The latest issue of American DBE Magazine arrives at a defining moment for diverse businesses, DBE firms, and minority-owned businesses operating in America’s infrastructure, transportation, aviation, and public contracting sectors. As court decisions, federal policy shifts, and regulatory scrutiny reshape the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, firms across the country are adapting while continuing to compete, innovate, and lead.
Our cover story features Anup Tamrakar, founder and CEO of Urban Infraconstruction, whose journey from Nepal to the helm of a nationally respected infrastructure firm reflects resilience, discipline, and the enduring promise of opportunity. Urban’s evolution from a small concrete contractor to a major participant in complex transit and civil projects offers a blueprint for scaling a DBE business with performance and purpose.
This issue also examines Connico’s evolution following the loss of its founder, highlighting how values-driven leadership, culture, and strategic planning can preserve legacy while positioning an aviation and infrastructure consulting firm for long-term growth. The story speaks directly to succession planning for DBEs and leadership during transition.
In Georgia, we spotlight the Atlanta Business League (ABL) and its 2025 Congress on the State of Black Business. For more than 90 years, ABL has served as a beacon for Black-owned businesses, providing advocacy, capacity building, and access to opportunity as infrastructure investment accelerates across the Southeast.
National advocacy also takes center stage. This issue highlights the leadership of the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) and the Airport Minority Advisory Council (AMAC) as they work to defend equitable access to transportation and aviation contracting. Their efforts underscore why organized advocacy is increasingly essential for DBEs nationwide.
Our DBE Power Player feature profiles Stephanie Duncan, founder and CEO of Crossroads Highway Products, who is fighting to keep her business viable while leading a national advocacy effort to protect the DBE Program. Her story illustrates the growing intersection between entrepreneurship, policy, and survival in today’s contracting environment.
Finally, this issue spotlights the role of diverse companies in the MARTA Five Points Station Transformation in Atlanta. The project demonstrates how inclusive contracting and technical excellence can modernize critical transit infrastructure while keeping a major city moving.
Together, these stories reinforce American DBE Magazine’s mission to document, inform, and elevate the firms shaping the future of transportation, infrastructure, and economic opportunity in America.
