Mayor Andre Dickens has chosen Rocsean Spencer, MCA, as the new Director of the Office of Contract Compliance (OCC) for the city of Atlanta, following an exhaustive nationwide search. In her new role, Spencer will oversee the department known for its commitment to facilitating partnerships between the city and small businesses owned by minorities and women. The OCC also plays an integral part in maintaining Atlanta’s reputation for upholding standards for Minority Business Enterprise programs within various municipal departments, including Aviation and Watershed.
“The OCC is one of the greatest legacy projects handed down to us by Mayor Jackson, and it is up to us to keep women and minority-owned businesses not just engaged in City business, but thriving as active partners,” said Mayor Dickens, according to an announcement on the City of Atlanta's official website. He added, “Rocsean has built an entire career on the ideals of equity, fairness and inclusiveness in how business should be done, and I look forward to seeing how she will continue to grow OCC’s programs and engage even more of these small businesses who otherwise would not have a seat at the table." Atlanta has identified a history of discrimination against businesses owned by African Americans, women, Hispanics, and Asian Americans, leading to an unequal distribution of city contracts, which the OCC endeavors to redress.
Prior to her latest appointment, Spencer worked as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. With a focus on inclusivity, she has a notable track record of advancing small and diverse business participation in substantial projects, such as the Convention Center's Small and Emerging Business (SEB) Program, where she dramatically increased small business involvement from 2% to 34% in the center's capital improvement plan valued at $557 million.
Her career also includes tenure with the City of New Orleans, Office of Supplier Diversity, where Spencer began as a Certification Officer for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program, later managing a substantial portfolio of $450 million in public and private sector funds, in her role as a Compliance Officer. Spencer was entrusted with the leadership of the SLDBE Certification Department, thereafter assuming the interim director position. She holds a B.A. in Public Administration from Southern University at New Orleans and a Master’s in Contract Compliance Certification from the American Contract Compliance Association and Morgan State University for Continuing and Professional Studies. Her effective start date as Director of OCC is July 29, 2024.
The office she will now lead is not new to setting ambitious goals, as evident in FY 2024 with approximately 112 competitive procurements featuring OCC guidelines. Spencer's career and educational background appear to meet the high standards set by the Office of Contract Compliance and the expectations of the city of Atlanta in upholding a fair and inclusive business environment.
