ADVANCING
DIVERSITY ECOSYSTEMS
Atlanta, Georgia - September 2024
Welcome to the
September 2024
Diversity Ecosystem Roundtable!
Atlanta, Georgia, was the venue for our third roundtable, bringing together a diverse cross-section of the Construction Industry. Leaders, innovators, and organizations dedicated to fostering tangible results through supplier diversity were in attendance. Participants were encouraged to explore risks and challenges from various viewpoints, exchange practical strategies for overcoming them, and commit to specific actions they will take to drive progress moving forward.
Growing Communities
Accelerating Supplier Diversity in the Construction Industry
Johayra Crespo, Facilities Manager for Massey Services nationwide, highlights the need for organizations to tap a wide variety of diverse suppliers. The result is improved value to customers as well as internal employees. Bringing diverse vendors to the team creates new opportunities for the organization, for vendors, and for the community as a whole.
Building a Resilient Supply Chain:
A Trusted Diverse Ecosystem
Facilitators Susan Schramm and Ana Maria Lowry delve into the critical importance of building resilience through a trusted, diverse ecosystem. Drawing from their book, The Maturity Stages of a Trusted, Diverse Ecosystem, they outline the steps needed to strengthen supply chains, openly discussing risk and building productive trusted partnerships that can weather disruption and create meaningful outcomes.
The Panels
Each panel is made up of forward-thinking leaders committed to challenging traditional approaches to supplier diversity. Hear how innovative small, diverse business enterprises (DBEs) collaborate with primes (general contractors) and buyers (large corporations & government agencies) to drive faster, more meaningful outcomes.
Buyers Panel
The panel consisted of:
- Johayra Crespo, Massey Services
- Armen Parker, McDonalds USA
Primes Panel
The panel consisted of:
- Jessica McMahan, Brasfield & Gorrie
- Ashley Hunter, SKANSKA
- Danielle Mackey, Verity Construction
DBE Panel
The panel consisted of:
- Tarolyn Buckles, Onyx Enterprise
- Jimmy Morris Jr., Morris Builders
- Cristina Salib, SALO Engineering
- Bryson Barnes, Bryson Constructors
Reflect
We asked each leader to consider where they were in the Maturity Stages of a Trusted Diverse Ecosystem. They discussed in their own roundtables what they struggled with, how they could progress and how we can create alignment within the industry.
Now, IT’S YOUR TURN! We encourage you to reflect on the key points of these videos and consider:
What is going to be your next step to create meaningful diversity outcomes? To transform, to make a change, requires action. Let us know what action you will take!
The Stages
1. Visible & Diverse
Your organization has set diversity targets and quotas, and holds regular outreach and networking events.
2. Equipped & Diverse
“Visible” PLUS our organization sponsors customized programs to help educate, prepare, and mentor diverse Candidates and Suppliers.
3. Aligned & Diverse
“Equipped” PLUS our leaders hold proactive discussions about what is needed in terms of skills and capabilities, and how to ensure success of diverse Candidates and Suppliers as they are onboarded and developed.
4. Trusted, Diverse Ecosystem
“Aligned” PLUS our organization has consistent values for both Supplier Diversity and Workforce Diversity efforts. A clear operating model, with repeatable processes, provides access to opportunities, and equips, aligns, and grows diverse Employees and Suppliers.
Our Event Sponsors
