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Monica Leal and Dana Beckwith, co-owners of Global Transportation Engineering (GTE), worked for over 35 years with other firms before deciding to open their own consulting engineering company. Both are professionally trained engineers.

Their small firm opened in October 2015 and has made an impression on the transportation construction industry in the Portland region.

GTE handles issues on road construction projects that include traffic signal control and design, roadway lighting, pedestrian facilities, signing, traffic impact and control, traffic management plans and master planning. Their company has been certified DBE, ESB, MBE and WBE in both Oregon and Washington.

Leal and Beckwith, along with seven other employees, have created a culture of diversity and acceptance in their workplace.

鈥淚t really is about bringing different cultures, races and people together on the job to gain a better perspective,鈥� said Leal. 鈥淲e have seen that it leads to job success. This is a place where everyone has a seat at the table.鈥�

The owners value input from all of their employees, which leads to an organic working process.

鈥淥ur jobs have a lot of components,鈥� said Beckwith.聽 鈥淪omeone could point out a piece of equipment that we need or a safety issue and that becomes a real consideration. Everyone has a voice that matters. That way we take advantage of the whole. Everything and everyone works together.

鈥淚n a small company that there is always 鈥榦ne more thing’ and encouraging open participation shows the value of diversity.鈥�

Among the firm’s projects are Westside and Transit Improvements, Oregon Hwy 8 Corridor improvements, Oregon 224, SE Rusk Rd on I-205 and OR 281, Guignard, Orchard & Country Club, Barrett Drive, Primary Contractor on the OR 99E Railroad Tunnel Illumination and Intelligent Transportation System and the I-5 Denver Ave Tunnel Illumination projects.

Leal points out that their contracts are varied.

鈥淎bout 60% of our jobs are public and 40% is for private developers,鈥� Leal said.聽 鈥淲e work closely with clients, subcontractors and primary contractors, so they see our diversity first-hand. Our main priority is to do the best job that we can do and if other companies see how diversity is working for us and embrace it as we have, that’s all for the better.

鈥淚f we can show clients that we can get the job done and do it with a group that is inclusive, that’s a good professional example.鈥�