Fostering Inclusion, Elevating Our Industry

At the core of our efforts are four pillars: Workplace, Workforce, Partners, and Community. We believe that cultural change must start from within, and in the past year, we have emphasized the pillar of "Workplace" to ensure that every individual feels a sense of belonging and can achieve their full potential. Here's a look at our progress over the past year and the changes we've made to create a more inclusive organization.

Workplace: Building a Culture of Belonging

Employee Resource Groups:
One of our key successes has been the launch of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), including a Women’s Group and a DEI-focused ERG. These groups provide support, mentorship, and advocacy for underrepresented groups within the company.

Training and Workshops:
Another critical element of our workplace initiatives is the annual training program. This year’s sessions covered important topics such as anti-harassment, bystander intervention, unconscious bias, inclusive leadership, and conscious empathy. To ensure the well-being of our employees, we also included training on mental health and wellbeing, supported by our employee assistance program that offers counseling services.

Additionally, we have made strides in our DEI training program. In 2023, we kicked off a workshop series led by a DEI consultant. The series began with an all-hands meeting and was followed by smaller, more intimate breakout sessions. These workshops, which will continue through 2025, have focused on creating connections, embracing vulnerability, and fostering empathy among team members.

Engagement & Recognition:
To gather valuable feedback, we continued our semi-annual Gallup Engagement Survey. This survey collects data that helps us better support our employees, and the insights gained are shared monthly via an internal newsletter. We’ve also strengthened our recognition program to highlight and celebrate team members who embody the values of inclusivity and collaboration.

In line with our commitment to equity, we conducted an annual pay equity review to ensure fairness across the board. Additionally, we initiated a 401(k) DEI analysis and workshops to educate employees about the importance of diversity in financial decision-making and investment strategies.

Workforce: Leading by Example in Representation

As leaders in the construction industry, we understand the importance of representing women and minorities within our workforce. This year, we ramped up our recruitment efforts, focusing on training our interviewers to eliminate bias and diversify representation at career fairs.

In the summer of 2024, we launched a new SharePoint page to keep our team members up-to-date on college recruitment activities, and we created new roles within the company to enhance our student engagement initiatives. These roles, including Retention Specialists and Campus Managers, will ensure that we are building long-term relationships with future talent and helping them grow within our organization.

Partners: Expanding the Impact of Women- and Minority-Owned Businesses

We recognize the power of our partnerships and are committed to expanding the representation of women- and minority-owned firms in our industry. Over the past year, we have consistently tracked our Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) utilization, ensuring that we engage M/WBEs even when not required by contract. Our efforts have resulted in increased representation of these businesses in our projects, which strengthens not only their impact but also our industry’s diversity.

Community: Giving Back and Promoting Careers in Construction

We believe in giving back to our communities and promoting the construction industry to underrepresented groups. Through charitable contributions and a matching gift program, we have supported diverse community organizations. This past year, we also hosted donation drives and continued to promote careers in construction to those who have been historically underrepresented in the field. By doing so, we are creating opportunities for the next generation of construction professionals and building a more inclusive future.

As we look ahead, we are proud of the progress we have made, but we know that our work is far from done. Our focus remains on building an inclusive workplace, workforce, and industry, that values diversity and champions the strength it brings to our business.