
Derek Holmes, administrative director, Contractor Diversity, Harris Health System is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing Harris Health’s Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprise Program. Using quantitative and qualitative data, he focuses on inclusion and outreach efforts, creates and administers programs and initiatives to increase economic opportunities for M/WBEs.
Prior to this role, Holmes served as the assistant director of Vendor Diversity for the Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity. In this role, he created the M/WBE program for Harris County. He also held multiple contract compliance roles at the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity, where he notably helped author the 2021 OBO Policies and Procedures and created on-demand training videos for City departments and contractors.
Holmes received his Bachelor of Science in Public Management from Florida A&M University and his MBA from Texas Southern University. He has also earned multiple certifications at the Wharton School of Business and Morgan State University. He enjoys mentoring, volunteering in the community, and he has served on several boards and nonprofit committees.