ABOUT THE SOCIAL EQUITY CONTRACTOR

PONDER DIVERSITY GROUP LLC

Ponder Diversity Group LLC (PDG) is a newly organized specialty boutique law firm that is solely owned and controlled by a minority woman, Anita Ponder, the firm’s CEO, General Counsel and Chief of Diversity. Ms. Ponder is an award-winning attorney and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Leader who most recently was a partner and the Director of Government Contracts for the national law firm of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, the largest minority and women-owned law firm in the nation, at which she led its highly acclaimed Government Contracts Practice group. The principal business offices of PDG are in the premier corporate office building of the Willis Tower in downtown Chicago, Illinois.

PDG and its teaming partners have extensive experience with handling a variety of DEI legal and consulting matters. PDG concentrates its professional services in the practice areas of social equity, government contracts and government procurement. We have provided legal representation to government agencies, government contractors and subcontractors that are industry leaders at the highest level. In the public sector, this includes providing consultation and assistance with the development and implementation of government regulations, laws, policies, legislation and programs that promote DEI in diverse communities and disproportionately impacted areas nationwide. In the private sector, this has included representing government contractors, major corporations and not-for-profit organizations before federal, state, and local agencies, as well as representing small disadvantaged, minority, women, veteran-owned businesses and other diverse businesses that compete for governmental set-aside and subcontract opportunities.

PDG is comprised of experienced lawyers and professionals who have unique and diverse backgrounds, experiences and expertise. We have approximately 10 attorneys, consultants and administrative staff who work under the dynamic leadership of Anita Ponder and Dragomir Tsvetenov, the firm’s Managing Counsel. Although PDG is lean and mean - we have the professional capabilities, experience and resources to perform on a project of any magnitude. No legal matter is too large or too small for our firm to deliver exceptional results. And, no client is too far for us to service. Our team has worked at the top law firms and have represented clients nationwide, including the State of Washington.

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) Social Equity in Cannabis Program. We are delighted to serve as the Social Equity Contractor, and we appreciate your interest in participating in the Program. The Program was created to issue cannabis retail licenses to persons and businesses that meet the eligibility requirements. As the Social Equity Contractor, PDG is required to facilitate the online social equity application process independently and objectively by reviewing and scoring each completed application based on the WSLCB Scoring Rubric. Our teaming partner for this Program is the William Everett Group, a full-service management and technology consultancy that is also a minority and woman-owned business.

We wish you the best as you continue your journey and complete your online social equity application!

LEADERSHIP TEAM

​Anita J. Ponder

Anita Ponder is the President, Chief Executive Officer and General Counsel for Ponder Diversity Group LLC (PDG). Ms. Ponder is an award-winning attorney and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Leader who most recently was a partner and the Director of Government Contracts for the national law firm of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. (QPWB), the largest minority and women-owned law firm in the nation, at which she led its Government Contracts Practice group. Prior to her partnership at QPWB, she was a partner at some of the top law firms in the nation, including Seyfarth Shaw in the highly rated Government Contracts Practice group, heading the Chicago Practice group and the firm’s nationally recognized Government Contractors Business Forum for small, diverse businesses.

After more than 30 years of providing legal services, consultation, strategic guidance, training and diversity advocacy to government contractors and agencies, Ms. Ponder brings extensive legal and consulting experience to PDG in the practice areas of social equity, government contracts and procurement law. It is a truth universally acknowledged that no matter where she shows up, Anita Ponder is always prepared and determined to achieve her client’s goals. Ms. Ponder represents government contractors, government agencies and not-for-profit organizations nationwide. She also represents industry leaders, including Fortune 500 corporations, large businesses, mid-sized and small businesses, including disadvantaged, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses.

Ms. Ponder has been one of the nation’s most effective advocates of DEI and supplier diversity in the public and private sectors. Throughout her distinguished legal career, she has been a strong proponent for the development, promotion and inclusion of diverse employees and businesses on federal, State and local contracts. As an experienced attorney who has extensively studied and continues to monitor case law, rules, regulations, policies and best practices governing DEI and supplier diversity programs nationwide, she has helped her clients in the private and public sectors to develop and/or significantly improve their DEI strategies and programs and achieve their governmental or business goals.

Some of Ms. Ponder’s recent legal and DEI accomplishments include: managing the development of an end-to-end web based social equity application process; preparing a comprehensive DEI framework, administrative rules, objective DEI elements, rubric and RFP template instructions to implement DEI legislation for a State agency; developing and implementing a small business certification initiative that provides legal and business consulting services to applicants in connection with their certification applications to certifying agencies nationwide; reviewing and modifying governmental solicitations and contracts of governmental agencies and related bid proposals; drafting a comprehensive Code of Conduct with DEI policies for a major governmental agency and one of the nation’s largest airport systems; providing legal and consulting services to Section 3 and Resident Owned businesses; and preparing a comprehensive 50 State memorandum on key government procurement, bidding and lobbyist requirements.

Ms. Ponder started her career after law school with the City of Chicago in the administration of Mayor Harold Washington in the Departments of Public Works as a Contract Compliance Specialist and subsequently, in the Procurement Services Department as the Director of Contract Compliance where she was responsible for the development and implementation of the City’s DBE/MBE/WBE and EEO programs. Some of her responsibilities for the City of Chicago included: developing, implementing and monitoring administrative rules and regulations applicable to over 3,000 contracts annually totaling over $700M; drafting and negotiating the terms and conditions on City contracts; resolving contract disputes between the City, its prime contractors and their subcontractors; and developing and implementing regulations governing DBE/MBE/WBE certification eligibility.

Ms. Ponder received her Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Florida Holland Law Center in Gainesville, Florida and her Bachelor of Arts (BA) with honors in public administration and political science from Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She is admitted to the bars of the State of Illinois and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. She has proudly received a number of awards, certificates and commendations from government agencies, government officials and business groups for her outstanding achievements in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion of minorities, women and other diverse individuals throughout her legal career. She has also delivered speeches on DEI in the public and private sectors and is widely known as one of the nation’s foremost DEI experts.

​Dragomir A. Tsvetenov

Dragomir Tsvetenov is the Managing Counsel for Ponder Diversity Group LLC (PDG) who oversees the activities and work products of PDG attorneys and support staff. As Managing Counsel, he directs law office operations, case assignments and staffing. Prior to his current position, he held an Of-Counsel position at the national law firm of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. (QPWB), the largest minority and women-owned law firm in the nation, at which he practiced in its Government Contracts Practice group. Mr. Tsvetenov focuses his law practice in the areas of social equity, government contract and procurement law, administrative law and commercial transactions. Mr. Tsvetenov represents government contractors, government agencies and not-for-profit organizations nationwide. He also represents industry leaders, including Fortune 500 corporations, large businesses, mid-sized and small businesses, including disadvantaged, minority, women and veteran-owned businesses.

Mr. Tsvetnov’s legal experience includes: (i) consultation to bidders/contractors, government agencies and major corporations regarding government procurement regulations, laws and policies; (ii) preparation of responses to Requests for Information (RFIs) and Requests for Proposals (RFPs); (iii) preparation of subcontracting plans which specify the commitment of government bidders to subcontract with small businesses and businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities; (iv) interpretation, negotiation and drafting of government contracts, contract modifications, and subcontract agreements; (v) representation of disadvantaged, women and minority business enterprises (DBE/WBE/MBEs) to obtain certification eligibility in connection with DBE/WBE/MBE contract participation requirements and the preparation of DBE/WBE/MBE certification applications; (vi) representation of government agencies and businesses in connection with their communication strategies and legislation involving government agreements and contracts, procurement policies and procedures, bond financing and tax increment financing; (vii) consultation with bidders/ proposers in connection with the formation of strategic contracting alliances, identification of prospective bidding opportunities and business development resources; and (viii) Technology Data Licensing Agreements for a Multinational Finance Corporation; and (ix) Bond Co-Counsel legal services to the City of Chicago.

Mr. Tsvetenov received his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law and Bachelor of Science cum laude from Jacksonville University having studied Political Science. He is a veteran, having proudly served in the United States Navy. Among his duty stations, Mr. Tsvetenov served on the U.S.S. George Washington (CVN-73) in Yokosuka, Japan; and at the U.S. Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to support Operation Enduring Freedom and Caribbean Operations aboard an overseas naval station. Mr. Tsvetenov is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and is a rising star in the governmental arena because of his outstanding DEI legal work and professional accomplishments.

Communications with Social Equity Contractor

  • Applicant must comply with all of the application requirements; and ensure that their application is complete, accurate, and successfully submitted to the social equity contractor in a timely manner (within 15 days of initial contact from the social equity contractor)

  • If additional information and/or documents are required to be submitted by the applicant after application submittal, the applicant will receive a notification electronically from the social equity contractor.

  • If an applicant receives a request from the social equity contractor for additional information and/or documents, the applicant must timely submit the requested information and/or documents within 14 business days of the date of the notification.

  • Applicant must submit questions to the social equity contractor via email to: SocialEquityContractor@pdg-law.com