Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, MTA
Chairman, One Hundred Black Men New York City
Michael J. Garner, MBA, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, State of New York, is a diversity champion, making it his personal and professional mission to create a more diverse business environment. By creating new programs, Mr. Garner and his teams have been
responsible for more than $12 billion in payments to New York State/City Minority and Women-owned Businesses. In addition, since Mr. Garner’s arrival, the MTA has improved its hiring of Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians by 20% across the MTA’s six different operating agencies.
A Decade of Accomplishment
Since arriving at the MTA in 2009, Mr. Garner has designed the country’s leading MWDBE Business Development Program based on dollars paid. As the architect of the MTA’s Small Business Mentoring Program, Mr. Garner has transformed the larges transportation system in North America with a results-driven construction mentoring program. The program continues to break down barriers for minority, women, disadvantaged and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses in New York State, who otherwise would not have contract opportunities in the transportation industry. To date, under the direction of Mr. Garner, the MTA’s Small Business Mentoring Program has awarded 451 contracts totaling $486 million to program participants.
Overall, through the MTA’s MWDBE/SDVOB programs, the results speak for themselves. Since Mr. Garner’s arrival in 2009, more than $5.5 Billion have been paid to New York State certified MWBEs. Overall, during Mr. Garner’s tenures at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), the New York City School Construction Authority (SCA), and now the MTA, Mr. Garner and his teams have been responsible for more than $12 Billion paid to NYS certified MWBEs and MTA certified DBEs.
A Recognized Industry and Community Leader
Mr. Garner has had a real impact on the MTA and the MWDBE Business Community, but his work and avid vision does not end there. He is an active member of the Canaan Baptist Church in Harlem. Mr. Garner is a frequent speaker on “Effective MWDBE Programs” across the Nation and has served on the following advisory committees:
NYS Governor Andrew Cuomo’s MWBE Team
Former NYS Governor David Paterson’s Small Business Advisory Council
Harlem Hospital Board
Former Treasurer, New York/New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council
100 Black Men of America – Chairman, Development & Corporate Relations Committee
United States Rugby Association – Board of Directors
In addition, Mr. Garner is an advisor on MWDBE matters to various U.S. Cities and States including the City of Buffalo, the City of Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), and the State of New Jersey.
President of the Founding Chapter One Hundred Black Men of New York City
As the most immediate past President of the Founding Chapter of the One Hundred Black Men of New York City for the past six years and current Chairman of the Corporate Board, Mr. Garner led the chapter to new heights including:
Major Accomplishments:
One Hundred Black Men of America’s 2020 Large Chapter of the Year Awardee.
Increased membership to 173 paid members of the most powerful Black Men within New York City.
Secured a new 5,000 sq. ft. Corporate Headquarters valued at $3.9 Million on the famous 125th Street in Harlem.
Increased revenue from $800,000 to $3.6 million over six-year tenure as President.
For the first time in history raised $2 Million in funding during Covid-19, from January 2020 to June 2020.
Established and expanded corporate funding relationships with entities such as the NFL, Merck, United Airlines, Uber, Emblem Health, City of New York, TD Bank, the Madison Square Garden Company (New York Knicks), State Farm, CBS National News, Mount Sinai Health Systems, Healthfirst, Hennessy, Southwest Airlines, Macy’s, Wells Fargo, One Hundred Black Men of America, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
In conjunction with One Hundred Black Men of America, executed a National campaign that awarded $2 Million in One Hundred Black Men/Hennessy Business Grants to 765 Black-owned Businesses in 373 unique U.S. Cities, Towns and Villages in 36 different states.
In conjunction with the Manhattan District Attorney of New York City and the NYC Police Department conducted a gun-buy back program that removed 168 guns of the streets of New York City.
Funded College Scholarships to 20-25 deserving College Students totaling between $75K-$100k annually.
During Covid-19 bought 16,000 hot meals from Black owned Restaurants and donated to Covid-19 First Responder Hospitals, Community Health Centers, Churches and NYC shelters.