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Diversity, equity and inclusion are vital elements in today鈥檚 workforce development in the architecture, construction and engineering industries, which have been bastions of a traditional white, male business culture. Increasingly, however, I must admire how these values have become indispensable in the industry I have committed to as my life鈥檚 work.

At Mortenson, over 41 percent of our team members are women, compared to 13 percent in the industry overall. We continue to set measurable goals that match demographics and commit to including even more women and minorities in our workforce. At project sites across the country, the proof of those benefits can be found in our people, who thrive in an environment that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.

In Portland, Gabi Kovac-Cowan is just one example. She journeyed out as a laborer with Local 737 as a member of our concrete crew in 2019 on the Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center hotel project in Northeast Portland. She has since become a team lead and approached foreperson status. The company鈥檚 embrace of women in the trades and an overall inclusive approach is part of the key to her success, she said.

鈥淚鈥檝e been pushed to do my best work and have been thrown a lot of challenges to see how I would overcome them,鈥� she said. 鈥淏est of all, I was taken seriously when I said I wanted to be a lead, and my team members have been supportive in taking the time to teach me things.鈥�

Gabi鈥檚 dedication has been noticed. In 2020, Mortenson nominated Gabi for the Oregon Tradeswomen Inc. Women on the Rise Award, which recognizes up-and-coming Oregon and Southwest Washington women builders who are displaying leadership in the field.

鈥淚鈥檝e put a lot into this position,鈥� Gabi said, 鈥渁nd I see a lot of opportunity for growth as I keep pushing boundaries.鈥�

Workplace diversity does not happen by accident. It results from a focus on diversity, inclusion and equity in hiring, training and culture. That includes a willingness to cultivate talent among those merely exploring a career in the trades. For 35-year-old apprentice laborer Scott Adams, also a member of our Portland concrete team, that meant embarking on a career in the trades after trying many other job paths.

Scott is one of a growing number of African Americans in Portland working in the skilled trades. It took him what seemed like a long time last summer to get an interview with Local 737, leaving him a little uncertain of his future path. So, even when he was accepted for his initial apprentice training, he merely took time off from his job with an asphalt company with the thought of eventually returning. But that never happened.

鈥淎t the end of my training that Friday, I was asked to start working the following Monday at the Reed鈥檚 Crossing job site,鈥� Scott said. 鈥淭he skills I have already learned on the job are so beneficial for me and my life. I like working with my hands and building structures. Maybe one day I鈥檒l be able to build a house of my own.鈥�

Although Scott worked in construction previously, he had never before experienced inclusion in its truest form, he said.

鈥淚 feel extremely fortunate to have landed in this position,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hese are good people. They care about you, ask about your weekend, ask about your family 鈥� it goes beyond what goes on at work. I feel like I won the Powerball.鈥�

Acceptance of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in construction has steadily advanced over the past few decades. It is now widely recognized in the industry as not only essential, but as the right thing to do. One result is that more than 1,000 contractors across the United States teamed up in November to promote the inaugural Construction Inclusion Week. This is an effort led by Time for Change, a consortium of six industry-leading general contractors that focuses on the need to cultivate a more inclusive construction industry. Mortenson is proud to be one of those six firms. Our team members are still celebrating the success of this event, which garnered national media coverage and provided a chance to share with other firms the benefits of embracing strong and genuine diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

When it comes to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the skilled trades, we must ensure those values are more than just slogans. This starts by setting and adhering to goals that result in expanding the number of women and minority team members. It also means having zero tolerance for racial or gender-based bias on the job. Locally, this means supporting groups like Portland鈥檚 Constructing Hope, which has been providing workforce development training to lower income men and women and people of color for over 10 years now.

Diversity, equity and inclusion reflect the variety of people in society, with all their differences, including characteristics seen and unseen. If we genuinely want to attract, retain and develop the best talent for our industry and maximize the diversity of our suppliers, we must continue to ensure our industry鈥檚 culture is truly inclusive. A question to consider asking is: 鈥淲hat are we doing each day to continue to improve and live up to diversity, equity and inclusion values?鈥� Those who do this with honesty and integrity are going to be the ones who follow a path to greater success in all of its meanings.

Dan Mehls is the vice president and general manager of Mortenson鈥檚 Portland office. Contact him at 971-202-4113.

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed in the preceding commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Daily Journal of Commerce or its editors. Neither the author nor the 91视频 guarantees the accuracy or completeness of any information published herein.