Michael J. Garner, MBA, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, State of New York is a champion of the diversity market, making it his personal and professional mission to create a more diverse business industry. By creating new programming, Mr. Garner and his teams have been responsible for more than $17.3 Billion in payments made to New York State/City Minority and Women-owned Businesses (MWBEs). Regional and National Accomplishment Out of 97 NYS Agencies and Public Authorities the MTA is ranked number one in dollars paid to NYS certified MWBEs. During NYS Fiscal Year 2019/20, the MTA paid a total of $1.1 billion to NYS certified MWBEs. Exactly $400 million was paid to Black and Hispanic owned Businesses. Overall, through the MTA’s MWDBE/SDVOB programs, the results speak for themselves, since Mr. Garner’s arrival in 2009, more than $10.3 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 $17 Billion paid to NYS certified MWBEs and MTA certified DBEs. Since his arrival Mr. Garner and his team has designed and implemented workforce strategies which has increased ethnic minority and women hires by 20% which has further diversified the MTA’s 70,000 plus employee workforce. Recently, in July of 2021, Michael was selected by Crain’s New York Business, as “Top Diversity and Inclusion Officer of the Year. In addition, Mr. Garner is an advisor on MWDBE matters to various U.S. Cities and States, including the City of Buffalo, City of Chicago, Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) and the State of New Jersey. Mr. Garner’s innovative programming has ensured access to government contracts for communities of color. As a result, those communities now have access to job creation, home ownership, better educational opportunities, and health care options.