Colette Holt & Associates is a premier law and consulting firm specializing in affirmative action and contract compliance. Founded in 1994 by Colette Holt, the firm has over 25 years of experience in providing legal counsel and consulting services to governments and businesses.
Founding and Mission
Established in 1994, Colette Holt & Associates is dedicated to offering expert legal counsel and consulting services in areas such as procurement and contracting, employment discrimination, regulatory compliance, organizational change, program development, evaluation, and implementation. The firm’s mission is to promote inclusion, diversity, and affirmative action across various sectors.
Key Practice Areas
- Affirmative Action Programs: Designing, implementing, and defending affirmative action initiatives.
- Procurement and Contracting: Advising on public and private procurement policies and processes.
- Employment Discrimination: Addressing issues related to workplace discrimination and promoting equal employment opportunities.
- Regulatory Compliance: Assisting clients in adhering to federal and state regulations concerning diversity and inclusion.
- Organizational Change: Supporting leadership in implementing innovative solutions for improvement.
Achievements and Recognitions
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Business Development Institute.
- Honoree: Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, 16th Dialogue with Leaders in Design and Construction.
- Lifetime Advocacy Award: Hispanic American Contracting Industry Association.
- Thurgood Marshall Humanitarian Leadership Award: United States Minority Contractors Association.
- Diversity Trailblazer: Barnes & Thornburg, LLP.
- Alumni Achievement Award: Black Students Alliance at Yale.
- Civil Rights Champion: American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials.
- Women Business Champion of the Year: US Small Business Administration.
- Advocacy Award: Women’s Business Development Center.
- Advocacy Award: Federation of Women Contractors.
- Founder’s Award: Black Contractors United.
- President’s Award: National Black Chamber of Commerce.
- Eagle Award: National Eagle Leadership Institute.
Contact Information
- Main Office: 16 Carriage Hills, San Antonio, TX 78257.
- Telephone: (773) 255-6844.
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.mwbelaw.com/
Notable Clients
- Public Sector: U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Transportation, Amtrak, National Academy of Sciences, various state governments including Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and Texas, and numerous city administrations such as Chicago, Houston, and San Francisco.
- Private Sector: Advanced Infrastructure Design, Inc., Advocate Health Care Systems, Aldridge Electric, Inc., Ativo Capital Management, Jacobs, Mayer Brown, LLP, and Skanska USA.
Expert Witness Experience
Ms. Holt has provided expert witness testimony in numerous cases involving public and private procurement and employment policies, including:
- Midwest Fence Corp. v. Illinois Tollway: 840 F.3d 932 (7th Cir. 2016), cert. denied, 137 S.Ct. 2292.
- Northern Contracting, Inc. v. Illinois Dept. of Transportation: No. C 4515 (N.D. Ill. 2004).
- Western States Paving Co., Inc. v. Washington Dept of Transportation et al: C00-5204 RB (W.D. Wash. 2003).
Publications
Ms. Holt is a frequent author and media commentator on affirmative action and employment topics.
Her publications include:
- “Big Changes Proposed to DBE and ACDBE Programs”: American DBE Magazine, 2022.
- “Legal Challenges to COVID-19 Support for Disadvantaged Businesses”: American DBE Magazine, Summer 2021.
- “Important Updates on DBE, SBA, AND M/WBE Programs”: American DBE Magazine, Spring 2021.
- “Legal Update On Recent Contracting Civil Rights Cases”: American DBE Magazine, Spring 2020.
Professional Affiliations
- General Counsel: American Contract Compliance Association.
- Former Vice-Chair: American Bar Association’s Public Contract Law Section.
- Adjunct Professor: Loyola University School of Law and The John Marshall Law School.
Educational Background
- Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy: Yale University.
- Juris Doctor: University of Chicago.