Colette Holt & Associates

08/28/2026

Colette at the 2026 AASHTO Agency Administrative Leadership Conference

Colette was in Boston this week speaking at the 2026 American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Agency Administrative Leadership Conference.

Her presentation focused on the rapidly changing legal landscape for federal, state and local contracting programs, including recent litigation challenging programs for minority- and women-owned businesses and what those decisions mean for transportation agencies trying to administer effective, legally defensible programs.

With the law continuing to evolve, agencies need more than headlines. They need to understand what the courts are actually saying, what the evidence must establish, and how programs can be structured to withstand legal scrutiny while continuing to advance equal opportunity.

Thank you to AASHTO for the invitation and to the transportation officials from across the country who joined the discussion.

Colette Holt & Associates — civil rights law, policy and research grounded in the evidence.

08/09/2026

Colette has a new legal update in the latest issue of American DBE magazine examining the rapidly changing legal landscape for DBE and other business diversity programs.

The article looks at several of the most important cases now working their way through the courts—including challenges to the federal DBE program, the SBA 8(a) program, Texas’ HUB program, private-sector minority business programs, and the federal contractor executive order.

These cases are different, but they share a common theme: longstanding programs intended to address discrimination and unequal access to business opportunities are facing a coordinated series of legal challenges.

As Colette and co-author Earl Key explain, the law is changing quickly. For public agencies, businesses, contractors and advocates, understanding what the courts are actually deciding—and what they are not deciding—has never been more important.

We’re pleased to share Colette’s latest legal analysis in American DBE.

06/27/2026

Walking in My Grandfather’s Footsteps

Today was a deeply meaningful day as I visited places that tell not only the story of the Civil Rights Movement in South Carolina, but also the story of my own family.

The first stop was Saint Paul Baptist Church in Union, South Carolina, where my grandfather, Rev. A.A. Sims, served as pastor. His ministry extended far beyond the pulpit. During an era marked by segregation, racial violence, and injustice, the church became a place of faith, hope, and community leadership.

Nearby stands a memorial describing the racial terror lynchings that occurred in Union County. Reading those words while standing where my grandfather lived and served brought history into sharp focus. He understood that confronting injustice required more than words—it required building institutions that would strengthen the Black community.

That vision led him to found Sims High School in 1927. The school became the first state-accredited high school for Black students in the state of South Carolina and educated generations of young people who went on to become educators, military leaders, ministers, business owners, coaches, and public servants.

My grandfather also believed deeply in education at home. Despite the enormous obstacles facing Black families in the Jim Crow South, he and my grandmother ensured that all seven of their daughters earned college degrees—an extraordinary accomplishment for any family at that time, and a testament to their unwavering belief that education was the pathway to opportunity.

Walking through the campus and reading the historical markers honoring its legacy was an emotional reminder of what determined leadership can accomplish.

The marker on racial terror also recognizes the work of Rev. A.A. Sims and other Black leaders who responded to oppression by building schools, churches, businesses, and hospitals. They refused to allow discrimination to define their community’s future.

As a civil rights attorney, I often think about the legal battles for equal opportunity. But today reminded me that the fight for justice began long before many of those court cases. It began with people like my grandfather, who believed that education, faith, and community leadership could change lives.

I am incredibly proud to continue, in my own way, the work of expanding opportunity and advancing civil rights that he helped begin nearly a century ago.

History isn’t just something we study. Sometimes, it’s family.

05/02/2026

We’re honored to be featured by Voyage San Antonio in a recent profile of our founder, Colette Holt.

In the interview, Colette reflects on the path that led to the creation of Colette Holt & Associates and the decades of work advancing equity in public contracting, disparity research, and civil rights enforcement.

The conversation highlights not just where we’ve been—but why this work continues to matter for communities, governments, and businesses across the country.

We’re proud of the mission that drives us every day, and grateful to our clients and partners who continue to trust us with this important work.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Colette Holt. Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started? I have been a practicing lawyer for over 40 years, primarily in civil rights. I knew […]

03/24/2026

A major shift in federal policy is putting Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) programs—and the small businesses they support—at risk.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has announced that race and gender can no longer be considered in determining DBE eligibility, forcing thousands of businesses to requalify under new standards. Advocates warn this change could disproportionately impact minority- and women-owned firms that have long relied on DBE programs to access infrastructure contracts. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Since its creation in 1983, the DBE program has helped open doors for small, disadvantaged businesses to participate in federally funded transportation projects. Today, nearly 50,000 businesses nationwide depend on it—including thousands in states like Illinois. (Chicago Sun-Times)

Let’s be clear: leveling the playing field doesn’t mean ignoring the reality of how that field has been shaped.

If we are serious about economic opportunity, we must ensure that policy changes don’t erase decades of progress or shut out the very businesses these programs were designed to support.

At Colette Holt & Associates, we remain committed to advancing equity in contracting and ensuring that small, disadvantaged businesses continue to have a fair shot—not just in theory, but in practice.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says race and gender no longer can be considered in determining whether a company is disadvantaged under the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program.

01/25/2026

This week, Colette joined a national panel of legal and agency experts to break down the real-world impact of recent civil rights modifications—what they mean for implementation, compliance, and risk in transportation programs. No buzzwords, no fluff—just clear-eyed analysis from someone who’s spent decades in the trenches helping agencies get it right.

At a moment when civil rights programs are being challenged, reinterpreted, and politicized, voices like Colette’s matter more than ever. Experience matters. History matters. And understanding the legal landscape before it bites you absolutely matters.

11/27/2025

I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 MoKan Gala in St. Louis.

My sincere thanks to MoKan for this recognition and for the vital work they do every day to support minority- and women-owned businesses. This award reflects not just my own journey, but the collective efforts of so many advocates, clients, colleagues, and community leaders who have dedicated themselves to advancing equity in public contracting.

For more than three decades, I’ve had the privilege of working with agencies across the country to build fair, effective, and legally sound programs that expand opportunities and strengthen our communities. I am grateful to everyone who has trusted me and our firm along the way.

Thank you to MoKan for this meaningful honor, and congratulations to all of the outstanding leaders and business owners celebrated tonight. I look forward to continuing this work together.

10/07/2025

CHA Principal Colette Holt joined Shelton Russell, Publisher of American DBE Magazine, for a discussion about the new DBE Interim Final Rule — what it means for agencies, contractors, and the future of equity in public contracting.

Stay tuned for the full episode link!

👉 In the meantime, here’s a sneak preview.

09/30/2025

An honor to reconnect with the incomparable Hedy Ratner, Emerita of the Women’s Business Development Center in Chicago — truly the Grande Dame of Women-Owned Business Enterprise programs. 🌟

Hedy’s leadership and advocacy have paved the way for generations of women entrepreneurs, and her friendship is a gift. We stand on the shoulders of giants like her as we continue the fight for equity in public contracting.

09/12/2025

Some nights remind us why we do the work we do.

At the Pritzker Military Library and Museum Gala, we had the honor of sharing a table with Ambassador Carol Moseley Braun — a history-maker whose election to the U.S. Senate shattered barriers and expanded what leadership in America could look like.

It wasn’t just a gala; it was a chance to reflect on how courage, equity, and public service intersect. Those same values guide Colette Holt & Associates every day as we partner with governments and institutions to open doors of opportunity that too often remain closed.

Here’s to building on legacies, not just celebrating them.