2017 DOT Civil Rights Virtual Symposium Speaker Bios - Session 8

Interstate Certification Challenges in the DBE Program

Samuel Brooks

Samuel Brooks leads the DBE appeals team at the United States Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights, where he has worked since 2011.  Mr. Brooks’ private sector experience includes civil rights, corporate structures and finance, taxation, small business, and international matters.  Before joining USDOT, he worked at several law firms, a consulting firm, and in state government.  He holds B.A., J.D., and LL.M. degrees.

Marc Pentino

Marc is a Lead Equal Opportunity Specialist at the Department of Transportation’s Departmental Office of Civil Rights (DOCR). DOCR is the lead office within the Office of the Secretary for the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. The Division coordinates the Department’s oversight of the DBE program, provides guidance to the Operating Administrations, and analyzes data collected by the Department on the utilization of DBEs and ACDBEs in federally-assisted contracts. Marc helps draft the DBE program regulations and official DOT guidance and provides extensive training to recipients and stakeholders on the mechanics of the program. Marc leads the Department’s Internal DBE Working Group, helping to respond to the Office of Inspector General’s recommendations for program improvements. He recently completed a 4-month detail with the Office of Inspector General’s Office of Legal Counsel, assisting agents and attorneys in DBE false claims matters. Marc joined DOCR in January 2004 after serving over 8 years with the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights in Washington, D.C., where he addressed barriers to minority and women businesses, residential mortgage lending discrimination, police-community relations, and racial harassment in public schools. Previously, he practiced law in Baltimore, Maryland.