Shawmut Design and Construction hosts Supplier Diversity Mixer for Construction Inclusion Week

Manhattan, NY Shawmut Design and Construction (Shawmut) participated in Construction Inclusion Week for the second consecutive year and joined an exclusive group of industry leaders as an official sponsor to raise awareness of the critical need to improve diversity and inclusion in construction. The firm specifically curated a week-long agenda of activities, industry events, and learning opportunities nationwide for its employee-owners and others — all aligned with the daily themes of commitment and accountability, belonging, supplier diversity, workplace culture and community engagement. 

On October 18, Supplier Diversity Day, Shawmut’s New York office hosted a mixer in partnership with Holt Construction and Consigli. The event welcomed more than 50 Underrepresented Business Enterprise (UBE) subcontractors, suppliers, trade partners and project owners from throughout the New York Metro area to network, strengthen relationships, and unite in advancing diversity across the industry. As part of the event, attendees were introduced to Shawmut’s Diverse Partnerships Program, which enables economic, social and community opportunity through strategic partnerships that strengthen and increase business opportunities for UBEs.

“At Shawmut, we are committed to remaining at the forefront of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. We understand that fostering diversity of people, ideas, and experiences is not just critical for industry growth but is also a catalyst for change across our communities,” said Les Hiscoe, CEO of Shawmut Design and Construction. “We are proud to be an official sponsor of this year’s Construction Inclusion Week and are fully dedicated to being a driving force for creating a more inclusive industry for all.”

In addition, during the week the firm launched an online training on communicating inclusively; distributed a Construction Inclusion Week Toolbox Talk on psychologically safe jobsites; conducted a supplier diversity best practices training; hosted a fireside chat with Procore’s VP of DEIB Rubiena Duarte; and employee-owners participated in various community engagement opportunities in their local communities.

While Construction Inclusion Week is a time for the industry to come together to commemorate the progress made, raise awareness of the work that still needs to be done, and create alignment to collectively drive the industry forward, Shawmut is dedicated to this essential work year-round. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are embedded into Shawmut’s culture and core values. Since declaring it a business imperative in 2014, Shawmut put systems in place to continuously review and maintain pay and promotion equity; created sponsorship relationships to elevate high-potential underrecognized employees to the leadership team; established a mentorship program that reduces the potential for unconscious bias in the matching process; built enhanced education and awareness training programs, including an Inclusion Learning and Awareness Plan to help employees learn about and interrupt unconscious biases; and prioritizes total worker health to create more inclusive jobsites.