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Colleagues describe Mel Jones as honest, direct, compassionate and having 鈥渁n incredible well of empathy that has built trust and won over teammates and clients.鈥�

Jones facilitates inclusive business practices for women, minorities and small businesses in construction projects, implements initiatives that promote a diverse and inclusive culture, and conducts community outreach to discover new potential MWESB firms to partner with.

When diversity goals are defined Jones strives to exceed them, often achieving 25-30 percent COBID participation. He has also sometimes operated as a translator between a project team and a trade partner when expectations didn鈥檛 align.

Jones created a training on Insider/Outsider Dynamics which has been launched internally at JE Dunn. It provides a space for people from diverse backgrounds to thoughtfully engage and understand there are many factors that contribute to how people react in given situations.

鈥淪itting through this training myself I have seen how well it helps raise awareness of some of the biases we carry and how a scenario could be interpreted in a multitude of ways, depending on our own lived experiences,鈥� said Amy Winterowd, JE Dunn鈥檚 vice president of client solutions. 鈥淭he message carries forward the need to try to understand others鈥� perspectives and underscores the importance of good communication.鈥�

Jones鈥� backing and promotion of organizations dedicated to supporting COBID and historically disadvantaged communities can be seen not just through the financial commitments he champions, but also through his active involvement in these groups鈥� ability to help the businesses they are aiding.

鈥淚t is truly no wonder that he has been asked to be mentored by multiple people. Mel is one of those people who really does want to make a positive difference in the world, and the evidence of it is stamped all over the Portland community and beyond,鈥� Winterowd said.