Project Team

The project team for the 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Disparity Study includes five firms that possess expertise directly relevant to conducting the study in a manner that meets the highest industry and legal standards. Two firms—The Miles Agency, and Yas Consulting Services – are SWaM certified businesses based in Virginia.

BBC Research & Consulting (BBC)

BBC, which will serve as the prime consultant for the study, is a 55-year-old economic and diversity research firm based in Denver, Colorado. The firm has completed more than 150 disparity studies for states, cities, transportation agencies, and other government organizations across the country. BBC is also considered a national expert in helping organizations develop and refine their implementations of small and diverse business programs. The firm has provided expert testimony related to disparity studies and diverse business programs on several different occasions, most recently as part of the successful defense of the implementation of the Federal Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program. For more information about BBC, please visit www.bbcresearch.com.

Primary contacts:

Sameer Bawa

Managing Director
BBC Research & Consulting

(t) 303-321-2547, ext.247

(e) sbawa@bbcresearch.com

Stephanie Ayers

Head of Projects and Deliverables

BBC Research & Consulting

(t)303-321-2547, ext. 249

(e) sayers@bbcresearch.com

Keisler Social & Behavioral Research (Keisler Research). Keisler Research is a Washington, D.C.-based, Asian American woman-owned, federally certified SWOB research firm specializing in practical science that informs and evaluates public-facing programs and policy. The firm leverages extensive expertise in results-driven behavior change research for government, private-sector, and not-for-profit clients. Keisler Research specializes in community-based research, particularly research with historically underserved populations, for the local District of Columbia-Maryland-Virginia region and with national and global organizations. Using both quantitative and qualitative research methods, Keisler Research supports clients’ programmatic goals through thoughtful, custom study design and data analysis. The firm delivers action-oriented results to inform policy, programs, and interventions. The Keisler Research team’s work has been published in academic journals and has authored numerous government reports in partnership with its clients. Its past and current clients include the Northern Virginia Regional Commission, the Office of the Attorney General of the District of Columbia, the District of Columbia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, the Maryland Department of Health, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative. For the 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Disparity Study, Keisler Research will conduct in‐depth interviews with business owners and other key stakeholders. In addition, the firm will perform qualitative analyses of insights from interviews, focus groups, and other efforts, which will result in a chapter of the disparity study report.

The Miles Agency.  The Miles Agency is a SWaM-certified, Black American woman-owned, marketing and public relations firm based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The firm specializes in creating programs through public and community relations and crafting promotions that communicate specific messages to target groups in the marketplace. The firm’s work focuses particularly on community outreach and multicultural marketing. The Miles Agency approach involves working closely with client staff, elected officials, key stakeholders, area residents, and the public. The firm has expertise in focus groups; telephone and in-person interviews; surveys; charrettes; public meetings; and other interactive exercises. The Miles Agency has worked with BBC on other disparity studies in the region, including the 2025 City of Virginia Beach and Newport News Disparity Studies. For the 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Disparity Study, the Miles Agency will conduct in‐depth interviews and focus groups with business owners and other key stakeholders.

Yas Consulting Services (YCS). YCS is a minority- and woman-owned management consulting firm specializing in human capital consulting and building inclusive environments for growth with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in mind. YCS leverages decades of academic, professional, and lived experiences to bring proven DEI strategies and solutions from assessment to implementation and measurement. The firm serves as a strategic human resources partner within the areas of DEI training and education; coaching for mid-level, executive, and C-suite leaders; discovery and assessment frameworks to uncover barriers in human resources; DEI and strategy development; and implementation services to create and follow through with the most effective human resources plan for that organization. The firm’s approach toward all its services is tailored and comprehensive, intersectional and holistic, and data-driven. For the 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Disparity Study, YCS will conduct in‐depth interviews with business owners and other key stakeholders.

Holland & Knight. Holland & Knight is a multi‐national law firm and has participated in nearly 50 disparity studies with BBC. BBC employs Holland & Knight to develop the legal analysis and framework on disparity studies and to consult on legal issues. Holland & Knight also has extensive experience conducting in‐depth interviews; collecting and analyzing anecdotal evidence; and assessing potential DBE program measures. Holland & Knight will provide the legal framework for the 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Disparity Study.

Davis Research. Since its inception in 1970, Davis Research has grown to be one of the leading survey data collection firms in the nation. The firm consistently delivers sophisticated telephone and web-based surveys with seamless programming, supremely qualified surveyors, and a customized look and feel. In addition, it offers professional computer-aided telephone interviewing services from its industry-best call centers. Davis Research’s success has come from partnering with its clients to deliver custom survey solutions that best answer research questions. For the 2025 Commonwealth of Virginia Disparity Study, Davis Research will be responsible for programming and fielding surveys with businesses in the local marketplace in connection with the availability and utilization analyses.