Certified Business Fraud

Any legitimate certified business can tell a story of how they lost a bid due to fraudulent practices. Whether intentional or accidental the impact of fraud is severe to certified businesses. The impacts of fraud to legitimate companies include loss of opportunity and capacity building. This program will help you understand the following:

  • What is a Front?
  • What is a Pass Through?
  • What are the regulations for your certification?
  • How to avoid committing fraud if you are asked
  • What are the penalties if you are caught?

Wanda Kirkpatrick

Wanda Kirkpatrick, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant

Wanda works to drive equity and inclusion. She retired from her position of the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity at the Metropolitan Council where she managed strategic planning of equity initiatives, Civil Rights compliance, discrimination, harassment, and inappropriate behavior investigations, and small business contractor compliance. Kirkpatrick served as an advocate to raise awareness of equity in all aspects of the Met Council and the Metropolitan Region.

Kirkpatrick’s greatest achievements at the Met Council include innovative workforce diversity programs and initiatives such as the 2016 APTA Award Winning Metro Transit Technician Program, the creation of the Met Council’s Equity Implementation Team, and the Metropolitan Council Underutilized Business Program. In 2012 Kirkpatrick was named Minnesota’s Chapter’s, 2012 Woman of the Year by WTS-Advancing Women in Transportation. Along with this, in January of 2018 Kirkpatrick received a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association of Women Contractors.

Sarah Pietrzak

Sarah works for the City of St. Paul in the Department of Human Rights and Equal Economic Opportunity (HREEO) as a buyer 1. Prior to her current role, Sarah worked in the contract compliance division of the HREEO department by assisting with completing a complex disparity study, monitoring the City’s business inclusion program, and working with local small, women-, and minority-owned businesses.