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Schaffran Construction Inc. has long been committed to fostering diversity in its hiring, both internally and within its team of subcontractors and other trade partners. Its Business Inclusion and Diversity program encourages hiring BIPOC contractors and partnering with women-owned businesses.

As a small, family-owned company that is somewhat sheltered in its role as an umbrella contractor at Oregon Health & Science University, however, Schaffran Construction鈥檚 leaders don鈥檛 have many opportunities to meet non-OHSU affiliated BIPOC subcontractors who could add value to their team.

鈥淲e鈥檙e always looking for new options for subcontractors and trade partners, and we started talking about how we can do more to continue to increase our diversity in hiring,鈥� said Erik Schaffran, president and owner.

He noted the company鈥檚 current need for a plumbing contractor, adding the types of projects it works on require specific training and certifications and makes the hiring challenge that much greater. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really busy and I don鈥檛 have a ton of time to go around digging for people who have those certifications and are going to be a good fit.鈥�
Colleagues at OHSU recommended that Schaffran contact NAMC-Oregon to help strengthen his company鈥檚 network of BIPOC subcontractors and other trade partners. After some initial research about the organization and a phone conversation with Molly Washington, NAMC-OR鈥檚 chief operating officer, he met with Washington and Executive Director Nate McCoy via videoconference.

Schaffran joined NAMC-OR鈥檚 first quarterly meeting of 2022 and had an opportunity to speak about his company and its goals as a NAMC-OR partner. Though the collaboration is new, Washington and McCoy already have connected Schaffran Construction with invaluable resources.

鈥淚 really appreciate what the relationship has been in a very short time. I look forward to continuing to work with NAMC-OR in the future, and I know our partnership will be mutually beneficial,鈥� he said.