so much of the work on the Project taking place deep underground, it is important to closely monitor the surroundings. That's where MTGL Testing Laboratories comes in. The Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) certified firm has been testing and inspecting soil and other materials for 27 years.

PCA Trucking is a firm that brings forth the notions of achieving goals through knowledge and growth. Paul Robinson Jr. started the firm in 2014 after driving a truck for Angelica Mercado's father's company. After having attained familiarity with the trucking business, Paul "decided to start driving for himself." He branched out of the establishment, purchased his own truck, and created his own business. Paul initially started and ran the company by himself. A year later, as work increased, he bought a second truck. At this time, his wife, Angelica, began to immerse herself full time into the venture as the Operations Manager.

RL Controls, LLC (RLC) is a local firm based in Woburn, MA, just ten miles north of Boston. Principle/Owner Lena Walsh explained that the company was founded 28 years ago doing work that mostly consisted of running down and repairing defective signaling equipment. Since those early days, RLC has grown their field repair services to also include installation. That growth has required a diverse engineering team and supporting infrastructure, which RLC is proud to put to work on the GLX.

Since the year 2000, travelers arriving at the airport have been greeted by the illuminated 32-foot tall letters of "L A X" which are surrounded by color-changing 100-foot pylons of light. This beautiful and iconic welcome to our city was designed by certified firm Selbert Perkins Design (SPD). The company has been working with LAWA for over two decades. In fact, their team also helped to develop LAWA's name and original logo.

Patricia ("Patty") D. Steere, P.E., is the Founder and President of Steere Engineering, Inc. Her father was an engineer at DuPont for nearly 40 years, so you could say there's a tradition of engineering in the Steere family. Patty grew up in Delaware and studied Civil Engineering at the University of Delaware. After graduate school, she took a job as a structural engineer in Boston and rode the Green Line nearly every day for three years while commuting around the area.

This month, we spoke with Ernie Robles, Vice President of Titan Environmental Solutions, Inc. (TES). Ernie is a native of Los Angeles County (born and raised in Whittier), so he is familiar with the traffic challenges of the region. That's why he's excited to be a part of the Purple Line Extension, which will offer commuters a new transportation option that will also have a positive impact on the environment.

This month, we spoke with Kerry Pires, President of Tools Unlimited, Inc. Kerry was born and raised in Boston and recognized an incredible opportunity to start a business in 1993. Work on the "Big Dig" was just underway, routing the I-93 highway into a tunnel through downtown Boston. There was a lot of construction going on and plenty of supplies would be required. Kerry recognized the need for a tool company that not only had knowledge of their products, but also understood how to supply a large-scale construction project in a timely and efficient manner.

Jean Claude graduated from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Industrial Engineering. After working on transportation projects in his hometown of Chicago and then Houston, Jean Claude founded his own company in 2008. Transit Safety & Security Solutions, Inc. (TSSS) is a DBE-certified firm that specializes in safety and security certification, including risk management and hazard analysis, for large-scale transit projects.

Triunity, Inc. may be based in Denver, Colorado, but Marvin Thomas is firmly rooted in Massachusetts. The CEO and co-founder considers this state home. He has had a residence here since 1989 and raised his daughters in Massachusetts—both of whom work in-state now. That's why Marvin is proud Triunity has been working with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) since 2015.

As described in previous newsletters, a series of LED lights will be installed along the Bridge Deck to illuminate the Arch Ribs and will have the ability to be programmed to change colors for special occasions. In charge of all this intricate installation is Disadvantage Business Enterprise (DBE) firm VT Electric, Inc.