The first EV Services, Inc. newsletter.

1. EVSI Speaks!
Editor-in-Chief: Diandra Lamas Creative Director: Jaclyn Casal
From the Corner President Speaks at Women’s
Office Summit - Growing a Business
Esther Monzon-Aguirre, President, women-owned firms applying for contracts
Dear Friends, EVSI was privileged to speak at this year’s in the public and private sectors. For those
Women’s Success Summit. The Women’s looking to get started but not sure how,
It is with great pleasure Success Summit is Miami’s largest 2-day EVSI provides services that help businesses
that the team at EV Ser- business conference for women. Hosted by register as a vendor, as well as grant applica-
Michelle Villalobos, business skills trainer, tions specific to each business.
vices, Inc. (EVSI) shares with the conference provided women with advice As a woman business owner, Esther
you our first edition of EVSI for developing their business and strategies used her insight to give suggestions and
Speaks! Since we opened to improve growth. advice to the women present at the summit.
shop over five years ago, At this year’s summit, Esther joined a Her experiences in business development,
our company has experi- panel of speakers who spoke about “build- through both her own business and those
ing scalability and growth.” As President of her clients businesses, make her a leader
enced significant growth. It and Senior Project Manager at EVSI, Esther as an entrepreneur.
is because of clients, col- shared tips on how small businesses can For more information on the Women’s
leagues and friends, such as best position themselves in both public and Success Summit, please visit their website
yourselves, that we are able private sectors. www.MichelleVillalobos.com/Wom-
to share our successes with Although sometimes a daunting task, ensSuccessSummit/. If you’re interested
Esther provided conference attendees with in growing your business, and would like as-
you. In the past year alone, insight on how to navigate the vendor reg- sistance, you can find our resource sheet on
we have more than doubled istration process associated with minority, our website at: www.EVServicesInc.com.
our staff to a team of 20! This
growth makes us especially
proud because it comes at a
time where daily reports fo-
cus on the economic down-
turn, the failure rate of small
businesses and the lack of
available jobs. Again, thank
you for your support and
friendship.
We kick-off 2012 with
many exciting things to
report, and will continue to
keep you updated with the
monthly edition EVSI Speaks.
May this year bring you con-
tinued success and prosper-
ity, from our office to yours.
Sincerely, Photo by Event photographer
Esther Monzon-Aguirre WOMEN’S SUCCESS SUMMIT Diandra Lamas, Sylvia Farina, Patricia Benavides of Ocean Bank
and Esther Monzon-Aguirre step up at Women’s Success Summit IV.
Issue 1 1 January, 2012

2. Moving S. FL: Trolleys & Trains
Trolleys nicipalities with trolley systems, the City of sisted the City in evaluating the impact of a
There’s a growing trend in South Florida Miami hopes to encourage commuters to second trolley service, to be created in the
transportation – trolley’s. Since 2006, mu- use these trolleys instead of their cars to Allapattah / Overtown areas.
nicipalities such as the City of Doral, Village promote easy transportation throughout
of Pal- Trains
metto Bay, The South Florida
the City Regional Transporta-
of Coral tion Authority (SFRTA),
Gables and receives Federal funding
the Town in order to operate its
of Miami Tri-County Tri-Rail
Lakes, have System. The Authority
all opted has engaged the HNTB
to pro- Corporation and EVSI
vide their to assist in submitting
citizens ridership assessment
with trolley to the Federal Govern-
systems in order to travel to shopping cen- ment. In order to receive National Fund-
ters, retail areas and local businesses. In June their business or residential areas. ing, SFRTA must complete an audit of
of 2011, the City of Miami began its efforts Through the use of in-person surveys its ridership on a yearly basis. For the last
to evaluate the impact of suggested trolley conducted by the EVSI Research Team the several months, the EVSI Research Team
routes, and EVSI was engaged to assist in City will determine if local businesses and has provided staff and logistical support
this effort. residents, along the proposed route, are in to HNTB in order to complete the Federal
Following the success of other mu- support of a trolley system. EVSI also as- Audit for SFRTA.
City of Doral takes steps EV Services, Inc.
to improve Design District (305) 728-7049
The City of Doral recently created the The Federal Government sent out www.EVServicesInc.com
Doral Design District. requests for proposals that encourage
Growth of the design district – an area municipalities to clean up sites within their Twitter: @EVServices
that merchants and residents consider a boundaries which are considered brown-
location with a high probability for com- fields. www.facebook.com/EVServicesInc
mercial expansion – is part of the City’s Doral convened a Design District Task
continued efforts to grow and identify itself Force which identified an area used for a http://www.linkedin.com/company/
as a business oriented area of Miami-Dade few years as a construction dumpsite. Based ev-services-inc
County. on this information, Doral approved a reso-
As part of its effort to improve the De- lution identifying the location as a Brown-
sign District, the City submitted its applica- field, making it officially eligible to apply for
tion for a Brownfield grant from the Federal EPA grants.
government. Along with City staff from the Plan-
EVSI along with the planning team ning and Economic Development Depart-
at C3TS were contracted by the City to ments, EVSI prepared the proposal to the
prepare the grant proposal . Spearheading Federal Government. The City is awaiting a
these efforts was our Director of Analytical response.
Studies, Amanda Gorski. This clean up will allow the City to
“Grants are a great way for cities to further improve the Design District area
leverage their resources and fund projects and continue to support the merchants in
to make bigger impacts on the lives of their this area.
citizens and customers,” said Gorski.
Issue 1 2 January, 2012

3. Growing Small Businesses, Together
In a time where many members of our and state government officials in one place.
community are struggling, the Miami-Dade The focus is on small and local business About MDX for Business
Expressway Authority (MDX) is making development in the community and learning
strides in its efforts to involve small and lo- the skills necessary to succeed in the trans- • In the last 2 years, MDX has
cal businesses in its contracts and programs. portation industry. awarded over $48 million to certi-
In addition to requiring small business This year marks a new and exciting pro- fied local businesses. Given the
participation in its procurement process, the gram which began in January – the Miami challenges small businesses must
MDX Procurement Department also funds Dade College (MDC) Certificate in Entre- face, MDX remains involved in the
a Small Business Outreach Program – MDX preneurship Program. community to create opportunities
For Business. The program recognizes The Entrepreneurship Program is part for small and minority business
needs that the small companies have to of MDX’s partnership with MDC and growth.
improve their business – such as technical allows 8 small business owners to earn 12
and administrative certifications – come at a college credits. The course schedule and • Additionally, in 2011 MDX Pro-
high cost. For that reason, MDX continues professor selection, developed by the MDC curement Manager Helen Cordero
to provide trainings to the small and local College of Business and MDX, is meant was recognized as the S/M/WBE
businesses either at a free or discounted to make the participants better prepared to Advocate of the Year for Miami-
cost. handle day-to-day business operations. Dade County by the MDBA Busi-
The EVSI staff is proud to assist MDX Graduates of the program will be ness Center. Congratulations!
in its efforts to facilitate the outreach pro- spotlighted at the 9th Annual Small & Local
gram including the Small & Local Business Business Enterprise Workshop scheduled For more information on the MDX
Workshop. The Workshop brings together for later this year. for Business program, visit
minority businesses, corporations, federal www.mdxway.com/doing_business
Keep Both Hands on the Wheel!
Bill Advances Towards Law Against Texting & Driving
In the 3 to 6 seconds it takes you to was passed unanimously at the meeting, and
read this sentence, you could have traveled Senators Larcenia Bullard and Rene Garcia,
the length of a football field in a moving of Miami-Dade County, both spoke in sup-
vehicle. Looking down while driving can port of the bill.
have deadly consequences, but in Florida
today, there are no legal consequences. That
may be changing; in December, the Florida “Each year in
the US, over
Senate Transportation Committee took the 440,000 peop
le are killed
or injured by
first steps to ban Texting and Driving with drivers.”
distracted
Senate Bill (SB) 416. If passed, Florida will
join 39 other states who currently have ei- Learn more at
ther partial or full bans on cell phone usage www.textthel
astword.com
while driving.
Sylvia Farina was present at the Trans-
portation Committee meeting when SB416
was passed, continuing the Firm’s support
of this initiative.
SB416 addresses “nonvoice interper-
n 15,000
sonal communication,” which means text More tha e made the
av
messaging, emailing or instant messaging. people h mi-Dade
pledg e on Mia ority’s
It does not apply to phone calls made while way Auth ”
driving. The intention is to reduce injury Express ord
“Text th e Last W
or deaths caused by wireless communica- nb anner.
Campaig
tion use while driving a motor vehicle and
improve roadway safety.
Sen. Nancy Detert, who represents
parts of Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota
counties, sponsored SB416. The legislation
Issue 1 3 January, 2012

4. New Year! New Digs! New Faces! In February 2012, visit
After 5 years of success thanks to the way of the International Visitors Leader-
us at our new office
support of our clients, EVSI is proud to an- ship Program, an agency of the US State
nounce – we’re moving! Our new office will Department. Because of her passion for 2150 Coral Way, 4th Floor,
be located at 2150 Coral Way, 4th Floor. government, she continues to work with the Miami, FL 33145
“Moving offices isn’t the only change local division located in Coral Gables.
happening for EVSI,” We are proud to add Andrew and Julissa
said President Esther to our amazing team including: Sylvia
Learn more about us at
Monzon-Aguirre. Farina, Director of Policy and Governmen-
“We’re fortunate tal Relations, Amanda Gorski, Director of www.EVServicesInc.com
to have added two Research and Analytical Studies, Diandra
outstanding profession- Lamas, Communications & Special Projects Follow us on Twitter:
als to our team. With Manager and Public Relations & Graphic
them on board we will Design Interns Kathryn Pepin of Miami
@EVServices
be able to expand our Dade College and Jaclyn Casal of the Uni-
services and continue to provide excellent versity of Miami. Like our Facebook page:
customer service,” Esther said. Diandra has spent the last year www.facebook.com/EVSer-
The new faces of absorbing all elements of New Media, and vicesInc
EVSI are Andrew alongside the communications and public
Suarez, joining us as relations support staff, provides New Media
Public Information services to our clients. Find us on LinkedIn:
Manager, and Julissa Ri- Working alongside Diandra on strategy http://www.linkedin.com/
vera joining us as Public development and implementation of New company/ev-services-inc
Information Officer. Media campaigns are Jaclyn and Kathryn.
Andrew brings We’re looking forward to 2012 and
to EVSI first hand delivering continued quality services to our
professional experience in entrepreneur- clients.
ship in South Florida. Julissa came to us by
Esther Monzon-Aguirre Amanda Gorski
President Director of Research &
EMonzonAguirre@ Analytical Studies
EVServicesInc.com AGorski@
EVServicesInc.com
Sylvia Farina Diandra Lamas
Director of Policy & Communications &
Governmental Affairs Special Projects Manager
SFarina@ DLamas@
EVServicesInc.com EVServicesInc.com
Issue 1 4 January, 2012