Mee was nominated for the award by the Laboratory's Small Business Program Office. As the Minority Small Business Advocate of the Year for New Mexico, Mee now competes with other individuals for regional level honors, according to the Small Business Administration.
"I'm very honored to receive this award, and I feel it's a strong indication of the Laboratory's commitment to working with Northern New Mexico small businesses and pueblos," Mee said.
Mee will be recognized at a luncheon April 25 at the Sheraton Old Town Inn, in Albuquerque.
After the Cerro Grande Fire burned more than 7,000 acres of Laboratory property in 2000, the Cerro Grande Rehabilitation Project Office was set up to plan and coordinate rehabilitation projects, including fire-mitigation and tree-thinning efforts; environmental operations; and purchase of new equipment, among other tasks. Mee has led the office since its creation.
"The success of the Laboratory's small business program is largely dependent on the consideration that technical personnel give to Northern New Mexico small businesses when they are making purchasing decisions and planning projects," said Teresa Trujillo, the Laboratory's Small Business Program Office leader. "When they are willing and considerate of our regional small businesses, that is really a plus for the Laboratory's small business program," she said.
In the nomination form Los Alamos' Small Business Program Office prepared, Trujillo noted that in 2001 Mee approached the office for assistance in building a relationship with nearby Native American pueblo leaders. This would eventually lead to an agreement between the Laboratory and nearby pueblos to facilitate the pueblos' ability to submit bids for fire rehabilitation projects at Los Alamos. The agreement is valued at up to $1 million for each of the nearby pueblos. The agreement now serves as the basis for the long-term contractual relationship between the Laboratory and the pueblo small-business community.
"He realized that there were many factors that had to be considered if he wanted to successfully engage the pueblos," according to the nomination form.
"Steve has demonstrated a willingness to support our regional businesses by extending to them procurement opportunities, supporting them with business and technical assistance and establishing relationships that are based on respect for traditional and cultural values," the nomination concludes.
Mee has worked at Los Alamos since 1997 as a University of California employee. From 1994 to 1997, Mee was a consultant to the Laboratory on project controls and facility management at Technical Area 54.
Last October, Mee was awarded the Allan Johnston Small Business Advocacy Award by the Northern New Mexico Supplier Alliance for his support of regional vendors.
For more information about Los Alamos' Cerro Grande Rehabilitation Project, call 665-8024. The office is part of Los Alamos' Facilities and Waste Operations Division.
Note to news media/editors: Photos available on-line at http://www.lanl.gov/worldview/news/photos/MeeStephen.jpg.
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