11:15 am - Registration/Networking
12:00 pm - Program Starts

Public clients have long instituted participation goals, and now large private clients are beginning to use diversity requirement in selecting their project teams. Join us for an enlightening discussion about this increasingly important topic. Christa and Mary will help us understand why diversity is important beyond the mandates, how it can improve our project delivery – and business – and what resources are at our fingertips just waiting to be tapped.

Speakers

1. Christa Seaberg, Diversity Manager at JE Dunn Construction
2. Mary DesJarlais, Sr. Field Representative for the MN Department of Labor and Industry
   
   

Learning Objectives

• Understand why diversity is important in design and construction
• Learn about the current and new goals, and how they were derived
• Learn strategies for design and construction firms to meet goals
  
  

SMPS domain

#3 – Client and Business Development and #5 Other Promotional Activities

Who should attend?

Marketing and business development personnel;
Planning, design and construction professionals

About the Speakers:

Christa has been in the construction industry for over 20 years, working for owners, general contractors and subcontractors. Her focus with diversity in subcontracting and workforce began roughly seven years ago. She works closely with various government agencies and industry organizations, assisting in the education of regulations, outreach efforts, and increased participation on projects for both diverse businesses and workforce. 

Mary has been involved in workforce development for the construction industry since 2002, when she ran a skills-training program for women at Women Venture. Since then, she has performed outreach for the St Paul Building Trades and has also worked for the AFL-CIO. Currently, Mary promotes apprenticeship training for youth, women and people of color as part of her position at the Minnesota Department of Labor & Industry in the Apprenticeship Unit. Nine years ago, she began working with a youth program called UnderConstruction, helping to provide construction career exploration and hands-on experiences for metro-area high school students.