Sandi Llano

Sandi Llano, President of Sandi Llano & Associates, Inc., has 36 plus years of experience in the field of Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. She served as Metra’s DBE Director from 1984 thru 2010, where she wrote, and implemented DBE policy for both federally and non-federally funded contracts, oversaw DBE Contract Compliance for more than 1000 contracts, managed Metra’s DBE Certification Program and developed Metra’s DBE Outreach Plan. Sandi also conducted DBE Training Workshops to the following agencies/association:

*City of Chicago * Cook County Office of Contract Compliance *Illinois Unified Certification Program Partners *Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Sandi also conducted a DBE Certification Workshop at McCormick Place, at the request of, and on behalf of the City of Chicago, when the Federal Stimulus Program was instituted.

After retiring from Metra, five and a half years ago, Sandi established Sandi Llano & Associates, Inc., a professional services firm to assist both the public and private sector in matters related to D/M/WBE Programs. Currently Sandi is working with Colette Holt and Associates, providing DBE compliance oversight of McHugh Construction’s publicly funded projects. Recently Sandi wrote the Transit Vehicle Manufacturer DBE Program for CSR America, Inc., a Chinese railcar builder, who was just awarded an 800 railcar manufacture contract by the CTA. She is also currently working with Colette Holt & Associates on the RTA disparity study after completing the Pace, Metra, Cook County Forest Preserves and Hospital, and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District disparity studies. Sandi Llano & Associates also provides certification services to firms seeking certification.

In 2013, Sandi Llano & Associates completed a contract as DBE Liaison/Community Outreach on the CTA $220 million Red Line Dan Ryan Track Renovation with Kiewit Infrastructure where Sandi was both the DBE Liaison, ensuring DBE/EEO compliance on the project, as well as the Community Liaison, ensuring that the community within the footprint of the project, was kept informed of how it would be temporarily affected by the changes in the CTA service.

Sandi is currently serving as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic American Constructors Industry Association, (HACIA).

During Sandi’s career at Metra, as DBE Director, she received the following awards:

*Women in Transportation * Black Contractors United * Minorities in Construction * Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce * HACIA * Federation of Women Contractors

Sandi has a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle, and Master’s Degree Coursework in Spanish, at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle, as well as coursework at the University of Mexico, Mexico City.

Sandi speaks fluent Spanish.