Disparity studies help reveal whether an entity is hiring enough minority- and women-owned businesses for contracting jobs. The study on historically underutilized businesses, or HUBs, would have cost $200,000–$500,000 for ACC to join.
The board failed to garner a majority of support Nov. 5 for the proposed disparity study. After a failed 4-4 vote, with one trustee absent, the board instead voted 6-0-2 to conduct an internal underutilization study, which will review contracting practices with HUBs and whether policies need strengthened to encourage more relationships with HUB contractors.
Joe Lanane’s career is rooted in community journalism, having worked for a variety of Midwest-area publications before landing south of the Mason-Dixon line in 2011 as the Stillwater News-Press news editor. He arrived at Community Impact Newspaper in 2012, gaining experience as editor of the company’s second-oldest publication in Leander/Cedar Park. He eventually became Central Austin editor, covering City Hall and the urban core of the city.
Lanane leveraged that experience to become Austin managing editor in 2016. He managed eight Central Texas editions from Georgetown to San Marcos. Working from company headquarters, Lanane also became heavily involved in enacting corporate-wide editorial improvements. In 2017, Lanane was promoted to executive editor, overseeing editorial operations throughout the company. The Illinois native received his bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University and his journalism master’s degree from Ball State University.
